Can Ocean City’ ersus Island Waterpark Be The Increasing Tide That will Lifts All of Boats?

Ocean City’s indoor water park at the Showboat Hotel is currently fixing up leaks, metaphorically speaking. Contrary to earlier reports, Island Waterpark has clarified that there is no announced opening date yet, and admission prices will be adjusted seasonally. The information regarding the opening date and ticket prices that were widely circulated earlier was inaccurate. Media outlets had referenced a tweet from Atlantic City economist Richard Kennedy, who shared a screenshot of Island Waterpark’s ticket calendar showing July 24 as the first available date for ticket purchasing at a price of $100 per person. However, the water park representative has stated that the information in the tweet is incorrect, and the actual opening date and ticket prices will be announced in the future.

Listing of ‘ inside, beachfront’ drinking water parks is… pretty brief

It reportedly cost $22.99 million to create the 103,000-square-foot attraction, which is claimed to be the “world’s largest” indoor beach water park. It offers various slides, a lazy river, a wave rider, a children’s area, an adults-only pool with a swim-up bar, and food concessions.

Island Waterpark serves as a centerpiece for the broader effort to diversify Atlantic City’s attractions beyond gambling and casinos. With the rise of online gambling and nearby states with casinos, AC’s glamorous beach resorts have faced increased competition. Providing options for non-gamblers and families is seen as a way to stimulate the local economy.

However, nothing in Atlantic City is ever straightforward. While an indoor, year-round water park in AC has the potential to be successful, there are likely reasons why it doesn’t have much competition for the title of “world’s largest indoor beach water park.”

None in the world as a positive thing in Ocean City

First of all, the high entry cost of Island Waterpark is already raising eyebrows. Social media commenters pointed out that several nearby water parks offer cheaper season pass rates and lower daily rates. For example, Six Flags Great Adventure offers a $90 season pass that provides unlimited access to the amusement park and Hurricane Harbor for the entire summer, including parking and discounts on food and merchandise.

At Big Kahuna, an indoor/outdoor water park near Philadelphia, the daily pass is $32 on weekdays and $39 on weekends, while a full season pass is $70. The Poconos area also has three major water parks (Camelback, Kalahari, and Great Wolf Lodge) and Mountain Creek in Vernon, which offer better deals than Island Waterpark’s proposed $100 daily rate. Additionally, Dreamwork’s Water Park at the American Dream mega-mall in East Rutherford charges similar prices. Considering the financial difficulties surrounding American Dream, this may not be a reassuring comparison for those considering Island Waterpark.

These comparisons highlight the potential challenge that Island Waterpark may face in attracting visitors with its pricing strategy.

Island Waterpark: From Philly, with like

But Bart Blatstein, the operator of the Showboat and CEO of Tower Investments, is continuing with his latest venture in Atlantic City. The Philadelphia-based developer has invested millions of dollars into Atlantic City over the past few years with mixed results.

Blatstein’s first major project in AC was in 2015 when he took over the Playground Pier from Caesars Entertainment. He had plans to spend over $50 million on the multi-faceted entertainment complex with restaurants, bars, shopping and live music. However, by 2019, the venue had less than four tenants, and in 2020, Caesars Entertainment re-acquired the pier.

Blatstein acquired the Garden Pier, located between the Showboat and Ocean Casino Resort, in 2017. The pier occasionally hosts live events, such as wrestling matches, but it is mostly vacant.

These experiences highlight the challenges that Blatstein has faced in his Atlantic City ventures, with some projects not meeting expectations in terms of tenant occupancy and overall success.

Bartman has arrived to save the morning

In 2016, Blatstein invested $23 million to revive the Showboat property after a failed deal between Caesars and Stockton University. Showboat was once a successful Boardwalk casino until Caesars closed it in 2014 to eliminate competition for its other Atlantic City gambling establishments. Caesars attempted to sell the vacant property to Stockton, which had plans to use Showboat as a base for its Atlantic City expansion. However, the deal fell through for various reasons, resulting in job losses and Showboat being sold for a significantly lower price.

Blatstein’s plans to reintroduce casino gambling at Showboat were hindered by a deed restriction. As a result, he explored the idea of developing a sports betting-focused venue on the vacant lot next to Showboat to circumvent the deed restriction. That empty lot is now the location of Island Waterpark.

Zero dice when it comes to Showboat… or even cards, or even slots, or even sports

Blatstein seems to have shifted his focus away from gambling for the time being and has been primarily focused on restoring some of Showboat’s lost appeal. Tower Investments has invested millions in renovating hotel rooms and converting a tower into apartments. Additionally, they opened the Lucky Fish Arcade in 2021 and an indoor go-kart track inside the hotel in the previous year.

The success of these projects is yet to be determined and, like Blatstein’s other Atlantic City ventures, the results have been mixed. Some residents of the Showboat’s apartments have expressed positive experiences, praising the modern amenities, convenient location, and market-rate pricing.

The Lucky Fish Arcade will face direct competition later this year when Dave & Buster’s finally opens in Atlantic City. The adult-oriented arcade chain is set to debut in October at the corner of Ocean and Missouri avenues, right where the Atlantic City Expressway drops inbound traffic.

Huge test is 2024 – and above

Island Waterpark is expected to have a successful inaugural season, attracting families, thrill-seekers, and Atlantic City enthusiasts throughout the summer. The timing of the park’s opening is favorable, as four casinos in the city are celebrating milestone anniversaries and industry experts are anticipating a boost in tourism.

However, there are still several unanswered questions. Will the indoor water park in Atlantic City be able to attract enough visitors during the shoulder season to remain profitable? Can the park’s staff effectively maintain the rides and equipment when issues inevitably arise? Will local residents, especially the younger population of Atlantic City, see any tangible benefits from this project?

The true test for Island Waterpark will come once the summer tourists have returned home and the initial novelty wears off. Only time will tell if the park can sustain its popularity and become a long-term success in Atlantic City.