Published by: Paul Wedding/ABC 8 News
Published date: February 2025
ALLEN, Texas — The creator of the largest indoor waterparks in the U.S. is considering bringing a resort and convention center to North Texas, officials say.
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, which has a location outside of Austin and in many other parts of the country, is considering expanding to Allen on a property at State Highway 121 and Stacy Road, the city of Allen said Thursday.
The proposed location would include indoor and outdoor waterparks, a large convention center with more than 900 rooms, as well as hundreds of new jobs.
“This project is a game-changing opportunity for Allen, providing community benefits that would last for decades” said Allen Mayor Baine Brooks in a statement. “Allen’s ease of access and thriving local amenities make it an ideal spot for Kalahari’s expansion to the Dallas-Fort Worth market.”
A feasibility study conducted by Hotel & Leisure Advisors estimates that, in its first 10 years of operation, the Kalahari site in Allen could generate $5 billion in spending, including money spent at the Allen resort and money spent at other Allen businesses indirectly. The development would also create a new source of property tax revenue to support the city, as well as the county, school district and Collin College.
“A project of this magnitude would provide a tremendous economic boost to the Allen community, generating new tax revenue to help offset the cost of vital City services for both current and future residents,” Allen City Manager Eric Ellwanger said in a statement.
Allen Economic Development Corporation Director Daniel Bowman will present the city council with lease agreements and an economic incentive package in support of the project during their Feb. 25 meeting. Allen EDC is also proposing an incentive package offering future tax rebates should the resort meet specific performance goals.
“As stewards of community funding, accountability is a key component of every incentive we consider,” Bowman said in a statement. “We want to ensure developers are committed to Allen and demonstrate a significant motivation to deliver on promises.”
Its future is still far from guaranteed, the city said, as architectural and site planning could take at least a year, as well as a comprehensive development review and zoning approvals.
“With its welcoming spirit, family-focused values and vibrant growth, Allen is a community that truly embodies what we stand for,” said Todd Nelson, CEO, owner and founder of Kalahari Resorts in a statement. “We are always exploring opportunities to bring America’s Largest Indoor Waterpark Resort experience to more families. While we do not have finalized plans at this time, we are encouraged by the positive discussions with the City and state representatives we’ve had up to this point.”
