A 135-acre site at the Thornburg exit off Interstate 95 is currently undergoing a massive transformation to become Virginia’s newest waterpark resort and convention center.
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions is building a 1.38 million square foot facility scheduled to open at some point in 2026 after a $900 million investment.
The resort will offer 907 guest rooms and suites (one, two and three bedroom) and include microwave, refrigerator, iron, ironing board, in-room safe, complimentary Wi-Fi, remote control television with cable, voicemail, hair dryer and luxurious bath amenities. Registered guests will receive admission to Virginia’s largest indoor waterpark.
The 175,000 sq. ft. waterpark will include 10 acres of seasonal outdoor pools and the 90,000 sq. ft. Tom Foolery’s Adventure Park featuring thrill rides, ropes course, climbing walks and indoor zip line, bowling, laser tag and 250+ arcade games.
There will also be 12 on-site food and beverage outlets, including four signature dining experiences along with buffet and grab-and-go options.
Restaurants include Double Cut™ Steak House, Sortino’s Italian Kitchen, Cinco Ninos, B-Lux Grill & Bar, Marrakesh Market, Java Majaro, The Last Bite, Baobob Social, Café Mirage, Cracked Coconut Bar and the Grotto Swim-Up Bar.
The plan also calls for 10,000+ sq. ft. of retail space with three shops, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a Build-A-Bear Workshop™.
The convention center will consist of 150,000 sq. ft. of flexible space including two ballrooms (30,000 and 19,000 sq. ft.), 16 additional meeting rooms and multiple hospitality suites, a full- service business center plus an 50,000 additional sq. ft. of outdoor event space that includes an event barn, covered terraces and an outdoor lawn.
“This project will diversify the property tax base by bringing a new industry — the resort/convention business — to Spotsylvania. We expect this project to generate millions of dollars in annual revenue, and will provide jobs for varying experience levels including: full-time, salaried, part-time and hourly opportunities,“ said Spotsylvania Economic Director Kevin Marshall.
Spotsylvania County has provided significant tax incentives and grants to Kalahari to build the resort and convention center.
Local firms are working on the construction currently and the vast majority of workers for the resort will be local to the Spotsylvania County area. The project is expected to generate 1,200 jobs.
