American Resort Management based in Grand Prairie, Texas, has partnered with the city of Bellevue to bring the recently announced waterpark and connected hotel to the community. They have an impressive portfolio of properties they manage across the country, including waterparks in Texas, California, Arkansas, and North Dakota. The Bellevue waterpark will be modeled after one in Texas called Epic Waters. Epic Waters has been ranked as one of the top three indoor waterparks in the country in the USA Today Reader’s Choice poll.
Richard Coleman is the CEO and co-founder of American Resort Management, and he expressed his excitement about coming to Bellevue. “American Resort Management is elated to be involved in this marquis project, and we are committed to working with Bellevue to create an indoor waterpark that will be ranked among the best in America,” Coleman said. “The project will have a collection of the latest water slides and attractions, and we will work tirelessly to fill the facility with guest experiences for all ages.”
Coleman elaborated on why his team chose Bellevue, “Our senior executives had identified this region as one of the best opportunities in the United States. We have spent time in Bellevue and are excited to be part of a world-class project that will be a catalyst for future growth. Throughout the operating season, we will routinely draw visitors from up to 5 hours away. That has us drawing from key communities in Nebraska as well as neighboring states.”
Diane Bruce, the President of the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, mentioned the possibilities this new project can bring to the community. “This is such a great opportunity for Bellevue, not just the residents but also for businesses in the area. We are excited to welcome people from all over the state and, hopefully, from all over the country into our city. Bellevue has so many wonderful businesses eager to welcome new faces.”
Rich Casey serves on the Bellevue City Council. At Tuesday’s council meeting, there was a unanimous vote to approve the $60 million dollar bond that will pay for the land, infrastructure, and construction of the waterpark. Councilman Casey talked about why he voted yes. “I don’t believe we can, or should, wait for the state to find a solution to the high property taxes we all pay, especially in Sarpy County. Every city and county should be looking for that solution,” Casey said. “For Bellevue, as a land-locked city, industrial and commercial growth to the south is, I believe, the only solution available to us. The mayor put the city on the path to explore options to make that happen and the staff has answered that challenge.”
Casey also discussed doubts he had in the beginning. “To be honest, going into my first detailed meeting regarding the plan to build not just the waterpark but the Entertainment District as a whole, I was skeptical,” shared Casey. “What really sold me on the waterpark was the extremely detailed and thorough work by the administrative staff, the focus on what the citizens expressed in recent surveys, that they wanted to see in the city, and the staff’s foresight to explore and respond to every possible ‘What if?’ regarding the project. The icing on the cake was that they found that the venue will not only pay for itself through the revenue stream it produces but will also enhance funding for our existing parks and, even conservatively speaking, provide property tax relief. My personal research and investigation, along with my confidence in our city staff, made voting ‘Yes’ an easy choice.”
Casey discussed what a project of this size means for Bellevue: “An entertainment opportunity that is not available for hundreds of miles, the springboard for tremendous commercial, retail, and industrial growth that will dramatically increase our tax base and reduce the tax burden on homeowners, and fewer sales tax dollars leaving the city and more tax dollars coming into the city. Transformational is probably overused in regard to this project, but it really is the word that best sums up what the waterpark and the Good Life District mean to Bellevue.”
Members of the business community expressed excitement for the opportunities and possibilities the regional waterpark project brings to Bellevue.
Brian Fox is the owner of Cornhusker Auto Wash. He grew up in Bellevue and is now raising his family here. “As a Father who resides and works in Bellevue, it’s pretty exciting to see our community be host to such an amazing facility,” said Fox. “Anytime we can bring family friendly amenities to Bellevue, it’s a win-win for everyone. I commend those involved in the decision-making process to make this happen for our community.”
Erwin’s Jewelers owner Rebecca Zurcher views the waterpark project as something that will benefit businesses all over the area. “The waterpark will be a great asset to increase our tax base and also bring more people into our community where they will spend money,” Zurcher said. “It should benefit Bellevue businesses with increased traffic. I’m excited for any positive growth in Bellevue, and this waterpark looks to be an exciting addition!”
Savannah Horak is another longtime member of the Bellevue community. She grew up in Bellevue, as did her parents and her husband, and she now owns a business in Bellevue, Generations Estate Group. Horak shared her thoughts about the waterpark project. “As a 5th generation family member from Bellevue, I couldn’t be more proud of the steps the city is taking to bring this opportunity here. I have two daughters and two nephews I know will enjoy making memories at the waterpark with friends and family for years to come. My kids will know a more exciting Bellevue than I did growing up,” said Horak. “As a business owner in real estate, I know this will be a big game changer. The growth for Bellevue and surrounding communities is on the right track. It’ll bring a lot more tourism and money for businesses to the Bellevue area.”
Tony Vernon is the owner of Catfish Lake at The Lodge, which is the restaurant located closest to the Highway 75 / Highway 34 Interchange, where the waterpark will be located. Vernon expressed his excitement about the project, “I think it’s a wonderful thing and good for our economy. There will be a lot of work and jobs it is going to create. It will also keep money in the state that normally would be going to Worlds of Fun, Oceans of Fun, and Adventureland. It’s a win-win situation for Bellevue and Nebraska.”
The next step in the project includes purchasing the land. Grading the land and infrastructure improvements should begin later this year.
The Bellevue Times interviewed Bellevue Mayor Rusty Hike, and he provided more details about the project, including answering some of the concerns voiced by members of the community. That article can be found here.
[Editor’s Note: Here is a link to the 47 page agreement between the city of Bellevue and American Resort Management: CLICK HERE]
Pictures provided by the city of Bellevue and American Resort Management
