Massanutten Resort announces major water park expansion, hotel

AT: Jeffrey Seifert

jseifert@amusementtoday.com

MASSANUTTEN, Va. — One of the East Coast’s premier all-season resort destinations, Massanutten Resort, has announced a water park expansion and a new 144-room, five-story hotel. The new hotel will feature flexible accommodations designed to cater to families and business travelers alike with king rooms and double queen rooms, along with themed king bunk rooms and two- and three-bedroom suites. A 6,500-square-foot atrium will connect the new hotel to the existing Massanutten Indoor WaterPark for seamless guest access. The 6,000-acre resort has multiple lodging options including places to stay on the mountain at the ski resort, facilities in the valley near the water park, and numerous adjoining condominiums.

The new hotel will include a spacious patio, board room, 2,600-square-foot flexible event space, and state-of-the-art fitness center with the latest exercise equipment. The resort will also expand its parking facilities, adding nearly 300 additional parking spots, bringing the total to 717. Guests will enter the new atrium and be greeted by cascading waterfalls, a welcoming environment with comfortable seating, and massive glass walls with views of the indoor water park. The atrium and hotel public areas will serve as vibrant activity hubs, with a bar and breakfast area. The new hotel will be the first to be physically attached to the indoor and outdoor water parks.

The resort is making plans for two expansions to its water park building. Along with the aforementioned atrium connecting the new hotel property, the indoor water park will be expanded by an additional 6,000 square-foot connector to the atrium along with a 22,000-square-foot new building. Specific attractions have yet to be finalized, but plans include a wave pool, family raft slide, three-lane headfirst mat racer slide, adult pool, bar, cabanas, multi-level water play structure, and a kiddie pool with kiddie slides. As is typical of indoor water parks, the new slides will start and end indoors, but the bulk of the fiberglass will be outside of the structure. Illustrations show the mat racer having enclosed tubes that diverge onto separate paths but meet in the center, split apart again, and then meet at the end for an exciting finish. The entire family raft ride will be enclosed from start to finish and feature light and sound enhancements to create a cosmic slide experience.

“We are excited to embark on a transformative journey that will truly redefine the guest experience at Massanutten Resort,” remarked Steve Krohn, president and chief executive officer of the Resorts Companies. “Our commitment to providing unparalleled hospitality experiences remains unwavering, and this expansion underscores our dedication to innovation and guest satisfaction.”

Construction is expected to start this spring with an anticipated completion date of late 2025 or early 2026. The expansion comes partly out of necessity as the existing lodging options are often fully booked. The new five-story hotel should help the resort operations team manage capacity by reducing sell-out dates and allowing them to offer opportunities for larger groups to enjoy quality time together.

“We are excited for Massanutten Resort and our community as we all embark on this exciting expansion project," stated Joel Hensley, District 5 supervisor for the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors. "With the involvement of local contractors, Harmon Construction and Mather Architects, this development not only enhances our region's tourism appeal but also exemplifies our commitment to fostering economic growth and opportunity within our community.”

Massanutten Resort is located just minutes from Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive. The area draws visitors from Washington, DC; Baltimore, Maryland; and Richmond, Virginia. Massanutten has a long history of attracting tourists, but it has had its share of ups and downs and has even had to endure a bankruptcy. The first resort opened in 1875 as a health resort known as Rockingham Springs taking advantage of the area’s five natural springs. They were advertised to have “restorative powers.” After about 40 years of operation, Rockingham Springs fell into disrepair and closed. It remained mostly unused until the late 1960s, when attempts were made to reacquire land that had been parceled off and build a resort. A ski lodge was constructed in 1972 and six ski slopes were opened in 1973. An outdoor pool was added along with tennis courts, and the four-season resort was starting to take shape. Today, Massanutten Village is a thriving four-season resort and community of more than 1,000 single-family homes, 1,300 timesharing units, and a multi-million-dollar ski business.

The new hotel and indoor water park expansion are part of a 15 to 20-year master plan for the resort to expand its facilities. Plans include a five-mile-long, multi-use trail; workforce housing units; additional residential units including single-family detached, duplexes, rowhouses and apartments; along with a senior living active adult 55+ planned community.