I was fortunate to attend the grand opening of Kalahari’s resort in the Poconos two years ago. The place is amazing and a wonderful experience for families of all ages. But I didn’t see the secret to what makes Kalahari above and beyond it’s competitors - until I returned for the grand opening of phase two.
No, it’s not that the water park is the now the largest indoor park in America. Nor is it the new restaurants with high-end dining. Here’s the secret. When I was in the water park with my family, I noticed Todd Nelson, the Founder of Kalahari Resorts, walking by. And by Founder, I mean Owner, President, Top Dog…he’s it, he’s THE MAN of Kalahari Resorts. He was by himself, walking among a throng of happy guests. No entourage. He certainly didn’t notice me, but I noticed him.
I saw Todd Nelson stop mid-stride and bend over to pick up a small piece of trash. He didn’t ignore it (I couldn't even tell what it was, it was so small - I think it was a napkin.), he didn’t order one of his thousands of employees to clean it up. And he didn’t do it to set an example for anyone either. He simply stopped, picked it up and went on his way.
And this attention to detail, desire for perfection, and need to make the guest experience the best it can be, permeates the resort. This is the secret reason why Kalahari is remarkable in just about every way.
What’s not a secret is that the resort does have what is now the largest indoor water park in America. What was a huge attraction with something for everyone, is now nearly twice as big, with more for everyone. The water park was designed to accommodate the smallest toddlers and the most adventurous teens and twenty-somethings, and everyone in between. There are now two play areas for babies and toddlers, as well as new slides including a thrilling speed slide that seemed to attract only the bravest. We all had a lot of fun on the FlowRider. Spill and thrills were enjoyed by all. don't miss it!
And when it comes to food, there is truly something for everyone with the opening of two new restaurants, the Double Cut Steakhouse and Sortino’s Italian Kitchen. Look for more details in Macaroni Kid EATS!, but suffice it to say the food in both is outstanding. Additionally there’s the Brandberg, a classic tavern, as well as a buffet and other casual eating options. We found the Marrakesh Market had great snacks and the southwest chicken wrap was surprisingly good.
With the restaurants, there are no chains. Each one is conceptualized, developed and created by Todd and his team. Again, the attention to detail is apparent. From the theming, to the food itself, the guest experience comes first. I can almost envision Todd tasting each and every item to be sure it’s up to snuff.
At the resort, there are no “little things”. They don’t let anything slide. Take the hotel gym for example. I travel a lot, and I like to work out, so I’ve seen dozens of hotel gyms in my travels. This was the best by far. Most resort gyms have a few treadmills, some ellipticals, and a rack of dumbbells. Well the gym at Kalahari packed more toys for gym rats into the space than I could have imagined. There was a weight sled and astro-turf runway to push it on, a full-on Olympic Lifting set up, as well as boxes for jumping, kettlebells for swinging, slam balls for slamming, a pullup rig and more. Ninety percent of guests won’t use most of this stuff, but the 10% who do will be thrilled with the thought that went into it.
There is one new attraction that the Nelson family did “farm out”, and that is the amazing virtual reality experience called the Arena. The game is made by a firm called Zero Latency, a pioneer in VR. I was dragged by my 16-year-old son to play the game, and was a little hesitant to enter a world of zombies. But I’m glad I didn’t skip it. It was, to say the least, mind-blowing.
This was my first experience with Virtual Reality in the truest sense. Sure, I’d put on a visor and headphones and turned my head and looked at things in 360 degrees, but this was a whole new league. Your guide explains the game, decks you out in a vest, visor and headphones and takes you into a warehouse. Spectators on the outside can see a video monitor of players moving about an empty room. You, however, are fully immersed in a world of carnage and zombies.
In the game there are elevators that take you up to a second level, and while you don’t actually go up or down, you sure feel like it. We battled zombies for about 12 minutes, which was just enough. There were 6 of us playing and the game is designed to be cooperative (my son was a bit disappointed he didn’t get to waste his dad), and it was good to work as a team. The age range is 13 and up. Know your kids; if they spook easily, this is not for them. If they are gamers, they’ll love it! There is also a non-zombie game called Engineerium, which is much less intense. In this game the players have to solve some puzzles in a wild floating world of ramps and bridges. I watched my daughter play and she dropped to her hands and knees at one point to cross a floating bridge…even though she was on flat ground in a warehouse…it’s that real.
Look for the Arena at the back of the arcade when you visit, it’s a must see (do!). Speaking of the arcade, it’s huge as well. Our kids spent plenty of time there and could have spent more. If your kids are the right age and demeanor, it’s a great place to leave them on their own for a while while you enjoy a cocktail or two.
And as genuine as Todd's and his family's love for their resorts is, equally so is their love for Africa. This can be seen throughout the property. Anything that looks like it might have come from Africa, did. From giant ironwood carvings in the lobby, to wooden serving spoons in the market, these items are authentic. The Nelson family has been to Africa on several extended trips and has made some amazing films about their experiences. If you get the chance to see them, don’t pass them by. The story of their climb of Mount Kilimanjaro literally brought tears to my eyes.
We visited the Resort just a few days after a massive snowstorm hit the NY area. Sunday morning before we left, the kids wanted to hit the water park one more time, so I loaded a bag with a magazine and joined them. I laid in a chaise lounge by the wave pool in the 82 degree air while the kids thrilled and spilled one last time. Even surrounded by all the excitement, I found myself relaxed and at peace, knowing everything was being taken care of by the Nelson family and their staff. For an hour or two I didn’t have a worry in the world, and that was enough for me.
