New Indoor Water Park - La Crosse WI

Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at http://www.lacrossetribune.com

Indoor water park ready at Best Western

Gerard Ondrey, 11, of Minnetonka, Minn. plays water basketball in the Tropical Water Park while staying at the Best Western Midway Hotel in La Crosse.

PETER THOMSON photo By STEVE CAHALAN / La Crosse Tribune

The Best Western Midway Hotel Riverfront Resort at 1835 Rose St. has completed its new indoor water park in the hotel's domed swimming pool area.

The public is invited to its grand opening from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

The open house will feature free food and pop and registration for prizes.
The water park features a large slide, basketball hoops, wading pool with kiddie slide and geysers, whirlpool with neck massager, arcade room and pool table.

The project cost about $500,000, said Patti Stellmaker, the hotel's general manager. The hotel opened in 1972 and is continuously being upgraded, she said.
"Everything's brand new" in the water park, Stellmaker said.

"Our main purpose was to provide an affordable getaway, with gas prices being what they are," she said. "You can stay in town and have fun with your family." But the new facility also is expected to attract hotel guests from out of town.

The water park is for hotel guests, and a special room rate is available for area residents. People who aren't staying at the hotel still can purchase birthday party swim packages, which are available Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. or 3 to 7 p.m.

Starting next week, the hotel also will have special events on Friday nights and Saturdays, such as big splash contests, Hula Hoop contests and scavenger hunts.

"The corporate person is still important to us," Stellmaker said. Executive-class rooms for business travelers have been created in another part of the hotel, away from the water park area.

Steve Cahalan can be reached at (608) 791-8229 or scahalan@lacrossetribune.com.

All stories copyright 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 La Crosse Tribune and other attributed sources.

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