Bart Blatstein has proposed a $100 million water park next to his Showboat Hotel property. The water park will be built on an existing lot between Showboat and Ocean Casino Resort, just off the Boardwalk. The aquatic-amusement experience will include water slides, pools and a lazy river, in addition to food and beverage outlets, party rooms, locker rooms, retail stands. The park is planned to be a year-round facility with a retractable glass-pane roof covering the entire park.
Blatstein believes the proposed 100,000-square-foot water park and entertainment center will attract more families to Atlantic City.
“This is, basically, a family resort with a hotel anchored by an indoor water park, and there’ll be many, many other amenities,” Blatstein said. “My team and I are very, very excited about developing this property.”
Mayor Marty Small Sr. held a press conference with Blatstein Thursday afternoon and said Atlantic City needs family focused, noncasino amenities.
“We can’t survive on casinos alone anymore. We have to diversify,” Small said. “Our weak spot, our Achilles’ heel, our sore spot, is a lack of family attractions.”
The project also calls for a renovation to Showboat’s existing Premier Light Tower for water park guests and the construction of a family entertainment center including arcade games, mini golf and laser tag.
The CRDA Board of Directors is expected to consider the application requests at its July 21 public meeting.
