By
Meredith
Knight
Mercedes wanted to make the most of
every precious moment she had with her daughter and best friend.
When she heard about Kalahari Resorts in Round Rock with the
America’s largest (223,000-square-foot) indoor water park, it sounded like
just the spot to make some lifetime memories with them. In the end, the
resort exceeded her expectations. “We’ve been to a lot of places with our
kids and grandkids, but this is truly one of best vacations we’ve had
together,” Mercedes said. “There was something for everybody — from infants
to seniors. The employees were all amazing. The food was great, and the
poolside service was spot on. The kids couldn’t get enough of the waterpark,
and Tom Foolerys Adventure Park, an indoor adventure park and arcade is like
nothing I’ve ever seen. It even has an indoor rollercoaster.”
Mercedes and her family were surprised to be
upgraded to a two-bedroom suite with their own kitchen and spacious common
area, which allowed for lots of family time. “From the time we arrived, we
felt catered to,” Mercedes said. “We were prepared to stand in line to check
in, but someone came to us in line and took care of everything.” That merely
set the tone for a vacation where their every need was anticipated and met.
In fact, Mercedes and her husband are already planning their next trip to
Kalahari Resorts in Round Rock.
Kalahari
Resorts and Conventions
Originating in Wisconsin, Kalahari Resorts
and Conventions is now in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, Sandusky, Ohio, the
Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania, and Round Rock, Texas. With an authentic
African theme throughout, Kalahari Resorts are privately owned by Todd and
Shari Nelson. Parents of five themselves, they set out to provide other
parents — and grandparents — with a truly memorable family vacation
experience and to provide companies with a place to plan conferences where
employees would be thrilled to bring their families along.
Kalahari Resorts feature well-appointed guest
rooms and suites, the full-service Spa Kalahari, a fun-filled family
entertainment center, onsite signature restaurants, unique retail shops, and
a state-of-the-art convention center. Their efforts have been rewarded with
awards and accolades including “USA Today’s” 10 Best Readers’ Choice
recognition in 2023 and 2021 on its Best Indoor Water Park list, Travel +
Leisure’s 2022 Best Indoor Waterpark in the U.S., Today’s 2022 Top Hotel to
“Plunge Into Fun”, “U.S. News & World Report’s” 2022 Top 3 Indoor
Waterpark Resorts, Forbes 2021 America’s Best Midsize Employers, and Condé
Nast Traveler’s #1 World’s Coolest Indoor Waterparks.
Meet the
Nelson Family
The Kalahari dream began when Owner Todd
Nelson opened a pizza joint in the family’s hometown of Wisconsin Dells,
Wisconsin. With the help and support of his wife and high-school-sweetheart,
Shari, and their five kids, Todd Jr, Travis, Natasha, Alissa, and Ashley, he
grew that modest business into several sprawling properties that in 2014
received the title of World’s Coolest Indoor Waterparks by Condé Nast
Traveler.
“Kalahari is a result of hard work and love
and represents my family’s dream come to life,” Todd said. “Hard work guided
by family principles is the key differentiator that has allowed us to partake
on this whirlwind journey. It doesn’t get lost on us how lucky we are —
sometimes we have to pinch ourselves.”
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2020 even as it opened its fourth property
in Round Rock. Todd and Shari Nelson have remained hands on with development,
creation, and expansion of the brand and have worked hard to ensure success
in their business and their family. They’re now thrilled to have welcomed
their 13th grandchild.
Todd Nelson has been honored with numerous
industry awards and profiled in BusinessWeek, “USA Today,” NBC’s “The Today
Show,” ABC’s “Good Morning America” and CNBC’s “Mike on the Money.” In 2023,
Todd and Sheri Nelson were honored with an induction into the Wisconsin
Business Hall of Fame.
“The greatest accomplishment in my life is
being able to work with my family,” Todd said. “I couldn’t be prouder of my
kids. Seeing them grow and learn, not only as people but also as leaders, has
been truly exciting. That includes our extended family of awesome management
leaders and associates who helped build this dream and will be crucial to any
future success.”
Making a
Difference
Not content with revolutionizing the family
vacation experience, the Nelsons are also known for their philanthropic
giving and corporate responsibility. Under the Nelsons’ leadership, Kalahari
has worked closely with nonprofit organizations in local communities, hosting
many annual fundraising events, such as the United Way Duck Derby, Golf for
the Future hosted by the Wisconsin Dells Education Foundation, and the annual
Andy North Classic at Trappers Turn Golf Club for the University of Wisconsin
Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center. Kalahari also supports a variety
of international organizations, including The Water Colors Life Project,
which brings fresh water to more than a million people in Africa, and the
Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital.
Find out more and book your family vacation
at Kalahari Resorts in Round Rock by calling
1-877-KALAHARI
(525-2427) or at KalahariResorts.com.
CONTACT
3001
Kalahari Boulevard
Round Rock, Texas 78665
