Atlantic City $100M Water Park Ready to Open

Article ByDavid Weir

June 26, 2023

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Posted in: New Jersey Gambling News, US Casino News

Caesars Entertainment closed the Showboat Casino and Hotel on New Jersey’s Atlantic City Boardwalk in 2014.

Now under new management, the revived Showboat is set to open its 120,000-square-foot, $100 million Island Waterpark (pictured) on the site later this week.  

The Showboat is now owned by Philadelphia-based real estate firm Tower Investments, which is run by billionaire developer Bart Blatstein.

The new waterpark features a host of family friendly attractions. That includes 11 slides, wave and surf pools, adventure pools, a zip line, a rollercoaster, a kid’s area, and several bars and restaurants.

It joins the redeveloped hotel and casino floor at the Showboat, which Blatstein has made into one of the largest indoor gaming arcades in the US.

“When people see this, they will be blown away; it is truly like entering a tropical paradise,” Blatstein told Philly Voice. “And the best part is that people – both kids and adults– will be able to enjoy it all year-round.”

Family Boardwalk

Blatstein’s firm bought the Showboat site in 2016. It paid $35 million to Stockton University to acquire the property.

When Caesars Entertainment closed the Showboat in 2014, it was a profitable casino venture. However, the veteran operator put a deed restriction on the sale to prevent anyone else from reopening it as a casino gaming venue.

Stockton then bought the site, planning to build a student housing complex. Local politicians and casino operators were not keen on the idea of thousands of students living basically next door to some of the biggest US casinos, and the plan eventually failed before Tower Investments swooped in.

“Atlantic City has long been one of the most iconic destinations for entertainment geared for adults,” said Blatstein. “But now, the Island Waterpark at The Showboat Resort will open up a whole new world of family entertainment on the Boardwalk.”

Dynamic Venue

The Island Waterpark at the Showboat has already created 500 new jobs, according to Blatstein.

The expansive site not only features dozens of kid-friendly attractions, but also adult areas.

The venue has six bars and a 10,000-square-foot adult dance floor space overlooking the waterfront, with DJs booked throughout the weekends. There’s even a 30-foot-tall treehouse venue for late night party bookings.

“This opening rides on the success of the Lucky Snake Arcade and Raceway, and Showboat is proud to continue delivering the most dynamic and exhilarating nongaming fun on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.”

Lucky Snake

The Showboat opened the Lucky Snake Arcade on site in 2021. It features more than 300 video game arcade machines, a sports bar, a boxing ring for sparring or professional fights, e-sports gaming sections, and live entertainment stages.

Plus, a miniature golf course, 40-foot climbing wall, and VR gaming spaces.

When it launched, Atlantic City Mayor Mary Small said the venue was like “a Dave & Buster’s on steroids.”

The new Island Waterpark at the Showboat will open on Friday, June 30. Atlantic City VIPs, press, and site workers were invited to explore the venue last Thursday after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Day rates for tickets will be $89. Twilight passes good from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. are $69, and an all-day access pass will be $119, including nighttime access to the adult bar areas.

Guests at any of the Showboat’s 476 rooms or suites can visit the Island Waterpark for free between 9 a.m .and 10 a.m., when it opens to regular visitors.  

The Showboat is not the only venue in Atlantic City upgrading its facilities this year. MGM Resorts International recently reopened its MGM Tower at the Borgata after a $55 million upgrade.