![Kalahari News Item Image](https://www.roundrocktexas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Kalahari-News-Item-Image.jpg)
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions announced Wednesday, June 15, the company’s intention to locate its newest property in Round Rock. The expansion will mark the company’s first resort and convention center in the Southwest and fourth destination overall.
Owner Todd Nelson and his family shared the news, along with his vision for the newest Kalahari Resorts and Conventions location, with a crowd of more than 100 state and local dignitaries, media attendees, business owners and neighbors at Centennial Plaza. The Round Rock location will mirror the company’s existing resorts, will be authentically-African themed and will include up to 1,000 guest rooms, indoor and outdoor waterparks, restaurants, a family entertainment center, spa and convention center.
“We are incredibly excited to bring our authentically-African resort experience to the Southwest for the first time,” said Nelson. “The City of Round Rock has been incredibly welcoming and we look forward to finalizing plans to officially become a part of this great community.”
Said Mayor Alan McGraw: “We are thrilled Kalahari has chosen Round Rock for its first expansion into the Southwest. This game-changing project will be a great benefit to our community, continuing our efforts to diversify the local economy. We look forward to working with the Nelson family to bring their vision to reality in Round Rock.”
This will be the fourth location for Kalahari Resorts and Conventions. The company opened the doors on its Pocono Mountains property in July 2015. Kalahari Resorts and Conventions can also be found in Sandusky, Ohio (2005) and the Waterpark Capital of the World Wisconsin Dells (2000). The resorts are designed by the Nelson family for families and are privately owned and operated.
Kalahari would like to open the Round Rock resort in 2020. The City Council is expected to consider and vote on a Memorandum of Understanding at is regular meeting on June 23, 2016. After that, we expect negotiations on the incentives to continue, and be put before the City Council in coming months. Putting together a development agreement and zoning changes could take anywhere from three to nine months.
To learn more about the project, the City and Kalahari have created a series of Q&A pages, anchored by the Kalahari Resort Project page. We’ve also launched a project blog.
For more information on Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, visit www.KalahariResorts.com.