Like many campgrounds across the Midwest, Lake of Dreams Campground in Merrill, Mich., has its own lake. Unlike some of its peers in the campground business, however, Lake of Dreams also offers its guests a variety of eye-catching water toys, including a floating climbing structure from Verona, Wis.-based Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS) called “The Summit Express,” plus another structure called an Aqua Tower.

“They’re very popular,” said Jim Ortiz, office manager for the 198-site park — so popular, in fact, that the water toys generate day use business from people who live in the surrounding area.

CRS President Ron Romens said interest in water toys is catching on in campgrounds as they take steps to cultivate a new wave of campers. “The last two years we’ve had a really large increase in new customers that haven’t used this type of recreation before,” he said, adding that demand for water features is coming from family-oriented campgrounds. We’re seeing demand from large campgrounds, 400 sites and up, and from campgrounds that have 100 sites and under.”

Prices range from as little as $1,000 for a 20 foot by 6 foot watermat, which can be anchored in shallow or deep water and used as a floating carpet on which people can walk, dance or simply hang.

Another popular item, the Summit Express, is a floating climbing structure that’s 16 feet tall and 25 feet, 6-inches long. “It has a terraced climbing wall and a zero entry slide into the water,” said Romens. “And on the inside it has a bounce house and a jungle gym.” It retails for about $7,500.

“Dollar for dollar,” Romens added, “I think it gives you the biggest bang for the buck. You get immediate impact from a marketing standpoint. They’re not near as much maintenance as what a swimming pool or waterpark would be.”

Romens added that individual components can be purchased and hooked together to create play zones. “For about $10,000, you could create a nice combination of events,” he said.

Some parks, including Lake of Dreams Campground, charge a wristband fee to those who use the toys, which makes these toys revenue generators as well.  . . .

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To see the full article, please see Woodall’s Campground Management:
http://www.woodallscm.com/2010/06/waterparks-and-spraygrounds-designed-to-catch-the-eyes/