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NEWS
Failed Atlantic City casino to become waterpark and resort
POSTED 17 Mar 2017 . BY Tom Anstey
Previous plans by the Endeavour Property Group also called for the casino to be turned into a waterpark resort
With Atlantic City’s failed casino ventures turning their eyes towards family entertainment, the developer of the recently-acquired Atlantic Club Casino has unveiled plans to invest more than US$135m (€125.8m, £109.3m) to turn the property into an indoor waterpark.

The R&R Development Group, headed by Ronald Young, will turn the casino into a non-gambling family resort, centred around the water park proposal.

Scheduled to open in May 2018, the soon to be renamed Dolphin Village will take around 14 months to complete, with the property also set to include a go-kart track on the casino’s floor, as well as a “world-class” videogame arcade and 300 hotel rooms.

Atlantic City’s casinos, many of which have shut down in recent years, have been enjoying a resurgence of late, with developers wanting to turn them into family-friendly attractions.

The latest venture is one of three major casinos to be brought back to life since 2014, with five closing over the period. The former Showboat casino has reopened as a non-gambling hotel, while Hard Rock is reopening the former Trump Taj Mahal as a new casino in 2018.

The waterpark plan is not the first to arise for the property. Developers the Endeavour Property Group reached a deal with owners TJM Properties in July 2015 to purchase and redevelop the casino, but those plans, which included an indoor-outdoor waterpark, fell through in January 2016.

In addition to the Atlantic Club Casino, Revel Casino was purchased by Florida developer Glenn Straub, who had similar waterpark plans, while developer Bart Blatstein purchased Showboat.

In the wake of the loss of five of 12 casinos since 2014, Atlantic City is continuing to push for new, non-gambling themed attractions in a complete rebranding of the city. Aside from the waterpark project, redevelopment plans include a beachfront giant Ferris wheel and zip line, restaurants, an extension of the Steel Pier and a reconstructed Boardwalk.
RELATED STORIES
  Atlantic City casino back on the market after waterpark plans fall through


A bankrupt Atlantic City casino which was to be turned into a family destination centred around a waterpark has been placed back on the market after the real-estate firm purchasing the property failed to come up with the necessary redevelopment funds.
  Atlantic City's Steel Pier and Boardwalk undergoing major revamp to draw non-gambling tourists


In the wake of the loss of four of its 12 casinos, Atlantic City is continuing to push for new, non-gambling attractions in a complete rebranding of the city. The latest redevelopment plans include a beachfront giant Ferris wheel and zip line, restaurants, an extension of the Steel Pier and a rebuilt Boardwalk.
  Atlantic City waterpark deal hanging by a thread after complications arise


Plans to build a mega resort centred around a giant waterpark on the site of a former US$2.4bn (€2bn, £1.6bn) casino have hit a major stumbling block after the lawyer representing the buyer of the bankrupt Revel Casino in Atlantic City said his client would miss a midnight 16 February deadline to complete the purchase.
  Bankrupt casino to be transformed into waterpark mega resort


A former casino and hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, will be transformed into a mega resort centred around a waterpark and gambling facilities, with a high- speed ferry service linking it to Manhattan.
MORE NEWS
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
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Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 
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Polin was founded in Istanbul in 1976. Polin has since grown into a leading company in the waterpa [more...]
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NEWS
Failed Atlantic City casino to become waterpark and resort
POSTED 17 Mar 2017 . BY Tom Anstey
Previous plans by the Endeavour Property Group also called for the casino to be turned into a waterpark resort
With Atlantic City’s failed casino ventures turning their eyes towards family entertainment, the developer of the recently-acquired Atlantic Club Casino has unveiled plans to invest more than US$135m (€125.8m, £109.3m) to turn the property into an indoor waterpark.

The R&R Development Group, headed by Ronald Young, will turn the casino into a non-gambling family resort, centred around the water park proposal.

Scheduled to open in May 2018, the soon to be renamed Dolphin Village will take around 14 months to complete, with the property also set to include a go-kart track on the casino’s floor, as well as a “world-class” videogame arcade and 300 hotel rooms.

Atlantic City’s casinos, many of which have shut down in recent years, have been enjoying a resurgence of late, with developers wanting to turn them into family-friendly attractions.

The latest venture is one of three major casinos to be brought back to life since 2014, with five closing over the period. The former Showboat casino has reopened as a non-gambling hotel, while Hard Rock is reopening the former Trump Taj Mahal as a new casino in 2018.

The waterpark plan is not the first to arise for the property. Developers the Endeavour Property Group reached a deal with owners TJM Properties in July 2015 to purchase and redevelop the casino, but those plans, which included an indoor-outdoor waterpark, fell through in January 2016.

In addition to the Atlantic Club Casino, Revel Casino was purchased by Florida developer Glenn Straub, who had similar waterpark plans, while developer Bart Blatstein purchased Showboat.

In the wake of the loss of five of 12 casinos since 2014, Atlantic City is continuing to push for new, non-gambling themed attractions in a complete rebranding of the city. Aside from the waterpark project, redevelopment plans include a beachfront giant Ferris wheel and zip line, restaurants, an extension of the Steel Pier and a reconstructed Boardwalk.
RELATED STORIES
Atlantic City casino back on the market after waterpark plans fall through


A bankrupt Atlantic City casino which was to be turned into a family destination centred around a waterpark has been placed back on the market after the real-estate firm purchasing the property failed to come up with the necessary redevelopment funds.
Atlantic City's Steel Pier and Boardwalk undergoing major revamp to draw non-gambling tourists


In the wake of the loss of four of its 12 casinos, Atlantic City is continuing to push for new, non-gambling attractions in a complete rebranding of the city. The latest redevelopment plans include a beachfront giant Ferris wheel and zip line, restaurants, an extension of the Steel Pier and a rebuilt Boardwalk.
Atlantic City waterpark deal hanging by a thread after complications arise


Plans to build a mega resort centred around a giant waterpark on the site of a former US$2.4bn (€2bn, £1.6bn) casino have hit a major stumbling block after the lawyer representing the buyer of the bankrupt Revel Casino in Atlantic City said his client would miss a midnight 16 February deadline to complete the purchase.
Bankrupt casino to be transformed into waterpark mega resort


A former casino and hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, will be transformed into a mega resort centred around a waterpark and gambling facilities, with a high- speed ferry service linking it to Manhattan.
MORE NEWS
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while remaining actively involved with the company.
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 
Efteling expands family offer with new Hooghmoed drop tower
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford– Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
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COMPANY PROFILES
QubicaAMF UK

QubicaAMF is the largest and most innovative bowling equipment provider with 600 employees worldwi [more...]
Sally Corporation

Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
Polin Waterparks

Polin was founded in Istanbul in 1976. Polin has since grown into a leading company in the waterpa [more...]
Simworx Ltd

The company was initially established in 1997. Terry Monkton and Andrew Roberts are the key stakeh [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT NEWS
ATTRACTIONS HANDBOOK
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS