Camelback Lodge and Aquatopia Indoor Water Park

You may know Camelback as a popular ski and snowboard destination in the Pocono Mountains region of Pennsylvania, less than two hours from the New York State border. With the May opening of the Camelback Lodge and Aquatopia Indoor Water Park in Tannersville, Camelback has become a true resort, with upscale lodging and the largest indoor waterpark in the northeast. Throughout the entire resort, and especially in Aquatopia, there’s a theme that is played out artistically and in clever ways. The back story is that a world traveler named Kartrite visits exotic locations such as Cambodia, Peru, Alaska and the Cook Islands, so the décor mixes mountain lodge and tropical jungle elements. Kartrite describes his harrowing adventures in his Expedition Journal, so you’ll see his journal entries on signs everywhere, like the one near the library in the lobby, and at each waterpark attraction. The architecture and props – bamboo fence poles, palm trees, vintage-style travel posters – are meant to resemble remote outposts. There’s even a seaplane, the Spirit of Tannersville, resting on the roof of Flyboys Lagoon, the swim up bar where grown-ups will find solace from the waterpark activity.

Waterpark Thrills For All Ages

Aquatopia, which is only accessible as part of a hotel reservation, features two levels of water features, including seven pools and 13 slides, in some 125,000 square feet. Many of the slides are one-of-a-kind, such as Storm Chaser, the longest gravity-defying indoor uphill water coaster in the U.S.; the Venus SlydeTrap, the first-of-its-kind ride that combines three waterslide experiences in one; and the Himalayan, the region’s only indoor, head-first mat waterslide. The minimum height requirements for these slides range from 42” to 48”.

Kartrite’s Quest, a multi-level exploration structure, is a surefire hit for the 7-and-under set, with water cannons, a tilting sub that pours out water every few minutes, and several age-appropriate water slides. For toddlers, there’s a separate, dedicated area called Penguin Play Bay.

We found a great balance of activities for all age groups. There were thrills for my 14-year-old son, and calmer water play for my 8-year-old daughter. He gave the Bombora FlowRider surfing simulator a try on a kneeboard, but preferred the choice of water slides. She spent hours sitting in an inner tube in The Great Ka-Na-Gawa Wavepool, but also tried crossing the Croc-o-Nile three times until she got all the way across.

My favorite? Floating through the Lost River, under the archways that look like Mayan ruins, and through the dimly-lit rock caverns surrounded by water falls. As a mom, I also appreciated that the entire waterpark was adequately staffed with lifeguards, and that lifejackets were plentiful. It was clean and well ventilated, with a year-round temperature of 84 degrees.

Luckily, you don’t have to leave the waterpark to eat. You can get burgers, chicken fingers and pizza at the Hungry Camel and Colonial Commons. In the hotel, the main restaurant is the buffet-style Hemispheres, and you can pick up coffee and snacks at the World Bazaar & Coffee Shop. Neptune’s is a less kid-friendly sushi bar and small plates experience. The Trails End Pub & Grille is located outside of the hotel, and during the winter, guests can ski in.

Luxury Lodging

There are 453 spacious guest rooms at Camelback Lodge, ranging from single-room to three-bedroom suites. There are 16 different room styles with features such as fireplaces, balconies, bunk beds and full kitchens. Guests wear wristbands with implanted RFID chips that allow you to open your door, and charge food, activities and gift shop purchases to your room. It’s convenient, but almost too easy to rack up the charges, especially when there are a lot of extras not included in your accommodations, such as the black light Borealis Lazer Tag, three-story K-2 Klimb ropes course, 25-foot rock climbing wall, and mini-golf. If you plan to try out all of these extra experiences, consider purchasing a One Day Fun Pass.

These attractions are part of the 45,000-square-foot Arcadia Family Adventure Center, which also includes the Mega Arcade with 100 video and interactive games, a paint-yourown pottery studio and Kartrite’s Kids Quest, a soft play area for babies and toddlers. There are two spas – Serenity Spa for adults, and the Oasis Kid’s Spa, with fun treatments for those 4 and older, such as the Princess Package with a facial, pedicure, nail polish and tiara. Outside of the lodge, Camelback also operates a seasonal 15-acre outdoor waterpark, Camelbeach Mountain, as well as a mountain coaster, treetops obstacle course and zipline.