Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park

Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park
Location Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, United States
Coordinates 43°36′55″N 89°47′22″W / 43.615145°N 89.789382°W / 43.615145; -89.789382Coordinates: 43°36′55″N 89°47′22″W / 43.615145°N 89.789382°W / 43.615145; -89.789382
Opened 2004
Previous names Big Chief's Karts and Coasters, Family Land, Bay Of Dreams, Treasure Island Resort, Pleasant View Motel, Copa Cabana (names of former properties merged)
Operating season

May through October (Outdoor Water & Theme Park)

Year-Round (Indoor Water & Theme Park)
Rides
Total 53 (7 coasters, 37 waterslides, and 9 go kart tracks)
Website Mt. Olympus Website

Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park is a theme park and water park complex in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Mt. Olympus consists of four areas of the park: Zeus' Playground (outdoor theme park), Neptune's Water Kingdom (outdoor waterpark), The Parthenon (indoor theme park), and Medusa's indoor water park. In 2010 and 2011, the park purchased several smaller nearby independent motels and hotels and renamed them, painting them blue and white to fit the Greek theme for the main hotel.[1] Many other area hotels and motels offer free or reduced-priced tickets.

History

Park entrance

Early history

Mt. Olympus was started by the Laskaris family.

Demetrios “Jim” Laskaris (Nick’s father) was born in Katsarou, Greece and immigrated to the US when he was 13 years old. He received a technical degree in Michigan, served four years in the US Navy and then owned and operated several restaurants in Chicago. He then moved to Wisconsin Dells where he made his home and a name for himself and his family. Laskaris and his wife Fotoula started by opening a fast food restaurant in 1970 and named it “Big Chief” after a statue he purchased at a trade show. After opening the restaurant, they started a three-wheeler dirt track. He then got into the motel industry by building a 7 unit motel. In 1975 “Goofy Karts”, Laskaris’ first go-kart track opened on Wisconsin Dells Parkway. The track was operated for 5 years. Nick Laskaris, the family’s 9-year-old son at the time, was the chief mechanic. Between 1978 & 1982, Jim and Fotoula’s family business ventures continued with opening a campground, trailer court, Indian Ceremonial, and a country western show on the County A property.

When the lease ran out in 1980 Jim Laskaris abandoned the “Goofy Karts” go-kart track and built a new cloverleaf track next to the Big Chief hot dog stand on the property that the family owned. It was also at this location that Nick Laskaris started constructing his own go-karts a few years later. Along the way Nick Laskaris became involved in the design and engineering of the multi-level tracks which, at the time, were the only ones in the world. The two developed the elevated go-kart tracks, which have now become a standard for tracks all over the world. In 1990 the family purchased several acres along the Wisconsin Dells "Strip" and continued their expansion of Big Chief Go Kart World. In 1995 the company changed its name to Big Chief Karts & Coasters, Nick Laskaris built the first roller coaster in the Wisconsin Dells – The Cyclops. In 1996 the Pegasus roller coaster was built. In 1999 Big Chief Karts & Coasters acquired King Ludwig's Adventure Park and adjacent go-kart park for a total of 107 acres on the "Strip".

2004 merger

In 2004, Big Chief Karts and Coasters owner Nick Laskaris decided, with the addition of roller coasters, to change the park's name to Big Chief's Mt. Olympus Theme Park and use a Greco-Roman theme. Later that year, Mt. Olympus merged with Monte Mattei's Treasure Island Waterpark Resort (consisting of Treasure Island's Family Land Waterpark & Bay of Dreams Indoor Waterpark) to create an indoor/outdoor water and theme park which they named Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park. To accomplish the physical connection between these two separated attractions, they bought the Playday Motel and demolished it so that they could create a pathway from the resort to the amusement park.

March 2007 acquisition

On March 15, 2007, the Laskaris Family purchased the Treasure Island Resort, the Captain ’s Quarters, Pleasant View Motel, The Bay of Dreams Indoor Waterpark and the former Family Land Outdoor Waterpark properties. With the acquisition from the Mattei family, Mt. Olympus added 60 acres (240,000 m2) of real estate to Mt. Olympus, bringing the total area to over 156 acres (0.6 km2). This includes over 1½ miles of frontage on the Wisconsin Dells Parkway (Hwy 12/23). The Captain's Quarters, one of the resort buildings featuring family-sized suites, was eventually sold to Bluegreen Resorts and now operates at Bluegreen Odyssey Dells.

2011 lodging property acquisitions

In addition to the Hotel Rome (formerly Treasure Island Resort) and Mykonos Village (formerly Pleasant View Motel), the resort complex acquired adjacent hotels and created seven different lodging areas. The family purchased the Raintree Resort & Conference Center (renamed to Mykonos Resort),[2] the Star Motel properties (renamed to Poseidon's Village),[3] Luna Inn & Suites (renamed to Poseidon's Village),[4] the Riverwalk Hotel (renamed to Santorini Village),[5] American World Resort & Campground (renamed to Zeus's Village)[5] and the Four Seasons Motel (renamed to Poseidon's Village).[4]

The Raintree Resort and Conference Center was the first hotel built by Todd Nelson, who currently owns the Kalahari Resort in the Wisconsin Dells.

2012 additions and lodging property acquisitions

On November 26th 2011 Mt. Olympus Resorts purchased The Copa Cabana Resort Hotel & Suite and began renovations on the property renaming it to Mt. Olympus Village with plans of reopening it in the spring of 2012.[1] In December of 2011 Mt. Olympus Resorts announced the creation of a new attraction for 2012 called "Lost City of Atlantis". This three acre attraction featured seven new slides, a monster dump bucket, and a 120' geyser. The cost of this addition was $3.5 million.[6]

2013

Purchased "Pine Dell Motel" in April. Remodeling than started in the winter. The name of the property was changed to Mt. Olympus Village and was given building number 12. Also changed the names of "Zeus' Village", "Mykonos Village", "Mykonos Resort", "Santorini Village", and "Poseidon's Village" to all be called "Mt. Olympus Village".[7]

Built 50 employee housing cabins on the old "Big Chief Go-Karts" property off of County Road A.[8]

Made major changes to the "Hades" wooden rollercoaster. Redid the existing turn around after the tunnel that runs under the parks parking lot to include a 360 degree inversion. Because of the changes to the coaster track they had to replace the existing train with a new train that would allow it to rotate and pivot adequately when going through the inversion. Once finished the name was changed to "Hades 360".[9]

Purchased "Concord Inn" and "Monaco Motel". They where remodeled and the property names where changed to Mt. Olympus Villages, with Concord getting building number 25, and Monaco getting numbers 26, 27, & 28. With these rooms added to Mt. Olympus it brought the room count up to 1,300 rooms.[10]

2014

On March 6 a man riding the Opa Rolller Coaster located inside the indoor theme park fell 17 feet due to a malfunction with the lap bar system. Mt. Olympus removed the ride after the incident.[11][12]

2015

In early 2015, Mt. Olympus announced the addition of there latest ride "The Manticore". The ride finished it's construction and opened to park visitors mid June to July[13]

On January 23 a 4-year-old nearly drowned in the indoor park. EMS responded and took the child to St. Clair Hospital. Three months after the incident, the Dells-Delton EMS team presented Mt. Olympus & the lifeguards involved in rescuing the child with certificates for life saving efforts.[14][15]

The first year of Mt. Olympus 1st Annual Custom Car Show was the same weekend as the Dells Automotion event, May 16. It included such events as a burnout and donut competitions.[16]

In July an elastic cable snapped on "The Catapult" ride located in the outdoor theme park. A Facebook video caught the accident and was shared before it was removed from Facebook. The ride was owned and operated by Casco, Inc. and was an up-charge attraction that was not included with the price of admission to the park. Mt. Olympus ordered the ride to be removed from the park two days later.[17][18][19][20]

In late 2015, Mt. Olympus Resorts bought "Diamond Hotel" and began a massive clean up and remodel of the property in the hopes of getting it ready for the 2016 summer season. The hotel was renamed to Mt. Olympus Villages with the building number 29.[21]

2016

At the end of the summer season of 2015, Mt. Olympus put up local billboards and ran digital advertisements promising "Something Huge, Something Water!" for the summer 2016 season. They officially announced the addition of "The Great Pool of Delphi" in late April. The pool is a 27,000 square foot, 500,00 gallon swimming pool and water attraction with claims to be the largest swimming pool in the waterpark capital of the world. The cost of this addition was $4 million.[22][23]

Additions timeline

Zeus' Playground

Zeus' Playground is the outdoor theme park section at Mt. Olympus. It consists of go-karts, roller coasters, and a few other rides.

Roller coasters

Hades Rollercoaster at Mt. Olympus, which has the world's longest underground tunnel. This section of the ride has since been modified with a barrel roll and overbanked turn.

Go-Kart tracks

The Trojan Horse go-kart track

Other rides

Neptune's Water Kingdom

Neptune's Water Kingdom is the outdoor waterpark section.

Waterslides

Triton entrance
Triton waterslides

Other rides

Poseidon's Rage surf pool

The Parthenon

The Parthenon

The Parthenon is the Dells' first indoor theme park. The columns are made out of styrofoam.

Rides

Medusa's Indoor Waterpark

The side of the indoor waterpark building

Medusa's Indoor Waterpark is the 55,000-square-foot (5,100 m2) indoor waterpark at Mt. Olympus. This was originally part of the Treasure Island and Family Land project. Family Land, originally a separate waterpark, was open to non-hotel guests. Bay of dreams which is now Medusa's Indoor Waterpark was exclusively for Treasure Island guests only.

Waterslides

Other rides

Night at the Theme Park

In the summer of 2009, Mt. Olympus began Night at the Theme Park, where select rides (Hades, Poesidon's Rage, Zeus, Trojan Horse Go Kart Track, Poseidon's Underwater Go Kart Track, and the Kiddie Land Rides) would be open from 10pm to 1am for four nights weekly. People who would attend would receive free soda and parking. Nick Laskaris got the idea when he took his children to go see Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian at the local cinema.[32] The village of Lake Delton did not approve the event, because it was in violation of its amusement ordinance in which businesses have to close around midnight, and their 11pm curfew law. Village trustees were worried about someone crossing the busy Wisconsin Dells Parkway at night and getting hit by a car.[33] The village of Lake Delton subsequently made some changes to the amusement ordinance, with a variance for businesses if they requested, including Mt. Olympus. The village board had these changes on hold.[34][35]

Lodging

Mount Olympus offers six lodging options. All options include free admission to the park every day of one's stay:

References

  1. 1 2 Laskaris buys Copa Cabana : Wisconsin Dells Events
  2. Laskaris buys Raintree : Wisconsin Dells Events
  3. Laskaris buys Star motels, buffet on Strip : Wisconsin Dells Events
  4. 1 2 Laskaris buys 2 motels : Wisconsin Dells Events
  5. 1 2 Laskarises buy Riverwalk, American World : Wisconsin Dells Events
  6. Mt. Olympus to re-create Lost City of Atlantis : Wisconsin Dells Events
  7. http://www.wiscnews.com/wisconsindellsevents/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_ca545120-d2e0-11e2-b20a-0019bb2963f4.html
  8. http://www.wiscnews.com/wisconsindellsevents/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_14b08760-7248-11e2-9c9a-001a4bcf887a.html
  9. 1 2 http://www.wiscnews.com/wisconsindellsevents/news/local/environment/article_0c9a86da-59d8-11e2-bafb-001a4bcf887a.html
  10. http://www.wiscnews.com/wisconsindellsevents/news/local/article_5f4e64ea-dc79-50ce-a524-f0952b87bbb4.html
  11. http://www.wiscnews.com/wisconsindellsevents/news/local/article_c8fa5bbb-2e1d-5ea8-a2d1-a0698f973f5e.html
  12. http://www.wiscnews.com/wisconsindellsevents/news/local/article_e9745da3-a833-5f39-ac46-cf596f3708a9.html
  13. https://twitter.com/mtolympuspark/status/617308098919727104
  14. http://www.wiscnews.com/wisconsindellsevents/news/local/article_e8af8ca8-7434-523b-a5ad-894fef4cc791.html
  15. http://www.wiscnews.com/wisconsindellsevents/news/local/article_ca6e3120-b8d3-5332-a291-07f199bb982a.html
  16. http://www.wiscnews.com/wisconsindellsevents/news/local/article_48d5a14f-f86c-5984-8709-d8f968a9a64d.html
  17. http://www.wiscnews.com/wisconsindellsevents/news/local/article_06e16798-cd0f-5c8e-bc81-2837e6b0bb85.html
  18. http://www.wiscnews.com/wisconsindellsevents/news/article_c86f0839-3b0d-55e2-bd1b-5b532eb95311.html
  19. http://www.wiscnews.com/portagedailyregister/news/local/article_487fb5be-ebd9-52b2-b373-eb3832f649e1.html
  20. http://www.wiscnews.com/baraboonewsrepublic/news/local/article_0d8e845a-24d2-5408-8b17-4cb928d990d3.html
  21. https://www.mtolympuspark.com/wisconsin-dells-diamond-hotel
  22. http://www.wiscnews.com/wisconsindellsevents/news/local/article_90a6459e-4ec2-5506-b013-610b25b7748a.html
  23. http://www.wiscnews.com/portagedailyregister/business/article_7779e421-503d-517d-a985-4ee212b48f7d.html
  24. http://www.wiscnews.com/news/local/article_90a6459e-4ec2-5506-b013-610b25b7748a.html
  25. http://www.wiscnews.com/wisconsindellsevents/news/local/article_76fdba2f-a86e-5a48-a5cc-dd03e7269eee.html
  26. http://www.wiscnews.com/wisconsindellsevents/news/local/article_9b340f9a-543b-11e1-990c-0019bb2963f4.html
  27. http://www.wiscnews.com/wisconsindellsevents/news/local/article_862f33bb-f6ec-5286-b93d-96b87aea3df4.html
  28. http://www.wiscnews.com/wisconsindellsevents/news/local/article_ee58deab-e66a-5866-b3f9-43e46aeb8db0.html
  29. 1 2 3 Hades – Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park – Roller Coasters
  30. Wisconsin Dells Visitor and Convention Bureau
  31. http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/Ride-breaks-at-Mt-Olympus-313101891.html
  32. 7/15/2009 Park asks for late nights
  33. 7/29/2009 Mt. Olympus continues night openings
  34. 8/1/2009 Lake Delton changes rules on closing time
  35. 8/12/2009 Ordinance Changes Discussed
  • 2006 Wisconsin Dells Travel and Attraction Guide
  • 2007 Wisconsin Dells Travel and Attraction Guide (Ad-Lit)
  • 2007 Wis. Dells Vacation Magazine (Wis. Dells VCB)

External links

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