Who Is the Wilderness Resort Owned By?

By Robert Palmer

If you’re planning a vacation at the Wilderness Resort, you might be curious about who owns the property. The Wilderness Resort is one of the largest waterpark resorts in the United States.

It’s spread over 600 acres and located in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. In this article, we’ll explore who owns the Wilderness Resort and a little bit about their history.

Who Owns The Wilderness Resort?

The Wilderness Resort is owned by brothers Joe and Mike Eckhardt. They are third-generation hoteliers who grew up in Wisconsin Dells.

Their grandfather, Mel Flath, bought the original Polynesian Hotel in 1964. Mel’s son-in-law, Bill Kaminski, took over the business in 1983 and expanded it to include several hotels.

In 1995, Joe and Mike Eckhardt started their own business venture. They bought a small campground that they turned into a hotel with an indoor waterpark. That hotel was the beginning of what would become the Wilderness Resort.

The History Of The Wilderness Resort

The first phase of the Wilderness Resort opened in 1995 with just 79 rooms. It had one waterpark called Wild West Waterpark that was only open during the winter months.

Over time, Joe and Mike Eckhardt added more rooms and more waterparks to their resort. Today, there are four indoor waterparks at the Wilderness Resort: Wild West Waterpark, Klondike Kavern Waterpark, Cubby’s Cove Waterpark (designed for younger children), and Wild WaterDome (which has a retractable roof). There is also an outdoor waterpark called Lost World Waterpark.

The resort has over 1,100 guest rooms across several different lodging options. There are traditional hotel rooms as well as cabins and villas for larger groups. The resort also has several dining options and other amenities like mini-golf, laser tag, and an arcade.

Conclusion

The Wilderness Resort is owned by Joe and Mike Eckhardt.

The resort started with just one small hotel and waterpark in 1995 but has since grown into one of the largest waterpark resorts in the United States. With four indoor waterparks, an outdoor waterpark, over 1,100 guest rooms, and several dining options, there’s plenty to do at the Wilderness Resort for families and travelers of all ages.