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CoCo Key Water Resort

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

CoCo Key Water Resort
IndustryWater parks
Founded2006 (2006)
Fate1 active location, 10 defunct locations
Owner
WebsiteArchived 2009-01-18 at the Wayback Machine

CoCo Key Water Resort is a brand that has been used for nearly a dozen hotel-attached water parks aimed at children and families in the United States since 2006.[1] The company aimed to be moderately priced compared to Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari Resorts.[2] Currently, the brand is only used for a hotel and water park in Orlando, Florida. The brand was previously used for several water parks in the Northeast and Midwest.

At its peak, ten CoCo Key water parks operated, with each including indoor and outdoor sections and arcade rooms. The water parks also had a service bar and a snack shack branded to A&W and Pizza Hut.[1] The CoCo Key theme is meant to resemble 1930s Key West.[3]

History

[edit]

Early history

[edit]

CoCo Key started operations in 2006 in the mid-2000's real estate boom. The brand was founded by the Sage Hospitality Group based in Denver, the Wave Development LLC based in Wisconsin, the Hexagon Investments Incorporated, and other companies.[2][4] The company's business model was to convert underperforming hotels targeted to businessmen into a hotel and water park resort complex.[4] In December, CoCo Key locations opened in Columbus, Ohio, and Arlington Heights, Illinois.[4]

In January 2007, Sage Hospitality brought Greg Mount and Brian Nordahl on to the group's board as senior vice and vice president for the company's major expansion plans. Later that year, it was planned to open resort hotels in Boston and Rockford, Illinois.[4]

Sage was hit hardest in water park industry after the 2008 financial crisis. The parks were criticized due to high operating and franchise costs and for cratering to two largely different demographics; business and leisure. The hotels were underperforming with the business crowd. The resorts were also criticized by families due to their lack of theming to appeal to the business audience. The Great Wolf Lodge suffered less from the recession than Sage did, occupancy for the Great Wolf Lodge only dropped by 5%.[5]: 11 

In March 2008, the CoCo Key in Danvers, Massachusetts was ordered to close by the state of Massachusetts after families reported chemical burns on their children due to high chlorine levels; fifteen times the allowed limit.[6][7][8] The location was ordered to stay closed until proper chlorine testing kits were used and thermometers were installed on the hot tubs.[7][6] Ron Sevart, vice president of Sage's brand management responded by stating how the issue was "new to the industry" and that they contained the burns and skin irritation to 30-40 people.[8]

A two day auction in 2011 between February 15 and 17, sold the ten branded water parks individually on Auction.com after failing to sell the properties for several months.[9][10] These hotels sold at large discounts. The Sheraton hotel in Arlington Heights, Illinois, sold for $18,000 per room which is low compared to two other unrelated properties from Sage which sold at $260,000 and $370,000 per room. The CoCo Key branding was kept after the hotels were sold.[5]: 11  In many cases, the added water park lowered the value of the hotels.[5]: 13 

Rockford location

[edit]

In 2011, the Illinois Department of Public Health closed the Best Western Clock Tower Resort as the resort wasn't up to federal and state regulations.[11]

Between March 25, 2014 and April 20, 2015, the Winnebago County Health Department inspected the Coco Key Resort in Rockford, Illinois 18 times; six were due to complaints about sanitary and health concerns and 12 were follow-up visits. The inspection found that some pools had an excess amount of chorine while others had no measurable amounts of chorine. On April 20, 2015, the location was temporarily closed by the health department.[12]

On July 31 2015, it was reported that an adult women needed seven stitches after she had cut her heel on a children's waterslide and the lifeguard that treated her only wore one glove. The accident wasn't reported to the health department, a violation of state code.[12]

On August 4, another inspection from the health department found: large bolts used to hold down the mats in the children's play area, a broken lazy river pump suction gauge, and illegal water/air temperatures at 98 degrees and 79 degrees respectively. In the department's latest inspection in August, they found water park violations with: improper pH levels, a non-present official pool operator, collection of sediment at the bottom of pools, "floating matter" present on the surface of a pool, and dirty pool decks. The property also had other violations with peeling paint, leaking pipes, an odor of mildew, and an unclean and unmaintained restroom; including broken urinals and toilet paper help up by paper clips and wires.[12]

On August 6, the location's license was revoked by the health department for unfixed violations due to general negligence in regards public health and safety. Todd Marshall, the health department's director of environmental health stated that they set up an agreement and offered a public hearing, however, this wasn't followed up by Rockford Clock Tower Resort hotel. This prompted the hotel to put up signs on its door stating that the resort was closed for maintenance purposes.[12]

On August 20, the water park and resort complex was condemned by the city of Rockford due to gas leaks, plumbing leaks, water leaks near electrical equipment, and poor ventilation. On September 4, a follow up inspection requested by the resort found a water leak was found in one of the elevator shafts, which made the elevator unusable. This led the elevator to be pumped out. On September 8, the city tried to find the source of the leak.[12] These violations originally costed the location $250,000.[12][13]

In December, Steve Hsu, the manager of the site, stated that they were addressing the site's violations, however, the location couldn't reopen without city's and health department approval and repairs to the temperature control system; which would take four months and cost $200,000.[13][14]

Omaha location

[edit]

In September 2012, a hazmat crew was called to deal with a chlorine gas leak in the CoCo Key location in Omaha, Nebraska.[15]

In July 2018, the Douglas County health department closed the CoCo Key water park in Omaha after noting: rough and loose flooring in the lazy river, sand in the bottom of a pool due to a bad filtration filter, malfunctioning pool lights, and an inability to find lifeguard certifications.[16][17][18] It was also found that the first aid kits needed refilling.[18] In response, Mario Mandolfo, the site's general manager, stated that the lifeguard certificates were in his office, not the water park's. He also stated that they took a "band aid" approach to fixing things and that he took full blame for the violations. Mandolfo paid $50,000 in repairs. The site had trouble reopening after the bank foreclosed it. On October 18, the location opened with a new set of employees and financial assistance from a bank in South Dakota.[16][19]

In 2021, the location was sold by an outside developer. Two months later, in June, the site was closed again by the county health department after a complaint from Janie Rapier, who visited the hotel as a guest.[15]

Sharonville location

[edit]

In May 2015, the Coco Key resort's water park in Sharonville, Ohio was ordered to temporarily close by the Ohio Department of Agriculture due to a broken water sanitizer system, which had been partially broken since February of that year. An officer for the Hamilton County Department of Health also stated that the site got complaints about the pool and bed bugs.[20]

On November 10, the location was closed and evacuated by the state's fire marshal after over one-hundred violations including non-working sprinklers, unfunctional fire alarms, and blocked, malfunctioning, or unsafe emergency exits.[21][22] CoCo key's director of operations agreed with the fire marshal's decision, stating that the company would try to get the problems solved to get the property up and running. The franchise's owner, Kumar Vemulapalli stated he would let his attorneys handle the situation.[22] The next day, Vemulapalli stated that he didn't know anything about the May and November violations as he thought the building was in working condition. He also stated that the same fire marshal closed his Travel Lodge property in Sharonville.[23] On November 11, the property was inspected[22] and was worked on by a contractor.[23]

Locations

[edit]

Current location

[edit]

The CoCo Key Hotel & Water Resort in Orlando opened in April 2010.[24] This property was owned by CNL Financial Group when opened, though has since changed hands.[25]

Former locations

[edit]

All of these locations were owned by Hexagon Investments, and were auctioned off in February 2011 (other than Arlington Heights, as it had been closed and sold off previously).[25]

LocationAssociated hotel(s)OpenedClosedNotes
Arlington Heights, Illinois (serving the Chicago area)Sheraton Chicago Northwest HotelDecember 2006December 2009[26]Closed due to the 2008 Global Recession.
Rockford, IllinoisBest Western Clock Tower ResortJanuary 2007August 20, 2015Shut down by the city of Rockford.[27] The resort was later bulldozed and replaced with a Hard Rock Casino,[28] which opened on August 29, 2024.[29][30]
Newark, Ohio (serving the Columbus area)Cherry Valley LodgeDecember 2006November 2017[31][32]Closed due to low attendance. The water park portion was demolished[33] and renovated as the Ohio Event Center in 2019.[34][35]
Danvers, Massachusetts (serving the Boston area)Sheraton Ferncroft ResortMay 2007March 2020Closed due to COVID-19 pandemic, later reopened as Water Park of New England.
Omaha, NebraskaHoliday Inn Omaha Convention CenterSeptember 2007June 2021Shut down by health department. An apartment complex[36] and a two story dentistry are planned for the site[37]
Sharonville, Ohio (serving the Cincinnati area)Crowne Plaza and Fairfield InnNovember 2007May 2016Changed management and reopened as Splash Cincinnati in May 2016,[38] shut down by health department in July 2018.[citation needed]
Kansas City, MissouriSheraton Kansas City Sports Complex HotelMay 2008March 2020Closed due to COVID-19 pandemic. The location was replaced with a pickleball stadium in 2025.[39] In 2026, the site was later redeveloped with mixed-use development for the Truman Sports Complex and its world cup events.[40]
Waterbury, Connecticut (serving the Hartford area)Holiday Inn WaterburyOctober 2008May 1, 2016[41]The associated hotel and resort were demolished and replaced with a Restaurant Depot,[41] which opened on December 6, 2017.[42]
Mount Laurel, New Jersey (serving the Philadelphia area)Marriott Mount LaurelNovember 2008March 2020Closed due to COVID-19 pandemic. On August 9, the location was auctioned off.[43] In October 2023, the property was announced to reopen under a new name.[44][a]
Fitchburg, MassachusettsCourtyard FitchburgDecember 2008September 2013Reopened after major renovations as Great Wolf Lodge in June 5, 2014.[45]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 "CoCo Key Water Resorts". Aquatics International. January 1, 2009. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "New CoCo Key Owners Identify Missed Opportunities for Waterparks". Aquatics International. August 22, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Smarte move by CoCo Key". www.leisure-kit.net. Smarte Carte Inc. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Sage Hospitality in expansion mode - Denver Business Journal". Denver Business Journal. January 10, 2007. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 Inside: waterpark attendance figures (PDF). Vol. 7. InParkMagazine. Fall 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  6. 1 2 Lewis, Brendan (March 5, 2008). "State closes Middleton water park". Wicked Local. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  7. 1 2 Johnson, O'Ryan (March 6, 2008). "High levels of chlorine shut down water park". Boston Herald. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Chlorine Problems Shut Pools, Injure Patrons". Aquatics International. May 1, 2008. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  9. ↑ "10 CoCo Key Water Resorts properties to be publicly auctioned". Hotel Magazine. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels to Launch Exclusive Hotel Auction on $450 Million Water Park Portfolio in February". InPark Magazine. January 27, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  11. ↑ Stanley, Greg (October 4, 2011). "CoCo Key, Cliffbreakers among pools closed for code upgrades". Rockford Register Star. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Haas, Kevin (September 7, 2015). "CoCo Key Water Resort in Rockford condemned after unsafe, unsanitary condition complaints". Rockford Register Star. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Illinois Indoor Water Park Still Closed After Health, Safety Problems". NBC Chicago. December 21, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  14. ↑ Stanley, Ben (December 20, 2015). "Health Department: CoCo Key Water Resort in Rockford hasn't addressed health and safety violations, will remain closed". Rockford Register Star. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  15. 1 2 "Omaha waterpark Coco Key closes again". WOWT (Video). June 23, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  16. 1 2 "Coco Key to re-open after health code violations". KMTV. October 18, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Coco Key Water Resort temporarily closed after failing health inspection". KETV. July 11, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  18. 1 2 "CoCo Key fails health inspection, shuts doors". WOWT. July 11, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  19. ↑ Monroe, Waverle (October 18, 2018). "CoCo Key Water Resort re-opens, future is still uncertain for plaza". KETV. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  20. ↑ Hawley, Brad; Lanier, Shawn (May 5, 2015). "CoCo Key's water park shut down due to broken disinfection system". Fox 19 Now. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  21. ↑ McBride, Kelly (November 15, 2015). "CoCo Key in Sharonville closed for safety issues". The Enquirer. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  22. 1 2 3 CoCo Key Water Resort closed over fire code violations (Video). WCPO 9. November 10, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via YouTube.
  23. 1 2 CoCo Key owner says he was unaware of violations (Video). WCPO 9. November 11, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2026 – via YouTube.
  24. ↑ "Coco Key Water Resort opens on I-Drive in Orlando". Orlando Sentinel. April 23, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  25. 1 2 Rice, Alison (August 22, 2013). "New CoCo Key Owners Identify Missed Opportunities for Waterparks". Aquatics International. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Sheraton Chicago NW and CoCo Key Water Resort Arlington Heights Closure". www.cocokeywaterresort.com. CoCo Key Water Resort. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  27. ↑ Star, Kevin Haas Rockford Register. "CoCo Key Water Resort in Rockford condemned after unsafe, unsanitary condition complaints". Rockford Register Star. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  28. ↑ Kolkey, Jeff. "Goodbye, CoCo Key, make way for Hard Rock Rockford". Rockford Register Star. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Hard Rock Casino Rockford". 500 Nations. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Hard Rock Casino Rockford Reveals Grand Opening Date for Permanent Facility". Hard Rock Casino. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  31. ↑ Rose, Marla Matzer. "Newark's CoCo Key water resort has closed". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  32. ↑ Sukosd, Csaba (November 28, 2017). "Coco Key Water Resort in Newark suddenly closes". WSYX. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Waterpark resort development: successes and pitfalls". InPark Magazine. August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  34. ↑ Mallett, Kent. "Cherry Valley Hotel, not lodge, reopens with event space, not waterpark". Newark Advocate. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  35. ↑ Weiker, Jim (October 24, 2019). "Cherry Valley Hotel reopens in Newark, minus the water park". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  36. ↑ Gonzalez, Cindy (August 3, 2022). "255 market-rate apartments to sprout on part of Omaha's old CoCo Key water park resort • Nebraska Examiner". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Transforming an old water park and convention center in central Omaha • Nebraska Examiner". Nebraska Examiner. November 2, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  38. ↑ McBride, Kelly (May 5, 2016). "Coco Key under new ownership". The Enquirer. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  39. ↑ Navarro, Jiani (June 9, 2025). "Former Coco Key Water Resort transformed into pickleball venue". KCTV. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  40. ↑ Godding, Chloe (April 7, 2026). "Vacant hotel near Truman Sports Complex turns into mixed-use space ahead of World Cup". KMBC. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  41. 1 2 "CoCo Key Resort in Waterbury Closes". NBC Connecticut. May 2, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  42. ↑ "Grand Opening Waterbury, CT". Facebook. Restaurant Depot. December 5, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  43. ↑ Smythe, Laura (June 29, 2021). "Water park resort once dubbed 'best hotel in South Jersey' heads to auction". Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  44. ↑ Whittaker, Celeste E. (October 3, 2023). "Updated waterpark, new eats at former Chili's site among what's new in Mount Laurel". Courier-Post. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  45. ↑ Owen, Paula J. (May 29, 2014). "Great Wolf Lodge water park resort in Fitchburg to open June 5". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved July 31, 2026.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ No sources state that this water park opened
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=CoCo_Key_Water_Resort&oldid=1367386215"