(Valparaiso, Indiana) – Focus Development, Inc. has officially broken ground for a new Splash Universe Waterpark and A 154 room hotel located adjacent to The Shipshewana Town Center, an historic economic development project in Shipshewana, Indiana. This project includes a 20,000 square foot convention center and the 20,000 square foot Hostetler Hudson Auto Museum. The twenty-three million dollar hotel and waterpark will offer travelers a new place to stay and play when it opens late in 2006. Features of the hotel and waterpark include spacious suites designed to accommodate larger groups and families, guest laundry, arcade and game room, party rooms, food and beverage concessions and a gift shop.
The 61,000 square foot waterpark facility has 21,000 square feet of dedicated waterpark play areas including a three-story themed play tower dumping 500 gallons of water every ten minutes. Two waterslides each 250 feet long. A relaxing lazy-river inner tube ride that meanders throughout the park. Themed slides and a shallow pool with creative interactive water toys for the younger kids. Water cannons and “water walk” appealing to older children. Two hydrotherapy spas, one exclusively for adults.
The project is a joint venture with the city of Shipshewana, LaGrange County and the Hostetler family using federal and state grants, bonds and gifts to fund the development. The facility will house the LaGrange County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Shipshewana Retail Merchants Association, the Shipshewana Historical Society and the Hudson Essex Terraplane Club. The Hostetler Antique Auto Museum will house the nationally recognized Hostetler Hudson collection as well as additional antique automobiles and memorabilia. The Convention Center will accommodate groups of more than 1000 people and will be marketed to auto clubs, corporate clients, trade shows and special events. Shipshewana and LaGrange County are best known as the home to the third largest Amish population in the U.S. and the renowned Shipshewana Auction and Flea Market. The area attracts over one million visitors annually.
Focus Development, Inc. was recently named the North American Developer of the Year for 2004 by the InterContinental Hotels Group, parent company of Holiday Inn Express. Under the leadership of Jerald J. Good, the Focus Group of companies owns and operates 22 hotels in the Midwest. With offices in Valparaiso, Indiana and Sarasota, Florida, Focus Development, Inc. is a real estate development and construction company with several projects in various stages of development including the exciting new waterpark Splash Universe. Focus Hospitality Services, LLC is a full service management company specializing in select and full-service hotels, waterparks and convention centers. The Focus family of companies employs nearly 400 exceptional people through their PEO, Hospitality Employee Resources.
