West Des Moines is set to become home to one of the most ambitious entertainment developments in the region with the announcement of The Grand Experience, a massive indoor water park complex that will begin construction soon. Estimated between $400-600 million, the project is one of the largest financial incentive packages ever offered for a development in the city. With its cutting-edge amenities and state-of-the-art facilities, The Grand Experience is expected to become a centerpiece of the city’s entertainment landscape.
The development will feature an expansive indoor water park with a wide variety of attractions designed to appeal to visitors of all ages. The waterpark will be housed under a climate-controlled roof, ensuring that the fun never stops, no matter the season. In addition to water-based attractions, the complex will offer a 400- room hotel complex, a conference center, and a family entertainment center, making it a one-stop location for family vacations, weekend getaways, and even corporate events.
Beyond its recreational offerings, The Grand Experience is expected to have a significant economic impact on the local community. The city has promised an extensive financial incentive package to support the project, which includes tax breaks and infrastructure investments aimed at attracting such large-scale development. Local officials believe that the water park will not only draw a large influx of visitors each year but will also create new jobs in the hospitality, retail, and service sectors. Furthermore, the attraction is anticipated to spark additional development in the surrounding area, including new hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
As construction begins, The Grand Experience will undoubtedly become a symbol of West Des Moines’ ambition to expand its role as a regional hub for tourism and entertainment. With the combination of cutting-edge design, family-friendly activities, and substantial economic impact, the complex is poised to make waves—both literally and figuratively—well beyond Iowa.
Location: Grand Avenue between 60th and 88th streets
Opening: Set to open in 2025
Work is continuing on the development of a large hotel, retail and entertainment area in West Des Moines but it may be another year or more before construction starts — and it remains to be determined exactly how big the project will be.
The West Des Moines Plan and Zoning Commission last week approved zoning changes to pave the way for The Grand Experience, a proposed complex of hotels, an indoor water park, conference center, workforce housing, restaurants and retail space hundreds of acres in size. The project was first announced in November 2022.
Jim Bergman, a developer of the project, told the Des Moines Register on Monday, “I think June-ish next year would be pretty breakneck speed” in a best-case scenario of when construction may start.
City spokesperson Lucinda Stephenson told the Register in an email it’s likely construction on the first phases of the project would start in late 2025. Stephenson added that the project has been impacted by high interest rates.
The Grand Experience would be located off Grand Avenue between 60th and 88th streets next to Des Moines University, 8025 Grand Ave., and the RecPlex, 6500 Grand Ave.
The zoning changes will be before West Des Moines City Council in August for approval. A development agreement will need approval after that — sometime this fall, according to Bergman and Stephenson.
Bergman said he expected a development agreement in the next 90 days.
The complex was originally announced as a $600 million, 226-acre entertainment district including a 100,000-square-foot indoor water park, a 400-room hotel and business conference center, a family entertainment center, a variety of dining options with different themes and experiences, new retail and office space and 1,200 housing units with an emphasis on affordable homes for workers.
Stephenson instead described a $500 million project with the same core features of a water park of the same size, an at least 60,000-square-foot conference center and nearly 700 hotel rooms across two buildings, but only at least 150 affordable housing units.
While development is definitely moving forward on the hotels, water park, conference center and some residential and commercial space on three parcels of land north and east of the RecPlex, Bergman said the future of development for The Grand Experience on a fourth parcel south of Des Moines University is still uncertain.
That parcel would contain more residential, hotel and commercial space, and not immediately developing it would save about $150 million, meaning a total project budget of something like $450 million.
Concept plans approved by the Plan and Zoning Commission show the hotels, water park, conference center, multi-family apartments and commercial buildings located on parcels north of the RecPlex and Grand Avenue.
More commercial space and overflow parking for the RecPlex would be located on a parcel east of the RecPlex and south of Grand Avenue.
Phillip Sitter, Des Moines Register – July 30, 2024