Note: Key Lime Cove is closed and is now a Great Wolf Lodge!

A TROPICAL GETAWAY IS JUST A SHORT DRIVE FROM CHICAGO AND MILWAUKEE

KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort brings a taste of paradise closer to home, making an island-inspired family vacation easy and affordable.

Last month, we had the great fortune to visit an indoor waterpark on our way to Minnesota. Key Lime Cove beckoned us as we drove by, with its colorful exterior, fun parking, and special atmosphere as soon as we entered. For those of us in the Midwest, the colors of Key Lime Cove soothes our winter-exhausted psyches, promising fun, good food, and special times. yes? yes! 

We loved our room - it had a separate room for tv, dining, and the internet. A southern-styled door slid closed, when someone wanted to sleep (or stay up late watching tv). The artwork on the walls made me long for a nice island getaway. Staying at Key Lime Cove helped assuage that longing a bit! The suite was both beautiful and luxurious - a Keurig pod coffeemaker, with Newman's Own Fair Trade Coffee Pods. YUM! Speaking of Pods, our daughter loved the ipod station, and we listened to a bit of Mary Poppins while settling in.

We did a kids activity and went around to each station, asking for their Key Lime Cove cards. WHAT FUN! Sometimes the Key Lime Cove employee would ask for a joke, or a special talent that our daughter could do (jump up and down, patting her head and rubbing her tummy, FAST).

It was also fun to explore the whole of Key Lime Cove in this way. I was most intrigued by the Spa, located at the end of a very long hallway. It was an oasis of calm!

We then entered the waterpark and played! There were plenty of lifeguards, and lots of free towels.  The folks at the first aid station were very helpful. I always go check there first, to ascertain how and where to go if there is a problem.  There was a great small kids area right in front, a wave pool attached to the lazy river, several tube rides, hot tub, and the most fun - a huge kids area in the middle, with a tipping pineapple bucket that poured a HUGE splash of water on kids and adults positioning themselves for prime soakage.

There were lots of cool themed stores, restaurants, an arcade, and a wonderful kids artistic area, where the day's activities were posted. Kids could come and go at any time, and do art, guitar hero, decorate cupcakes, color, read, do crafts, and more. I've not seen such an excellent kids area before at a waterpark or hotel!

Our family really enjoyed staying at Key Lime Cove, and playing in the waterpark. The stores were really cool, and they had a lot of fun things to purchase. We got a funky Key Lime Cove picture frame, waterbottle, and T-shirt for our 6-year old.  I am happy that we have souveniers as well as photos to remind us of our great time at Key Lime Cove.

As the sun set, the glow of the sky bathed Key Lime Cove's waterpark in shades of purple and gold. Truly, this waterpark is one of a kind.

GURNEE, IL — KEYLIME COVE.. Forget the cost of airfare. Say goodbye to long security lines. KeyLime Cove, the popular new indoor waterpark resort located midway between Milwaukee and Chicago, in Gurnee, Illinois makes a tropical vacation getaway a breeze.  

The all-in-one island-inspired resort is the newest solution for Midwesterners wanting a warm getaway without traveling far from home. Designed for both kids and adults in mind, KeyLime Cove guarantees 82-degrees year-round and 30 acres of entertainment without ever leaving the property. From the moment guests step inside they are engulfed with the sights, sounds and smells of a far away tropical escape. No detail is too small; the highly theatrical interior conjures up images of the Florida Keys and provides immediate, oh-so-needed relief from the daily grind.

“We wanted to create an environment that gave our guests the feeling of being at a far away island resort but with the convenience of being close to home,” says Dave Anderson, founding partner of KeyLime Cove. “It makes a quality family getaway easy, affordable and weatherproof.”

Resort-style suites and staterooms add to the total experience. The 414 rooms, offered in 10 different layouts, have been carefully designed keeping varying family sizes in mind. The resort also stepped-up the room amenities, outfitting rooms with high-speed Internet access, flat screen televisions, refrigerators, iPod-compatible alarm clocks, bathrobes and KeyLime Cove signature bath products. Connecting rooms can sleep up to 12, making KeyLime Cove a perfect hot spot for large family reunions.

After a quick check-in, first stop on the list is Lost Paradise Waterpark, 65,000 square feet of exhilarating fun for all ages. Giant waterslides, swirling whirlpools, lazy river tubing and a play pond for the Lil’ Limers are just some of the wet and wild highlights. More than one can count, the waterpark is loaded with extra bells, whistles, doohickeys and thingamajigs to provide endless hours of squirting, spraying and dumping of water. For those wanting to kick back and relax, KeyLime Cove’s Grotto Whirlpool Spa is nestled away for a more peaceful option.
 
When it’s time to dry off, the entertaining options continue. KeyLime Cove’s huge Riptide Reef Arcade spans 8,000 square feet and houses the latest and greatest in video gaming and entertainment for kids, tweens, teens and adults. The family-friendly arcade offers hours of age appropriate fun. Kids love to collect the Toucan Tokens and redeem them for the hottest toys, stuffed animals and electronics.

Catch the wave on Duval Street, a boardwalk of festivities including shops, street vendors and artists, live exotic birds and stilt-walkers. Pop by Pinki’s Pet Palace to create your own furry friend, or check out the daily crafts and activities scheduled in Leapin’ Lizards. Scavenger hunts, sand art and ceramic painting are just some of the fun to be discovered at KeyLime Cove.

After all of the action, guests appreciate the convenience and selection of KeyLime Cove’s on-site restaurants and eateries. Unwind on KeyLime Cove time at the exotic Crazy Toucan Margarita Grille with seafood specialties, full-service bar and live entertainment. D.W. Anderson’s Eatery and Ice Cream Parlor provides a taste of Americana with a “Lime” twist of nostalgia. The old-fashioned soda fountain features the famous “Kitchen Sink Sundae,” a real kitchen sink loaded with 24 scoops of ice cream and heaped with mountains of toppings. It can feed an entire family or birthday party. Several other eatery options provide quick grab and go favorites like pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs, chicken fingers and fries.

Those looking for a relaxing escape will find a peaceful sanctuary inside KeyLime Cove’s Paradise Mist Spa. The on-site luxury retreat offers a wide selection of massages, body and skin treatments for men, women, couples, teens, tweens and groups. Some island-inspired favorites include the Hot Lava Shell Full Body Massage, Coconut Mango Scrub  and Margarita Manicure. The signature aroma of Paradise Mist is also available for purchase in soy candles and linen sprays.

KeyLime Cove makes it easy for families to enjoy the entire resort. KeyLime Cove provides each guest with the newest Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) wristband technology. With a wave of the wrist guests can eat, drink, play, purchase and access lockers in the waterpark or unlock the door to their guest suite. So no need for guests to bother with carrying their wallets and purses while enjoying the resort and waterpark.

While family fun is top of the list, KeyLime Cove is also a fresh alternative for the off-site business meeting or private celebration. With 6,000 square feet of flexible banquet and meeting space, KeyLime Cove offers a variety of configurations that can accommodate groups from 20 to 500.

Unlike other waterpark resorts, admission to the waterpark is exclusive to KeyLime Cove guests. For more information or to make a tropical getaway reservation, please visit www.keylimecove.com or call 1-877-360-0403.

About KeyLime Cove Indoor Water Resort
KeyLime Cove is an island-inspired family vacation destination less than an hour drive from Chicago and Milwaukee. As The Official Six Flags Great America, the year-round resort features 414 suites and staterooms and offers a complete family vacation without ever leaving the property. Created to be an American coastal experience just a short drive from home, the resort’s entertainment and amenities include a  65,000 square-foot, 82-degree tropical-themed waterpark, 8,000 square-foot arcade, multiple restaurants including D.W. Anderson’s Eatery and Ice Cream Parlor and The Crazy Toucan Margarita Grille with live entertainment, Paradise Mist Spa and 6,000 square feet of banquet and meeting space. An abundance of fun is found around every corner, including the uniquely themed interior, arts, crafts, interactive festivities, shops and street vendors. For reservations visit www.keylimecove.com.

KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort in Gurnee, Illinois, offers families the must-do tropical town vacation. Designed to provide the ultimate resort experience for guests, KeyLime Cove invites families to escape to an 82-degree, island-inspired getaway that is just a short drive from home.

OPENED:    February 29, 2008

LOCATION:     1700 Nations Drive, Gurnee, Ill. 60031
•    Located midway between Chicago and Milwaukee off I-94 at the Grand Avenue exit (IL-132)
•    Next to Six Flags Great America, across from Gurnee Mills
•    TripAdvisors, the world’s largest online travel community, recognized Gurnee, Illinois as one of the Top 10 Vacation Destinations for 2009

VISIONARY:    Dave Anderson, endearingly referred to as “Captain Dave,” is the award-winning entrepreneur and restaurateur, and visionary behind KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort. As founder of the legendary BBQ franchise Famous Dave’s of America, with over 160 locations nationwide, Anderson is lauded for his ability to create highly integrated brands, which offer unique consumer experiences. Anderson has served two U.S. Presidents and three Governors in advisory roles and serves on the National Board of Governors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

MANAGEMENT:    KeyLime Cove is managed by S&L Hospitality, a privately held hotel development and management company with offices in Madison, Wisconsin and Naples, Florida.

All photos copyright Dr. Jessie Voigts. All Rights Reserved.