Bellevue Bay waterpark is coming to Bellevue late 2026, and Bellevue is hoping it will enhance tourism in the city. 

This new addition to the city will be the 5th largest indoor waterpark in the nation, and the largest in the Midwest. The waterpark will have a variety of slides and other water features, decided by the designers at Holland Basham Architects. Some of these features include rock climbing, slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, and much more.

“The water park will have a variety of attractions to cater to all age groups and interests,” Holland Basham Architect Tom Zuk said.

While there are other smaller water parks nearby, this waterpark will not only be much larger but is also expected to stand out more. Not only will it be close to a highway and have many slides showing on the exterior of the building, it will also have a retractable roof. This allows for the roof to be open when the weather is nice, but in the winter people can still enjoy the waterpark.

“This water park will stand out by offering a broader mix of experiences that combine entertainment, relaxation, and family friendly activities,” Zuk said. “Unlike many indoor water parks, which may focus on thrill rides, our design will balance thrilling rides with tranquil spaces, making it enjoyable for both thrill seekers and families.”

For most Bellevue residents, having a waterpark this large nearby will be very convenient. According to KETV, Bellevue residents will likely receive discounts to go swimming.

“I don’t have to travel so far to swim, I can actually have fun and it’s close to my house,” sophomore Kaelin Karl said.

To actually get this waterpark up and running, there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes. For example, the designers of the waterpark have been working on the project for a while now, choosing the best rides and layouts.

“Our process…includes reviewing safety and code regulations and best practices for water park layouts,” Zuk said. “We collaborate with a team of engineers, architects, and water park specialists to ensure that the space is functional, safe, and enjoyable.”

The designs developed will take some time to construct. The waterpark will take multiple years to turn from a blueprint sitting on a desk to a large building.

“Currently the plan for construction is to start this year late fall, early winter, depending on how the weather goes it will kind of depend on when we get out there, but that’s the current timeline,” Bellevue Director of Community and Economic Development Harrison Johnson said. “We are hoping to have the waterpark open late fall of 2026 or early spring of 2027.”

With a large and intricate waterpark comes a lot of cost. The waterpark is estimated to cost 60 million dollars, and will be paid through sales tax bonds. The city is hoping that, in time, the waterpark will pay for itself.

“So the waterpark is being funded currently with sales tax bonds approved back in February…essentially the city is borrowing money, and we are pledging sales tax dollars to repay those bonds until the water park is able to pay for its own, which once it’s constructed people are going to go there and pay their fees and buy things there,” Johnson said.

This new waterpark would be huge for any area, but even more so for Bellevue. Currently, Bellevue does not have any major tourist attractions, but with this addition, tourism is expected to grow.

“I think specifically it should introduce tourism in a major way to the city of Bellevue…corn mazes, as fun as they are, don’t bring in a lot of tourism,” Johnson said. “So what we’re hoping to do, is this is going to be, once constructed, one of the top 5 largest indoor waterparks in the US. So we hope and we predict that we’ll be able to bring in residents and visitors from roughly 250 miles from around here.”

All in all, this new addition to the city of Bellevue is new and exciting to many residents. It will add something the city doesn’t already have, and allow for tourism like the city has never seen before.

“[The waterpark is] really like this big beacon in the middle of Bellevue…it’s the biggest indoor waterpark in the midwest and one of the biggest in the country,” Johnson said.