The three largest Wisconsin Dells resorts—Chula Vista, Kalahari and Wilderness—were designed with group experiences top of mind. The resorts’ many amenities, such as spas, golf courses, supper clubs, boat cruises and of course waterparks, become an integrated component of a group’s meeting.
“There’s a growing emphasis on multigenerational and extended-stay experiences, where attendees bring family or stay longer, especially in destinations such as Wisconsin Dells that can support both business and leisure seamlessly,” said Kyra Popp, corporate director of sales, Kalahari Resorts.
Below are options for onsite group experiences that intertwine business and pleasure in the Wisconsin Dells.
Chula Vista Resort
Chula Vista Resort boasts 100,000 square feet of space, 26 meeting rooms, more than 600 guest rooms, 27 waterslides and five onsite restaurants. The resort is surrounded by the Wisconsin River and 100-foot Norway Pine trees, all within five minutes of “Downtown Dells.”
“If someone wasn’t interested in having some type of recreation or fun factor in their stay, they wouldn’t really look at the Dells,” said Krissy Kaminski Sigmund, vice president, Chula Vista Resort. “I think those meeting planners and travelers in general who are looking to take advantage of Chula Vista’s facilities, amenities [and] location are usually looking for those two things [business and leisure] blended together.”
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Chula Vista is what Kaminski Sigmund labels “the best of both worlds,” offering meeting facilities and other amenities and recreation activities that are attractive to groups.
“The most popular thing that a lot of our meeting planners are looking for is what we call that one-stop shop,” she said. “They’re interested in having their meals [and] business functions taken care of from start to finish with our in-house teams.”
Onsite activities that excite attendees include an 18-hole golf course and riverboat cruise, which is located a short walk just outside the ballroom that groups are meeting in. Corporate travelers also enjoy ziplining as a teambuilding activity.
“Golf is big business here in Wisconsin and the Midwest, so having that onsite without needing to take a shuttle to another location is a huge draw for a lot of our customers,” she said.
“We’re ready to showcase that you can not only have killer business meetings, great presentations, awesome goal setting and inspirational thoughts for those [going] forward, but you can also have a lot of fun doing it,” she added. “We don’t believe you should have to choose. We want to give you both.”
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions
Kalahari Resorts offers 1,035 guest accommodations, 16 dining options and 212,000 square feet of flexible meeting space all under one roof. The resort is also home to experiences such as an indoor waterpark, outdoor waterpark, adventure park and arcade, shopping, bowling, spa and golf club.
“Much of the beauty of Kalahari is that there is so much to do onsite,” Popp said. “Planners do not need to over plan—experiences and engagement happen organically.”
With hundreds of thousands of meeting spaces and ample opportunities for recreation, planners can count on Kalahari to strengthen connections.
“We’re seeing a shift from adding leisure to fully integrating it into the event design,” she said. “Planners are designing shorter, more impactful general sessions; prioritizing wellness and experiential breaks creating agendas that encourage exploration; and are building in time for informal networking in nontraditional spaces, all of which we do well here.”
Incorporating leisure into a meeting agenda also yields greater success, especially for planners who intentionally leverage recreational time as a strategic tool.
“When events are designed creatively, attendees are engaged and energized,” she said. “They’re more present in meetings, more open to collaboration and more likely to retain information.”
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“Blending business with leisure also increases attendance and satisfaction scores. It transforms an event from an obligation into something attendees genuinely look forward to. This all has a measurable impact on ROI,” Popp added.
A fan favorite for groups is Redd’s Piano Bar and Lounge, which offers nightly music. Another new opportunity for groups at the resort is a Midwestern dining experience, Daylene’s Supper Club.
“While people often think of our waterpark, we have many amenities onsite catering toward group attendees,” she said. “Destinations like Wisconsin Dells have evolved into full-scale meeting hubs, with resorts like Kalahari Resorts and Conventions offering expansive, purpose-built convention centers designed to host complex, multi-day events.”
Wilderness Resort
At Wilderness Resort, 1,200 is the magic number. It quantifies the number of guest accommodations across the Wilderness, Glacier Canyon Lodge and Wilderness on the Lake. It also signifies the number of guests the Wilderness can accommodate in its banquet space.
Glacier Canyon Conference Center at Wilderness Resort offers two ballrooms, two boardrooms for up to 12 and multiple breakout spaces. The largest space is the 14,823-square-foot Sandstone Ballroom, with a patio overlooking the canyon.
“When people aren’t as familiar with Wisconsin Dells, they assume that [they’re] going to be meeting in a place where there’s going to be kids running around in swimming suits and it’s not going to be a serious professional space,” said Shannon Timmerman, director of sales, Wilderness Resort. “The reality is our conference center here at the Wilderness is completely separate from where the waterparks are.”
After the meeting is when groups can venture over to the waterparks and partake in Wilderness fun. Here’s a list of additional group offerings at the Wilderness Territory:
Sundara Inn and Spa exterior overview at night Credit: Wisconsin Dells VCB Spa services at Sundara Spa
- Eight indoor/outdoor waterparks
- Golf courses for beginners, higher-level competition as well as mini golf options
- Teambuilding opportunities at the Zipline Canopy Adventure and Northern Lights Sky Ropes Course
But the No. 1 activity Timmerman recommends is Aquavia Lumina, a night walk through the canyon with music, lasers and a light show. Together, these elements combine to tell a story.
“You can’t really wrap your head around it; you have to see it to realize how cool it is,” Timmerman said.
The attraction can also serve as an opening-night ceremony.
“On its welcome night, [a group] met at Aquavia Lumina, had a little reception and then did the walk through the canyon,” she said. “Words can’t describe how cool this attraction is, and that put them off on an amazing start.”
Family Tradition
Krissy Kaminski Sigmund, vice president, Chula Vista Resort, was eight years old when she began working at the property. She reflected on her tenure at the property and reminisced about folding laundry with a blind man named Larry.
“He folded those towels better than I did,” she quipped.
The resort has been in the Kaminski family since 1951 and is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2026.
“We’ve put over $8 million into our facilities, for meetings specifically, and including some renovations to our guest rooms,” she said. “We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate 75 years and continuing to bring innovations and vacations to our guests. It’s something our ownership family is very excited to do.
“It’s unique that we’ve been in this area for so long,” she added. “I meet incredible people. I work with even more incredible staff, and the privilege is really mine.”
This longevity is also what sets Wilderness Resort apart.
“I’ve been here for 26-and-a-half years and our director of convention services, he’s been here for 20 years this year,” said Shannon Timmerman, director of sales, Wilderness Resort. “Even our assistant GM, he’s been here for 28 years. Our COO has been here for 26 years...”
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The list goes on and on.
Time spent at this property and in these positions leads to a welcoming staff and also a deeper knowledge of their client base.
“My staff knows before [the client does] sometimes what they need,” she said. “Every week in our BEO meetings, we’re like, ‘Oh, yeah, last year, remember this happened.’ We are able to be proactive just to make sure that we’re taking care of them properly.”
Much like the fourth generation of owners and operators at Chula Vista, Kalahari Resort is also family owned and operated.
“Let me take a moment to brag about the Wisconsin Dells area for a bit,” said Kyra Popp, corporate director of sales, Kalahari Resorts. “This destination was founded on the entrepreneurial and naturally competitive spirt, resulting in so many wonderful restaurants, attractions and shopping to take advantage of. Many local businesses in Wisconsin Dells are still family owned and operated, and Kalahari is no exception. Despite our growth now to five convention resorts nationwide, we’re still owned by a local family with a big vision.”
It’s safe to say Wisconsin Dells feels like home.
“We’re inviting thousands of people to our home every day,” Timmerman said.
