Sortinos opening indoor waterpark

Tuesday, 08 August 2006

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - The Sortino family hopes opening the "greatest little waterpark in the world" pays off big.

The $1.5 million indoor waterpark and improvements slated for Quality Inn & Suites will feature a 50-foot tower with two slides -- 275 feet and 251 feet -- in addition to an indoor water play structure.

Like its name, the indoor waterpark The Rain, will frequently shower guests. The waterpark -- to be built in the same location as the hotel's indoor pool -- will open in May. The indoor pool will be gone.

"We are not trying to be Kalahari or Castaway Bay," said Mike Sortino, general manager of the Quality Inn & Suites, 1935 Cleveland Road. "We are going to be the Chuck E. Cheese of waterparks."

Sortino said the hotel industry has been flat in recent years. While having an indoor pool used to be a novelty, it's no longer enough.

By itself, The Rain won't be that impressive either, he said.

However, the selling point will be the entire Greentree Complex, which the Sortinos also manage.

In addition to the 5,000-square-foot-indoor waterpark, the Greentree Complex includes the bowling alley, Cedar Lanes; the off-track betting parlor, Cedar Downs; and The Thirsty Pony racing themed restaurant and lounge.

As part of the improvements, a new bar and party rooms will be added, as well as an expanded arcade. The hotel will remain at 89 rooms.

"I have empty rooms already; we hope this fills the empty rooms," Sortino said.

The Sortino family's efforts will helped by a 10-year, 100 percent tax abatement, which was approved Monday by the city's school board. Sandusky City Commission will consider it next Monday.

"They have never come to the city before, but they thought they could use a little help with this," said Greg Sherman, who manages tax abatements for the city.

The project will bring in at least 16 new jobs, probably more, he said.

For any abatement received, the Sortinos will pay 23 percent to the school and 5 percent to the city of Sandusky.

Sortino said it's about time local entrepreneurs started creating some of their own indoor waterpark fun. While the Sortino family owns many hotels and commercial properties, the Quality Inn & Suites was selected for the waterpark because of its proximity to Cedar Point and amenities already a part of the Greentree Complex.

Sortino said the use of the indoor waterpark will come with a night's stay; however, birthday party packages and day passes in the off-season will also be available.

Room rates will increase slightly because of the indoor waterpark, ranging from $79-$179, depending on the season.

Sortino said the complex has always done well when it rains because Cedar Point guests and other tourists need something to do.

Guests from Castaway Bay, Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari also come out to bowl and eat at the end of their days, too, he said.

Sortino said the indoor waterpark also gives families the chance to afford some indoor waterpark fun without spending the $250-$350 it usually costs for the large indoor waterparks in the area.

"Every person has a little boy or girl in them and wants to play in the rain," said George Sortino, president of Sortino Management and Development.

Construction on the indoor waterpark will begin in November after Cedar Point closes. The hotel and complex will remain open.

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