Margaritaville Beach Resort Fins Up Waterpark
Project Type: Elevated Structure and Splash Pad
Location: Nassau, The Bahamas
The Margaritaville Beach Resort Fins Up Waterpark was designed in a Seashore Theme with Marine Inlays placed throughout the amenity. These serene colors and beach-inspired structures evoke the surrounding environment of the Bahamas and blend into the rest of the resort.
Explore the following excerpt from Aquatics International’s Dream Design 2023 Award announcement:
“While located at the Margaritaville Beach Resort, this waterpark is meant not only to occupy visitors of the resort, but also to attract cruise travelers who are docked in town for the day.
In the 65,000 square feet of poolscape, the designers provided a package of features to attract a wide swath of tourists, while ensuring that it fit within the Margaritaville brand and its Caribbean feel, as envisioned by the singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett.
One for the ages
At ground level sit the more family-friendly features.
Immediately capturing the vibe that hooks Buffett’s die-hard fans, a lazy river meanders throughout the space, which includes a children’s play structure with two slides, a rock jump into a deep dive well, and two other body slides. For the more active crowd, a surf simulator sits near the bar and lounge.
The main pool features small bubbling nozzles at the zero-entry to entertain wading toddlers. Two water slides send thrill seekers spiraling into the river. Sets of rock stairwells send kids on an exploration for hidden corridors leading to the water slides. The tunnels lead to a rock jump modeled after the Caribbean’s deep blue holes, where guests can leap into an 111/2-foot-deep pool. Inside the tunnel, a circular oculus in the ceiling releases a rushing waterfall, providing an Instagram-worthy moment for guests.
Caribbean theming is used throughout, with bright blues, pinks and greens, along with sandy shades to reflect the beach. Two large conch shells have slides going through. Surrounding the river, playful spraying toys appear in the shape of sea creatures such as an eel, pelican, turtle, and octopus. Rockwork clads the play structure, cliff jump, elevated spa, and tunnel.
For adults who want a more relaxing swimming environment, a rooftop pool and spa offers an infinity-edge view to the ocean. Designers not only took advantage of the vista offered by the port, but capitalized on this pool’s elevation to give it an exclusive, remote feel. Custom furnishings and bar/table service contribute to a feeling of luxury, while a waterfeature drowns out the sounds from the waterpark below.
A clear acrylic overflowing edge adds a sleek touch to the stainless-steel pool, but it also provides a window – into the pool for guests on passing cruise ships, and out to the ocean for those inside the water.”
Project Highlights
Facility: Margaritaville Beach Resort Fins Up Waterpark
Location: Nassau, The Bahamas
Designers: Life Floor Studio, Martin Aquatic Design and Engineering, WhiteWater, MSLA, Inc., AECOM
Install Date: April 2021
Area: 2,000 sq ft (186 m²)
Colors: Iceberg, Aviator, Bluebird, Sandbar, Gobi
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8”
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces
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