Gov. Glenn Youngkin was technically the keynote speaker for the Kalahari Resorts’ ceremonial “steel beam signing” event Wednesday afternoon, but it was founder and CEO Todd Nelson who delivered an answer to the question many are wondering.
When is the $900 million Thornburg indoor waterpark going to open?
The answer: Nov. 12, 2026.
“We’re ahead of schedule,” Nelson said. “Everything is going really, really quite well.”
More than 150 people attended the ceremony held on the 1.38 million-square-foot resort’s future grounds, which will also include a 150,000-square-foot convention center and 900 guest rooms.
Visitors on Wednesday included members of the Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors and many other government and school officials. They gathered to celebrate construction progress and generate enthusiasm for the project, which is expected to create 1,500 jobs.
At the end, Youngkin and Nelson each signed a white steel beam, with the governor stating it’s “a symbol of appreciation and endearing friendship for years to come.”
“Thank you for believing in Virginia,” Youngkin told Nelson and his family.
The $900 million Kalahari Resorts project in Spotsylvania County is expected to open on Nov. 12, 2026. (Photo by Ted Schubel)
Kalahari is family-owned and has locations in four other states — Wisconsin, Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The most recent resort opened six years ago in Round Rock, Texas. Nelson noted that the Spotsylvania project is using the exact same blueprint with the same general contractor, Hensel Phelps. However, that project was $600 million. or $300 million less than the new one because of “crazy inflation,” Nelson said.
Still, Nelson and Youngkin are anticipating a major return on their investment.
“Very few [projects] are like this one,” Youngkin said. “Nine hundred rooms, literally acre after acre of entertainment space from pools and game areas and shopping and eating areas. It’s just spectacular.”
Youngkin said Kalahari is another example that demonstrates why CNBC rated Virginia the No. 1 state in which to conduct business. His administration, he said, streamlined 80,000 regulations and adopted tax policies that make the commonwealth business friendly.
The governor noted that LEGO recently announced a warehouse and distribution facility in Prince George County, south of Richmond.
Youngkin also announced that he’s issuing Executive Order No. 49 to make permanent an inititative that was launched two weeks ago called “Made in Virginia Investment Accelerator.” The statewide effort offers support to companies looking to build a major project in Virginia. They’ll get holistic “concierge service” from every state agency to speed up the permit process, which Youngkin said has already been cut down by 70%.
“You want a permit; you’re going to get one,” Youngkin said. “You want to build; we’re going to put you to work. You want to grow; we’re going to help you. Most importantly, you want to hire Virginians or anybody else who wants to move to this great Commonwealth; we are 100% behind you.”
Nelson said that Virginia Tourism Corporation CEO Rita McClenny and Spotsylvania Business Development Manager Kevin Marshall (also a member of the county’s board of supervisors) were instrumental in getting the project off the ground. Nelson referred to Marshall, who has worked on the project for seven years, as a “true soldier,” while noting that McClenny was the first official from Virginia to visit the Wisconsin resort to gather intel.
“She said, ‘If I’m going to support this, I need to know exactly what we’re doing, who we’re getting in bed with,’” Nelson said. “So, Rita came out a couple of years ago and spent a few days with us. We had a lovely time. It was really great.”
In addition to Youngkin and Nelson, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura addressed attendees.
Segura said that while he marvels at the resort whenever he drives up and down Interstate 95, part of him wishes that construction would slow down. He said it’s inspiring to witness the various stages of development.
“I know [Youngkin] wants this project done as soon as possible, serving both Virginians and tourists from all over the world, generating tax revenue and reinvesting those profits back into the community,” Segura said. “But really what’s being done here is an inspiration. The scale of the project reminds us of the simple fact that people are coming to Virginia from everywhere … to not just experience the great tourism assets Virginia has, but also to build great things.”
