When Sinbad Patel, owner of Holiday Inn and Splash Bay waterpark in Maumee, Ohio, decided to add a waterpark to his hotel, he wanted something different.

Different is what he got.

Opened in November 2007, Splash Bay Waterpark is one of the first to be constructed with a dome roof. For Patel, the unique design has created opportunities and a few challenges along the way — and it’s attracting industry attention.

The 19,000-square-foot waterpark includes an activity pool with a series of interactive balance floatables; a large play structure with a dump bucket; and a shallow, zero-depth-entry children’s pool with slides and other interactive features.

Additionally, a brightly colored, 40-foot-high slide tower is suspended over a catch pool on the island in the lazy river. Looking outside the norm once again, Patel had opted to go beyond the typical lazy river experience. The 200-foot-long attraction includes a vortex, and a wave generator creates waves that flow continuously around the channel.

For guests looking to kick back, there’s an indoor/outdoor hot tub, accompanied by a mural and rockwork along the walls. Outside, an overhead roof and in-floor heating on the surrounding patio allows for comfortable use in all types of weather.

Back inside, a second-story mezzanine provides views of the entire park and houses a concessions area.

The dome roof design deserves further discussion. It enabled waterpark creators to suspend the slide tower from the ceiling, so they could place starting platforms directly over pools and other structures. This creates clear sight lines for parents and staff, as well as more floor space for expansion.

Response to the park has been so positive, Patel and his team already are considering ideas for the next phase. Nothing has been finalized, but one thing definitely has been discussed: theming.