Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park

Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park is a privately operated amusement-park and water-park resort complex in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, one of the largest concentrations of water-park tourism in the United States. The property combines outdoor and indoor water attractions, roller coasters, go-kart tracks, family rides, lodging, and themed resort areas under an Ancient Greek and Roman mythology concept. Its name refers to Mount Olympus, the legendary home of the Greek gods, and its attractions use names associated with figures and places including Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Medusa, Triton, Atlantis, Delphi, Icarus, and the Parthenon. The business developed from the Laskaris family's small roadside enterprises. Demetrios “Jim” Laskaris, an immigrant from Greece, and his wife Fotoula established a hot-dog stand called Big Chief in Wisconsin Dells in 1970. Although the food business struggled, the family reinvested limited savings in a three-wheeler dirt track and gradually expanded into lodging, camping, and recreation. In 1975, the family added a go-kart operation known as Goofy Karts. Their son Nick Laskaris became involved in mechanical work and track development while still young, and the enterprise later became known for elevated and multi-level go-kart courses. During the 1990s, the business shifted from a primarily go-kart-focused attraction into a broader amusement park. Cyclops, the first roller coaster in Wisconsin Dells, opened in 1995, followed by Pegasus in 1996 and Zeus in 1997. The acquisition of Crazy King Ludwig's Adventure Park in 1999 expanded the property to approximately 107 acres and increased its mix of rides and tracks. The operating identity changed to Big Chief's Mt. Olympus Theme Park in 2004 as the Greco-Roman theme became more prominent. A major transformation occurred in 2004 when Mt. Olympus partnered with the Mattei family, owners of Treasure Island Resort. Their arrangement combined the theme park with Treasure Island's outdoor Family Land Waterpark and the Bay of Dreams indoor water park. The resulting resort was branded Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park. Mt. Olympus later acquired Treasure Island outright, together with additional lodging and land. The resort also purchased nearby independent motels and hotels, rebranding many of them as themed villages such as Poseidon's Village, Zeus's Village, Santorini Village, Mykonos Village, and Mt. Olympus Village. These moves created a large integrated accommodation inventory rather than a park dependent only on day visitors. The attraction portfolio expanded rapidly in the 2000s and 2010s. Hades opened in 2005 as a large wooden roller coaster noted for its steep profile, underground sections, and inversion; after a major renovation it reopened as Hades 360 in 2013. The Parthenon Indoor Theme Park opened in 2006, giving the resort an indoor amusement component. Water-park additions included Poseidon's Rage surf pool, Triton-themed slides, the Lost City of Atlantis play area, and the Great Pool of Delphi. In 2022, the indoor water park added Medusa's Slidewheel, promoted as the first attraction of its type in the United States, along with an indoor-water-park expansion and Serpent's Pool. In 2024, the resort introduced the Rise of Icarus water-slide complex. Its Icarus Tower contains five slides, including The Journey, The Drop, The Voyage, The Flight, and The Fall, while Icaria Splash 'N Slide provides a children's water-play area. At 145 feet, The Fall was promoted as the tallest water slide in the United States at the time of opening. The resort's current positioning emphasizes high-intensity rides, large-scale water attractions, family entertainment, and bundled lodging within a strongly themed destination property. Its business remains concentrated in Wisconsin Dells and is not publicly listed.

The resort's origins lie in the Laskaris family's attempt to establish a small roadside business in Wisconsin Dells. Demetrios “Jim” Laskaris, who had immigrated from Greece as a teenager, and his wife Fotoula opened the Big Chief hot-dog stand in 1970. The venture was unsuccessful, but the family found enough savings to invest in a small dirt-track attraction. They subsequently added a seven-unit motel, camping and trailer facilities, and recreational entertainment. In 1975, the family launched Goofy Karts along the Wisconsin Dells Parkway. The operation eventually became Big Chief Go-Kart World and developed increasingly elaborate elevated tracks. Nick Laskaris, Jim and Fotoula's son, became involved in mechanical work and track design and helped the family pursue multi-level go-kart layouts. The property expanded through additional land purchases and the acquisition of nearby attractions. The introduction of Cyclops in 1995 marked a change from a go-kart business into a larger amusement park. Pegasus followed in 1996 and Zeus in 1997. In 1999, the acquisition of Crazy King Ludwig's Adventure Park brought the property to roughly 107 acres. The park was renamed Big Chief's Mt. Olympus Theme Park in 2004, reflecting the growing use of Ancient Greek mythology as the central design language. Also in 2004, Mt. Olympus entered a partnership with the Mattei family, whose Treasure Island Resort included Family Land Waterpark and the Bay of Dreams indoor water park. The combined operation adopted the Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park name. Because the properties were initially separated by the Playday Motel, Mt. Olympus acquired and demolished that motel to connect the facilities. Hades opened for the 2005 season, followed by the Parthenon Indoor Theme Park in 2006. Mt. Olympus later acquired Treasure Island and associated lodging properties, adding land, hotel buildings, and resort capacity. The company continued to buy and rebrand nearby lodging properties during the 2010s. Motels and hotels were grouped into themed villages, including Poseidon's Village, Zeus's Village, Santorini Village, Mykonos Village, and Mt. Olympus Village. These acquisitions gave the resort more than 1,300 rooms and strengthened its destination-resort model. Attraction development continued with the Lost City of Atlantis water-play area in 2012, the Hades 360 conversion in 2013, The Manticore in 2015, and the Great Pool of Delphi in 2016. A proposed Slidewheel attraction was announced in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the project. It was ultimately announced as Medusa's Slidewheel in 2021 and opened during the 2022 season, together with indoor water-park improvements. The Rise of Icarus opened in 2024. Its 145-foot Icarus Tower and associated children's play area expanded the resort's emphasis on record-oriented water attractions. Today Mt. Olympus operates as a privately held, family-associated resort combining amusement rides, water parks, lodging, and ancillary entertainment in Wisconsin Dells.

1. 2024Rise of Icarus opens

   A new water-slide tower and children's water-play area opened, including a 145-foot slide promoted as the tallest in the United States.

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2. 2022Medusa's Slidewheel opens

   The indoor water park opened a rotating Slidewheel attraction after installation delays.

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3. 2016Great Pool of Delphi opens

   The resort introduced a 27,000-square-foot swimming pool holding approximately 500,000 gallons.

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4. 2013Hades becomes Hades 360

   A renovation added a 360-degree inversion to Hades.

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5. 2012Lost City of Atlantis opens

   The resort added a three-acre outdoor water-play area with slides, a large tipping bucket, and a geyser.

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6. 2006Parthenon Indoor Theme Park opens

   The resort opened a 43,000-square-foot indoor amusement building.

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7. 2005Hades opens

   The Hades wooden roller coaster opened and became one of the resort's signature thrill attractions.

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8. 2004Mt. Olympus theme identity is adopted

   Big Chief Karts and Coasters was renamed Big Chief's Mt. Olympus Theme Park as Greek mythology theming became central to the property.

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9. 2004Water-park partnership creates the resort complex

   Mt. Olympus partnered with Treasure Island Resort to combine theme-park, outdoor-water-park, and indoor-water-park operations.

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10. 1997Zeus opens

    The park expanded its coaster portfolio with Zeus.

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11. 1996Pegasus opens

    The park added the Pegasus wooden roller coaster.

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12. 1995Cyclops opens

    Cyclops became the first roller coaster in Wisconsin Dells.

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13. 1975Goofy Karts is established

    The family added a go-kart attraction, beginning the recreational business that later developed into Mt. Olympus.

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14. 1970Big Chief hot-dog stand opens

    Jim and Fotoula Laskaris opened the family's first Wisconsin Dells venture, a hot-dog stand called Big Chief.

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A large, value-oriented destination resort combining Greek mythology theming, high-thrill amusement rides, indoor and outdoor water parks, and extensive on-site lodging.

• Outdoor Theme ParkAmusement park1995

  The outdoor theme park combines wooden roller coasters, go-kart tracks, thrill rides, children's rides, arcade-style activities, and paid attractions. Signature rides include Cyclops, Pegasus, Zeus, Hades 360, Apollo's Swing, and The Manticore. The section uses Greek mythology names and scenery to connect otherwise varied amusement attractions into a single resort identity.

• Outdoor Water ParkWater park2004

  The outdoor water park offers family raft rides, mat racing, body and tube slides, surf-pool experiences, pools, lazy-river-style attractions, and large interactive water-play structures. Major attractions include Poseidon's Rage, Triton's Fury, Triton's Rage, Triton's Challenge, The Lost City of Atlantis, The River Troy, and the Great Pool of Delphi.

• Parthenon Indoor Theme ParkIndoor amusement park2006

  The Parthenon is an indoor amusement area with family rides and activities such as bumper cars, a balloon ride, a tea-cup ride, a children's spring ride, a crazy trolley, a rock wall, and an arcade. The indoor setting gives the resort a weather-independent entertainment component.

• Medusa's Indoor WaterparkIndoor water park2004

  Medusa's Indoor Waterpark evolved from the Bay of Dreams facility associated with Treasure Island Resort. The approximately 60,000-square-foot indoor park includes slides, children's water-play features, pools, and the Medusa's Slidewheel attraction. Its indoor format extends the resort's water-park season beyond the summer outdoor operating period.

• Hades 360Wooden roller coaster2005

  Hades 360 is the renovated version of the Hades wooden roller coaster. The ride is known for steep drops, high-speed sections, underground track, and a 360-degree inversion added during the 2013 redevelopment. It is one of the resort's principal thrill attractions.

• Medusa's SlidewheelWater slide2022

  Medusa's Slidewheel is a continuously rotating water-slide structure inside the indoor water park. Riders enter raft-based slide sections as the large wheel turns, creating a distinctive combination of vertical movement, enclosed slide tunnels, and rotating machinery. The attraction opened for the 2022 season after pandemic-related delays.

• Rise of IcarusWater-slide complex2024

  The Rise of Icarus is a 2024 outdoor water-slide complex centered on the Icarus Tower. The tower contains five slides—The Journey, The Drop, The Voyage, The Flight, and The Fall—and is paired with Icaria Splash 'N Slide, a children's water-play area. The Fall reaches 145 feet and was promoted as the tallest water slide in the United States when the complex opened.

• Resort lodgingHospitality

  Mt. Olympus operates and brands a substantial collection of hotel, motel, and resort lodging associated with the park. Properties acquired over time were grouped into themed villages, including Mt. Olympus Village, Poseidon's Village, Zeus's Village, Santorini Village, and Mykonos Village. Hotel Rome is another principal lodging component of the wider resort complex.

• 2019Slidewheel project announcedProduct launch

  Mt. Olympus presented plans for a new rotating water-slide attraction at the IAAPA Expo.

  What changed. The planned attraction, initially referred to as Hercules, was scheduled for a future season but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Aftermath. The project was renamed Medusa's Slidewheel and opened during the 2022 season with an indoor water-park expansion.

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• 2004Shift from go-kart park to mythology-themed resortStrategy

  The business had developed from a family go-kart operation but sought a broader destination proposition.

  What changed. It adopted the Mt. Olympus identity, expanded Greco-Roman theming, and combined amusement and water-park operations with lodging.

  Aftermath. The change established the current resort format and enabled further attraction and hotel acquisitions.

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• 2004Partnership and later acquisition of Treasure Island propertiesM&A

  Treasure Island Resort controlled nearby outdoor and indoor water-park assets that complemented Mt. Olympus's amusement park.

  What changed. Mt. Olympus initially partnered with the Mattei family and later acquired Treasure Island and associated real estate and lodging.

  Aftermath. The transaction expanded the resort's land base, water-park portfolio, and accommodation capacity.

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• 2015Indoor water-park near-drowningControversy

  A four-year-old child nearly drowned at the indoor water park and was taken for medical treatment. Emergency personnel later recognized the lifeguards and resort staff involved in the rescue.

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• 2015Catapult cable failureControversy

  A cable on the Catapult reverse-bungee attraction snapped before the ride launched. The attraction was operated by Casco, Inc. and was removed from the park shortly afterward.

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• 2014Opa roller coaster injuryControversy

  A lap-bar malfunction on Opa in the indoor theme park caused a 63-year-old rider to fall approximately 17 feet and suffer serious injuries. The ride was permanently closed and subsequently removed.

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• 2024Mt. Olympus announces the Rise of Icarus water-slide complex

  The resort opened the Rise of Icarus complex, including a 145-foot slide tower and the Icaria Splash 'N Slide children's area.

  Product launch
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• 2022Medusa's Slidewheel opens at Mt. Olympus

  The resort opened a rotating Slidewheel attraction in its indoor water park after pandemic-related delays to the original installation schedule.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2013Hades reopens as Hades 360

  A major renovation added a 360-degree inversion to the wooden Hades coaster, which was renamed Hades 360.

  Product generation
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1. Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park
2. Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park official website