Abe Martin Lodge
Aquatic Center
~ story and photos by Chrissy Alspaugh
Staying indoors just isn’ t an option for kids feeling frisky during summer vacation. Thankfully, Abe Martin Lodge’ s indoor aquatic center was a mere 15-minute drive away when my boy brigade awoke one rainy morning in June.
Nestled inside the Brown County State Park’ s inn, the water park features a zeroentry swimming pool, water slide, lazy river, fountains, water volleyball, a hot tub for adults, and a whirlpool with a waterfall. The aquatic center is open daily from 10 a. m. to 9 p. m.
“ A lot of people don’ t even know all this is back here!” said lodge General Manager Gary Berquist.
Day passes cost $ 20 per swimmer. Overnight inn guests receive complimentary aquatic center wristbands with their stay. The number of day passes available depends on how full the inn is that day, and Berquist recommends calling ahead to check availability.
Going to the aquatic center didn’ t require an exhausting amount of prep and packing, like so many destinations with kids. We just had to grab our swimsuits and go. The aquatic center provides towels, and I knew we could eat at the Little Gem Restaurant on the second floor of the lodge. The restaurant, open to the public, welcomes casually-dressed diners with family-friendly breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus in a non-smoking dining room, or on the outdoor patio overlooking the park.
Dane, Kase, and Wes Alspaugh.
Walking into the aquatic center, my boys couldn’ t kick their shoes off fast enough. My five-year-old, Wes, headed straight for what he called the“ spinning water shooters.” Eight-year-old Kase excitedly eyed the water slide, and eleven-year-old Dane couldn’ t wait to try to beat me in water volleyball.
While there’ s something for everyone at this 82-degree 63,000-gallon playground, one of my favorite parts is that its size and layout clearly had watchful parents in mind. Throughout our day, even though we were occasionally playing at different features, we all could easily check in with a smile and a wave.
16 Our Brown County • July / August 2023