The West Des Moines City Council is approving an agreement with a developer for a complex on the city's South side that would include an indoor water park.
On Monday, the council voted to transfer nearly 90 acres of land to WDM Entertainment, LLC, along with approving more than $90 million in tax incentives to help with construction.
"This project will be an absolute game changer for our city, much like Jordan Creek Town Center was a game changer for us," said West Des Moines Mayor Russ Trimble. "This project will make West Des Moines even more of a destination than it is now."
The complex would consist of the indoor water park, a hotel, a convention center, retail space, and more.
"This water park is going to be two times the size of Great Wolf Lodge, at minimum," Trimble said. "The conference center is going to be 34,000-square feet at minimum. There's going to be restaurants, possibly a brewery, there's going to be more retail and commercial space."
The "Grand Experience" development would be located on Grand Avenue between 60th and 88th streets, near the MidAmerican Energy Rec Plex. The development would also include infrastructure agreements for the surrounding area, including widening Grand Avenue to six lanes between South Jordan Creek Parkway and Interstate 35, and reconstructing Booneville Road.
Construction could possibly start in 2025.