Best Gay Cities brings indoor waterpark dance party to Chicago
Wed. January 29, 2014 3:03 PM by Anthony Morgano
Heatwave, a private LGBT indoor waterpark dance party, hits Chicago on Nov. 15, 2014. Reservations begin Jan. 29.
Chicago, IL -
Fresh off the success of their second Out in the Park, the boys of Best Gay Cities are excited to bring the very first 24-hour, private LGBT indoor waterpark dance party to the Midwest. On Nov. 15, 2014, Derrick Sorles and Michael Snell are taking over the Key Lime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort in Gurnee Illinois for Heatwave, an over-the-top all-night slumber party benefitting the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus.
"We have always wanted to do a really unique party like this!" they told ChicagoPride.com. "Something very different than our Six Flags Out in the Park, something that really has never been done before -- to take an amazing entertainment venue and make it a private LGBT party, just for us."
"I think the event is unique and the price is right," Snell said. "You get a party AND a room for about $100 per person. You check in, put on a bathing suit and enjoy yourself for 24 hours without leaving!"
Their Facebook event page asks partygoers to envision a private LGBT paradise, 86 degrees and humid, featuring 2,000 plus adults in swimsuits and underwear, dancing, drinking, riding waterslides and partying through the night.
The event begins with check-in from 3 to 6 p.m., featuring a welcome DJ and champagne while guests get settled into their rooms. Three subsequent three-hour DJ sets will accompany a wild, indoor waterpark dance party, featuring local entertainment and dancers, that rages until 3 a.m.
"There will be a fashion show with sexy models from Ramsey J Prince and J Prince Studios and some of the boys and girls from Scarlet's posse will be on hand, as well as some dancers from CREAM," Sorles said. "So expect a lot of skin, a lot of music and fun and a lot water!"
The duo is currently working with Key Lime Cove on plans for brunch the next day -- the idea of adding an entertainment aspect (perhaps a Gospel Brunch) has been thrown around. The waterpark will be accessible that day as well, sans DJs, until 2 p.m.
Guests can book one of seven room or suite options, each of which sleep between two and 12 people. Room prices are based on a two-person occupancy, with the option to add on guests for an additional up-charge of $75-100, based on the room size. (For example, two people can book a two person room for $195 and get two tickets to the event, but they can also add on two more friends at $75 a piece, bringing their total to less than $90 per head).
Located 45 minutes north of Chicago, Key Lime Cove features 414 resort-style rooms and suites and 65,000 square feet of indoor waterpark fun as well as restaurants, bars and a 10,00 square foot arcade.
"There are several places to get food in the complex and they will have many satellite bars set up for us," Snell said. "Drinking is allowed everywhere! They also have a fantastic state of the art arcade that looks like Las Vegas, where you can take a break from the watersports -- or activities, I should say!"
Red Bull is Heatwave's lead sponsor, with another possibly being announced soon. Supporting sponsors include Scarlet Bar, Ramsey Prince and J Prince Studio, CREAM Chicago and Steamworks along with media sponsors Grab Magazine and ChicagoPride.com.
"Chicago Gay Men's Chorus has a huge network that helps us with the marketing, and as beneficiary, they want to put money aside to help young people who want to join the chorus, but do not have means to pay the yearly dues," Snell reported.
The duo hopes to make Heatwave an annual event, with the benefiting charity changing each year. Although it was initially envisioned as an event piggybacking on Out in the Park, the duo decided to make Heatwave a stand-alone event after feedback that combining the two events may be too much for some consumers.
Until now, Key Lime Cove has never sold out the entire hotel and complex to any group before, reluctant to give up their reliably busy occupancy on Saturday nights year-round. While the hotel considered hosting private events, Snell and Sorles say they had never seen a plan solid enough to tempt them before Heatwave came along. While this test run will determine the party's future, its producers have no doubts about the event's success and expect the 414 rooms to fill up fast.
"Over the years we have done Disney's/Gay Days' Typhoon Lagoon party and loved it, but it's short, it's only 3-4 hours...then you have to drive back to your hotel," the duo told ChicagoPride.com. "This is a 12 hour party all in one spot -- your room is upstairs, you can take a break whenever you want, you can swim the next day as well! You can remain 24 hours in one building! It's brilliant!"
The event is 21+ and ticket sales begin Wednesday, Jan. 29. To book your spot, call Key Lime Cove directly at 1-877-360-0403 and tell them HEATWAVE to talk with a reservation specialist.
More information, including room types and prices, can be found on their website at www.HeatwaveChicago.com.
"We have always wanted to do a really unique party like this!" they told ChicagoPride.com. "Something very different than our Six Flags Out in the Park, something that really has never been done before -- to take an amazing entertainment venue and make it a private LGBT party, just for us."
"I think the event is unique and the price is right," Snell said. "You get a party AND a room for about $100 per person. You check in, put on a bathing suit and enjoy yourself for 24 hours without leaving!"
Their Facebook event page asks partygoers to envision a private LGBT paradise, 86 degrees and humid, featuring 2,000 plus adults in swimsuits and underwear, dancing, drinking, riding waterslides and partying through the night.
The event begins with check-in from 3 to 6 p.m., featuring a welcome DJ and champagne while guests get settled into their rooms. Three subsequent three-hour DJ sets will accompany a wild, indoor waterpark dance party, featuring local entertainment and dancers, that rages until 3 a.m.
"There will be a fashion show with sexy models from Ramsey J Prince and J Prince Studios and some of the boys and girls from Scarlet's posse will be on hand, as well as some dancers from CREAM," Sorles said. "So expect a lot of skin, a lot of music and fun and a lot water!"
The duo is currently working with Key Lime Cove on plans for brunch the next day -- the idea of adding an entertainment aspect (perhaps a Gospel Brunch) has been thrown around. The waterpark will be accessible that day as well, sans DJs, until 2 p.m.
Guests can book one of seven room or suite options, each of which sleep between two and 12 people. Room prices are based on a two-person occupancy, with the option to add on guests for an additional up-charge of $75-100, based on the room size. (For example, two people can book a two person room for $195 and get two tickets to the event, but they can also add on two more friends at $75 a piece, bringing their total to less than $90 per head).
Located 45 minutes north of Chicago, Key Lime Cove features 414 resort-style rooms and suites and 65,000 square feet of indoor waterpark fun as well as restaurants, bars and a 10,00 square foot arcade.
"There are several places to get food in the complex and they will have many satellite bars set up for us," Snell said. "Drinking is allowed everywhere! They also have a fantastic state of the art arcade that looks like Las Vegas, where you can take a break from the watersports -- or activities, I should say!"
Red Bull is Heatwave's lead sponsor, with another possibly being announced soon. Supporting sponsors include Scarlet Bar, Ramsey Prince and J Prince Studio, CREAM Chicago and Steamworks along with media sponsors Grab Magazine and ChicagoPride.com.
"Chicago Gay Men's Chorus has a huge network that helps us with the marketing, and as beneficiary, they want to put money aside to help young people who want to join the chorus, but do not have means to pay the yearly dues," Snell reported.
The duo hopes to make Heatwave an annual event, with the benefiting charity changing each year. Although it was initially envisioned as an event piggybacking on Out in the Park, the duo decided to make Heatwave a stand-alone event after feedback that combining the two events may be too much for some consumers.
Until now, Key Lime Cove has never sold out the entire hotel and complex to any group before, reluctant to give up their reliably busy occupancy on Saturday nights year-round. While the hotel considered hosting private events, Snell and Sorles say they had never seen a plan solid enough to tempt them before Heatwave came along. While this test run will determine the party's future, its producers have no doubts about the event's success and expect the 414 rooms to fill up fast.
"Over the years we have done Disney's/Gay Days' Typhoon Lagoon party and loved it, but it's short, it's only 3-4 hours...then you have to drive back to your hotel," the duo told ChicagoPride.com. "This is a 12 hour party all in one spot -- your room is upstairs, you can take a break whenever you want, you can swim the next day as well! You can remain 24 hours in one building! It's brilliant!"
The event is 21+ and ticket sales begin Wednesday, Jan. 29. To book your spot, call Key Lime Cove directly at 1-877-360-0403 and tell them HEATWAVE to talk with a reservation specialist.
More information, including room types and prices, can be found on their website at www.HeatwaveChicago.com.