In the grand tradition of combining one awesome thing with another, Pennsylvania soon will be home to the first virtual reality waterslide in the United States. Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, a water park chain with a location in Pocono Manor, debuted the new attraction July 29 on National Waterpark Day, which seems to have been a thing for five years now. The resort is teaming up with San Francisco-based Ballast VR, a company that was founded in 2017 and creates aquatic virtual reality experiences for water park rides and swimming pools.

Ballast VR's VRSlide technology uses a sensor-based, waterproof headset that waterslide riders put on before they take the plunge on their tubes. Riders can choose one of three adventures: an African safari, an alien encounter in outer space or a castle with fire-breathing dragons. The company introduced its first virtual reality waterslide at Galaxy Ending in Munich, Germany in 2018. At Kalahari Resorts, the virtual reality experience will be added to the Anaconda waterslide. "In the past four years, Ballast VR has introduced several new attractions that heighten the thrill of virtual reality by merging out-of-this-world visuals with incredible physical sensations," the company said. In addition to waterslides, Kalahari Resorts has a large game room, black light and outdoor mini golf, escape rooms and two virtual reality arenas with zombie, pirate and Transformers games. (2021/10/15)