Zoombezi Bay, Inc.

What Zoombezi Bay, Inc. does

Zoombezi Bay, Inc. operates Ohio's largest water park, located on the campus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, Ohio. The facility offers water-based attractions (slides, lazy rivers, action rivers, tube rides) plus ancillary amenities including cabana and locker rentals, dining and retail, interactive park mapping, and event programming such as the World's Largest Swim Lesson and the newly launched Adventure Nights evening series.

The business monetizes through a diversified consumer revenue model: daily and multi-day ticket sales, an annual season-pass subscription that bundles free parking plus admission to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, on-site food and merchandise sales, rental upgrades, and private event bookings. Marketing is multi-channel (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, email newsletter, blog content, and seasonal events), with distribution conducted via direct-to-consumer e-commerce, on-site box office, and third-party hotel/ticket package resellers such as Arareys Travel.

Zoombezi Bay is wholly owned and operated under the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium organization, which also runs The Wilds safari park and Safari Golf, providing cross-promotional distribution and a conservation-linked brand narrative. The park serves regional families and tourists within Ohio and adjacent markets as a single-site attraction, with no disclosed expansion outside the Powell campus and no AI, API, or proprietary software product offerings.

Name

Zoombezi Bay, Inc.

Legal name

Zoombezi Bay, Inc.

Website

https://zoombezibay.columbuszoo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zoombezi Bay, Inc. operates Ohio's largest water park in Powell, Ohio, offering slides, lazy rivers, and family water attractions bundled with Columbus Zoo and Aquarium admission. It serves regional families, tourists, and group-event bookers via daily tickets, annual season passes, rentals, and on-site food and retail.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Park / Family Aquatic Entertainment

NAICS

Amusement and Theme Parks (713110), Amusement and Theme Parks (71311)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor Water Parks (Wave Pools, Lazy Rivers, Slides) (THAAABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Parks (Outdoor/Indoor, Wave Pools & Slides) (THAJAEAB), Standalone/Pay-Per-Entry Water Parks (Day-Visitor Focused) (THAAABAD), Water Parks (THAAAAAB)

Keywords

• Water park attractions
• Family entertainment
• Seasonal amusement park
• Aquatic recreation
• Themed water rides

Headquarters

HQ city

Powell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket and Admission Sales: Revenue generated from individual ticket sales for daily admission to the water park. Tickets are sold online through the company website and at the park entrance.
2. Season Passes: Annual membership passes providing unlimited access to the water park throughout the operating season, along with free parking and admission to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
3. Upgrades and Rentals: Additional revenue from cabana rentals, locker rentals, and other upgrade options to enhance the guest experience.
4. Food and Merchandise: On-site food, beverage, and merchandise sales within the park.
5. Event Bookings: Revenue from booking private events at the park venue.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Zoombezi Bay, Inc. operates a large seasonal water park in Powell, Ohio, offering water slides, wave pools, a lazy river, and other aquatic attractions for families and general visitors. The park generates revenue from daily admission, 2-Day Combo tickets bundled with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, season passes, premium rentals (cabanas, adult-only loungers, lockers), in-park food and merchandise, and group or private event bookings.

Product overview

Zoombezi Bay is Ohio's largest water park offering a unified visitor experience combining water attractions, slides, and family entertainment. The core product portfolio includes the main water park with rides and attractions, supported by ticketing products (day tickets, 2-Day Combo Tickets, and Season Passes), food and retail services, and event programming including the World's Largest Swim Lesson and new Adventure Nights for 2026. Add-on rental services such as Adult Only Loungers enhance the visitor experience. The park is affiliated with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, with ticket purchases supporting the Zoo's conservation programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zoombezi Bay Water Park Admission
• 2-Day Combo Ticket with Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Two-day combo ticket that provides one day of admission to Zoombezi Bay and one day of admission to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, offering a multi-attraction value bundle for families and tourists.
• Season Pass Multi-visit pass granting unlimited or repeated admission to Zoombezi Bay throughout the operating season, targeted at local repeat visitors and families.
• Cabana Rentals Private, shaded cabana units that groups or families can rent for the day, providing a reserved rest area within the water park.
• Adult Only Lounger Rentals Reserved adult-only lounger seating that can be rented for a relaxing, kid-free area within the park.
• Locker Rentals Daily-rental lockers for guests to store personal belongings, clothing, and valuables while visiting the water park.
• Food and Beverage Concessions In-park food, beverage, and dining options available to guests throughout the water park, including all-you-care-to-eat and à la carte concessions.
• Merchandise and Retail Shops On-site retail shops selling Zoombezi Bay and Columbus Zoo and Aquarium branded merchandise, souvenirs, swimwear, and guest convenience items.
• Group Events Group outing packages offered to schools, camps, community groups, and other large parties, typically including reserved areas, meal options, and coordinated entry.
• Private Events and Birthday Parties Private event rentals and birthday party packages offering reserved spaces, food, and dedicated service for celebrations hosted at the park.
• Adventure Nights (2026 Season) New after-hours event experience debuting in the 2026 season, providing an evening-themed attraction offering beyond standard daytime water park operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lifeguards can earn up to $20/hour indicating competitive market positioning

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Columbus Zoo and AquariumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZoombezi Bay is owned and operated by the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Every ticket to Zoombezi Bay includes admission to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and a portion of ticket purchases supports the zoo's conservation programs. The two attractions share branding and marketing.
• The WildsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Wilds is a sister safari park under the Columbus Zoo umbrella. Cross-promotional links appear on Zoombezi Bay's website as part of the 'Our Parks' and 'Fun in More Places' sections.
• Safari GolfminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafari Golf is a golf course also operated under the Columbus Zoo organization. Promoted alongside Zoombezi Bay as an additional nearby attraction.
• Arareys TravelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party travel booking platform offering hotel and ticket package combinations for Zoombezi Bay visitors.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Kalahari Resorts: Kalahari Resorts operates indoor water park resorts, including a large Ohio location. Comparable as a water park-focused operator competing for the same family travel and group event market, with a stronger indoor/year-round model and on-site lodging that Zoombezi Bay lacks.
• Dollywood's Splash Country: Splash Country is a dedicated water park co-located with the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee. Comparable because it pairs a water park with a broader attraction brand to drive multi-day visits, mirroring Zoombezi Bay's bundling with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
• Great Wolf Lodge: Great Wolf Lodge operates a chain of indoor water park resorts across the U.S., including locations in Ohio. Comparable because its core offering is a water park experience, and it directly competes for family leisure and staycation spend, though it differentiates with indoor year-round operations and on-site lodging.
• Schlitterbahn: Schlitterbahn is a water park brand operating parks in Texas and Kansas. Comparable as a dedicated water park operator with a similar ride mix (lazy rivers, slides, family attractions) and a regional destination model, though it operates in different geographies.
• Holiday World & Splashin' Safari: Holiday World & Splashin' Safari is a regional theme and water park complex in Indiana. Comparable as a single-site Midwestern park that combines a water park with adjacent attractions, similar in scale and seasonality to Zoombezi Bay, and competing for the same drive-to regional family market.
• Splish Splash: Splish Splash is a regional water park on Long Island, New York. Comparable as a large, single-site outdoor water park offering slides, wave pools, and lazy rivers to a regional family audience, with a similar seasonal operating model and price point.
• Six Flags Hurricane Harbor: Six Flags operates a chain of Hurricane Harbor water parks across the U.S. Comparable as a multi-site water park operator with similar ride portfolios (slides, lazy rivers, wave pools), but it is part of a much larger amusement park parent and operates multiple regional locations.
• Water World: Water World is a large regional water park in Colorado. Comparable as a single-site, large-scale outdoor water park with a broad mix of slides, lazy rivers, and family attractions, serving a regional drive-to market similar to Zoombezi Bay's central Ohio catchment.

Broad incumbents

• Kings Island: Kings Island is a large Ohio amusement park that includes a water park (Soak City). Comparable as a same-state regional competitor for family entertainment dollars and a same-season operating model, though it is a broader amusement park rather than a dedicated water park.
• Cedar Point: Cedar Point is a major Ohio-based amusement park resort with a water park component (Cedar Point Shores). Comparable because it competes for the same regional family leisure dollars in Ohio, but it is a much larger, established destination with a broader portfolio of thrill rides and resort lodging.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdlbQcwUpbqehSZ7pAKQBSw
• Facebookfacebook.com/zoombezibay
• Instagraminstagram.com/zoombezibay
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zoombezi-bay-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zoombezi Bay, Inc.