A former blimp hangar converted into an indoor water park with the world's largest indoor rainforest has expanded its accommodation offerings with a new hotel complex at the facility, about an hour from central Berlin by train.
In 2004, Tropical Islands, a huge dome-shaped structure that can be seen from kilometres away, was turned into a tropical microclimate with balmy temperatures allowing thousands of plants like banana and palm trees to thrive in a place that would otherwise be inhospitable.
Steadily growing since then, the indoor facility is now so large that visitors can take indoor trips up in a hot air balloon over the small rainforest, beach-like areas and maze of water slides.
While the main Tropical Islands attraction itself has numerous tents and rooms that guests can book to stay in between the tropical plants and water facilities, these can be both pricey and noisy.
The company formally opened its hotel outside the former hangar building with the name Ohana ("family" in Hawaiian), with local state premier of Brandenburg, Dietmar Woidke, present for the opening on Thursday and accepting a colourful Lei-style garland of flowers around his neck.
The new Hawaiian-themed hotel, featuring its own bowling, karaoke and other entertainment facilities, adds 500 overnight accommodation options to a water park that already receives around 1.2 million guests every year, mostly day visitors.
