Post #168786 by Keaka on Wed, Jun 29, 2005 5:33 PM

As a matter of fact, I just got back from the Dells today and second your comments about the Aloha. However, with the notable exception of said store, I did not find any other real "Tiki" places. It's a real shame too because the Dells just exudes a type of aura that screams 1950's motel/cocktail lounge/cheap vacation scene. Many of the businesses have been around for half a century or more. I imagine there must have been an authentic Tiki bar there at one time in the past.
Alas, I found none. I checked out the huge waterpark/convention center called the Kalahari. Lots of cool decor and pictures and even a restaraunt called the Kahunaville but nothing really authentically Tiki. Just very, very Africanesque of course. (They did have some cool wall patterns in the lobby & Aloha shirts for sale in the shop with the brass hula dancer lamp for sale at $260.00).
Additionally I have been to the Polynesian, the Alakai and the Rain Forest hotels as well. Although all these places have some token pictures or plants or ornaments that would look good in a Tiki bar none come close for me.
Don't get me wrong these places in the Dells are really cool. Very lush in their own themes. The Great Wolf Lodge is fantastic in a Northern Woodsy type of way. The Essen House restaraunt will make you think you are in Germany and the drive-up-to-your-door Motels are wonderful throwbacks to the 60's and 70's.
Also it was hard to find any decent rum concoctions. At Sorrento's I had a Mai Tai with blended pineapple chunks held solid in a "rumish" scented slush. Horrible. (Good thing I brought my private, premixed Mai Tai in a Baccardi bottle for late nights poolside.)
Maybe I overlooked some neat Tiki places around here this area but Critiki website did not offer any other suggestions. I'll be back again probably next year since the place is just waterpark "crack" for the kids.