Kalahari Virginia: Dinner at Double Cut and a Walk Around

Visited Friday, November 13, 2026, the day after the restaurants opened. Prices are what I saw that night and can change.

Kalahari's new resort in Spotsylvania opened its restaurants on November 12, and I went the very next night with my son and my sister. We had a reservation at Cinco Niños, the Mexican spot. On the way there we walked past Double Cut, the steakhouse, saw the bourbon wall, looked at the menu, and I asked, "you guys want to eat here instead, or Mexican?" We switched the reservation right there.

To be clear up front: this was an evening visit. We didn't stay the night, and we didn't go in the indoor waterpark. We walked around, checked out everything else, and had dinner.

Walking up at dusk

Watch the 45-second Short on my YouTube channel.

The short answer: is it worth it?

Yes. I'd go back, and I will, just to see how the place grows into itself. It's brand new and exciting. I'm hoping they keep adding entertainment, like a New Year's Eve party and events throughout the year, especially on the Fourth of July and the other big holidays. Mostly I just hope they keep it up: good food, good vibes, and a fun, relaxing place to hang out, whether you're there with family, friends or coworkers, or out on a date night.

There's already plenty to do around Fredericksburg, like walking downtown and hitting the bars and restaurants on the old streets. But for this kind of big-resort night out, the closest options used to be a drive: MGM National Harbor, Maryland Live!, or Massanutten out west. Now there's one right off I-95. My son and my sister summed it up: "It feels like an adult fun town." It's really big, there's a lot to do, and it's a good way to spend an evening.

It's also a good place to socialize. I'd guess you'll meet a lot of people from out of town, whether they're there for business or a family trip. One of them also made a good point: it's a brand-new, modern resort sitting next to a lot of very old, historic Fredericksburg, and the contrast is pretty cool.

Dinner at Double Cut Steak House

Double Cut is a steakhouse with a sushi menu too. Steaks run $55 to $68 for the usual cuts (NY strip, filet, ribeye, porterhouse), and there's a 48 oz tomahawk for $175 that serves two or three. We didn't go big, and it wasn't expensive for what we got:

• Me: prime rib sandwich, $26. Shaved prime rib on a roll with fries and au jus.
• My son: scallops and pork belly, $39. The scallops were good, not overdone.
• My sister: walleye piccata, $32.

Scallops and pork belly, $39

My prime rib sandwich, $26

They also bring out a bread loaf with cheese baked into it. Pretty cool. My sister and I each had a cocktail, a cherry old fashioned ($20) and the Beekeeper ($22), which comes out under a glass dome full of smoke. Get one just for the show. My son stuck with a Pepsi.

My sister and the Beekeeper

The cheese bread

There was a guy playing keyboard and singing right there in the dining room while we ate, which made it feel like a real night out.

The bill: $159.85 for three people, before tip, with two cocktails and decent portions. Honestly, not bad at all. That's $139 in food and drinks plus $20.85 in tax. The tax came to about 15%, which is more than the county's usual 11.3% for meals.

Service: a tad slow. It took a little while for our server to come take our first order. To be fair, it was their second day open, and they haven't gotten the workflow down yet.

Military discount: I asked about one on dinner and didn't get it, which is no big deal. The bigger one is on rooms: a staff member told us military gets 20% off.

Waterpark day passes (and the military price)

We didn't go in the waterpark this time, but we stopped at the desk. It's open 10 AM to 9 PM, and the sign had day passes "starting at":

• General admission (ages 3+): $69.99
• Military: $59.99
• Evening: $49.99

The day-pass sign at the waterpark desk

You need an ID and a credit or debit card if you order online. No outside food or drinks in the waterpark. It's huge: the resort calls it Virginia's largest indoor waterpark, at 175,000+ square feet with 50+ attractions.

Per their site, waterpark access is included if you stay overnight. Their site also lists a "Kalahari Heroes" room discount for military, veterans and first responders.

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Tom Foolerys: the stuff that isn't the waterpark

This is what surprised me most. Tom Foolerys is 90,000 square feet of indoor fun: an arcade with 250+ games, an indoor roller coaster, go-karts, bowling, laser tag, VR, mini golf, a ropes course and a zip line. Prices from their guide:

• Unlimited ride wristband: $44.99 if you're staying at the resort, $49.99 if you're not (cheaper for kids under 42")
• Bowling: $35 to $40 per lane per hour, up to six people, plus $4.50 for shoes
• Laser tag: $7. Escape room: $15.

There's also a giant claw machine where you're the claw.

Tom Foolerys from the stairs

The bowling alley

Drinks and walking around

There are a lot of bars in here. One of the bartenders told us you can carry your drink around the resort while you walk, which she said is one of her favorite perks. There's Redd's Piano Bar, the lobby bar, and a sports bar right next to the bowling alley, with TVs everywhere.

Tap to play with sound: the bartender on walking around with your drink.

The sports bar

Shari's Daiquiri Bar

Shari's is right by the waterpark doors, next to the arcade, and the bartender explained the idea: you come out of the waterpark, sit at the counter and grab a frozen daiquiri. It's a long white counter with lime-green stools and a whole row of frozen-drink machines under the menu screens.

The big souvenir cup is $28. That's for the cup, not the daiquiri. The part I liked: the bartender told us once you have the cup, you can get it refilled at any of the bars in the resort.

Tap to play with sound: asking the bartender at Shari's about the souvenir cup.

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The art gallery and the water exhibit

Don't skip the hallways. The Nelson family, who own Kalahari, have filled the place with African art they picked up in their travels, and a lot of the sculptures are for sale. There's also a clean-water exhibit where you pick up a yellow water jug, put it on your head, and walk a treadmill while a screen shows the path people in Africa walk to get water. My son tried it. It's heavier than it looks. Kalahari partners with charity: water. The guide at the exhibit told us $5 from every room night at every Kalahari goes to these projects, and that school bathrooms are Mr. Nelson's favorite, because without them a lot of girls end up missing school every month.

Tap to play with sound: the guide explaining where the money goes.

Some of the sculptures in the gallery

My son giving the jug a try

The gym

We just walked past it, but if you're staying over, the gym looks legit. It's not your standard cheap hotel gym. They have free weights and all kinds of equipment. Mary Washington Healthcare is the resort's official healthcare partner.

Where to eat

There are 12 places to eat and drink. The four sit-down spots are Double Cut (steakhouse), Sortino's Italian Kitchen, Cinco Niños (Tex-Mex, entrées around $17 to $25) and Redd's Piano Bar. There's also B-Lux Grill (burgers and shakes), a Starbucks, a candy and fudge shop, Marrakesh Market for grab-and-go, and a swim-up bar inside the waterpark. Reservations are at kalahariresorts.com/dine-va.

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Quick tips

• It's cashless. Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay only.
• The parking lot fills up. On a Friday night it was packed, even though inside felt pretty calm.
• Military and vets: ask about the 20% room discount when you book.
• Checkout is 11 AM if you stay, and late checkout starts at $50.

Kalahari Virginia questions people ask

Can you go to Kalahari Virginia without staying there? Yes. We didn't book a room or a day pass. We just walked in, had dinner at Double Cut and walked around the whole place.

Is there a waterpark day pass? Yes. When I went (November 13, 2026), the sign at the waterpark desk said day passes start at $69.99, $59.99 for military and $49.99 for evening. The waterpark is open 10 AM to 9 PM.

Is there a military discount? There's a military day-pass price (above). For rooms, a staff member told us military gets 20% off, and their site lists a "Kalahari Heroes" discount for military, veterans and first responders. Ask when you book.

Can you walk around with your drink? Yes. The bartender told us you can carry your drink around the resort, and you can refill the Shari's souvenir cup at any of the bars.

Do they take cash? No. It's cashless: cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.

I'll be back to see how it evolves. My one wish: a DJ spot where you can grab a drink and dance. They've got the live music, so let's see.