The resort is located on the Upper Dells of the Wisconsin River, 3 miles (4.8 km) north of downtown.
Chula Vista has been in existence since the late 19th century, when there was only one vacation home on the Wisconsin River.
Joe and Vera Kaminski became innkeepers at the hotel in 1952, and later purchased the entire complex from the Berry Family.
Also, Chula Vista completed a $200 million expansion of the entire resort, including a new 80,000 sq ft. multilevel indoor waterpark, a redesigned 18 hole Coldwater Canyon Golf Course, a condominium wing added onto the existing resort, golf villas along the fairways, an outdoor wave pool along the Wisconsin River, a riverwalk spanning the entire property, sand volleyball courts, a kiddie lazy river, a new steakhouse, and 26,000 square feet (2,400 m2) of convention space.
Coyote Mountain Indoor Waterpark In 2007, Chula Vista constructed a new sports dome just south of the resort complex.