Great Wolf Lodge is the biggest brand of resorts with indoor water parks. The original's in Wisconsin Dells, the top town for indoor water parks; and Great Wolf Lodge has led the pack in building new properties in other states. Indoor waterworks are only part of the fun; take a look below, at key features that repeat at Great Wolf Lodge resorts.
Click on the photos to see large-sized.
1. Impressive Welcome
Twin columns of giant sculpted wolves greet the visitor (in this case, at Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mount, in Washington.)
(Click on photos to see large-size.)
2. Indoor Water Park
Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge Resorts.
What it's all about. Sizes of the indoor water parks vary: the Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells, for instance, is "Size L" with 100,000 sq. feet of indoor water park area. Newer resorts may start off smaller, with plans for expansion.
3. Fort MacKenzie, in the Indoor Water Park
Photos © Teresa Plowright
Fort MacKenzie is prominent in the indoor water park: a multi-story "treehouse" fort with many waterplay features (squirters, soaker buckets, etc.), suspension bridges, cargo nets, and the biggest feature of them all, the 1000-gallon tipping bucket on the top - see below.
4. 1000-Gallon Dunking Bucket
Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge Resorts.
Every few minutes, in the midst of the excited noise in the water park, an insistent sound starts up: the warning bell clangs, brave souls take up positions below the 1000-gallon dunking bucket atop Fort MacKenzie, the bucket starts to tip -- then comes the crash and splash.
5. Waterslides
These two waterslides are easy fun. Guests who want more thrills have other choices: raft rides, tube rides, and signature ride Howlin' Tornado (below)... Lifeguards oversee the slides throughout the water park.
6. Howlin' Tornado
Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge Resorts.
Most of this terrific funnel-type slide is outside the building, as you can see. the Howlin' Tornado is screaming-good fun, and unlike any regular waterslide: riders (in a raft that seats four) are sloshed wildly up and down the sides of the giant funnel. Highly recommended!
7. Wave Pool and Other Pools
A giant wave pool is fun for all ages. Expect other pools, too: Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound, for instance, has a Recreational Pool for sports and for some built-in fun activities (such as the Frog Bog Log Walk, where kids -- and grownups too -swing themselves from lily-pad to lily pad, hanging onto a rope.)
8. Kiddie Play Zones
Toddlers have a large area with rubber no-slip surfaces, zero-depth entry shallow kiddie pool, and fun watertoys.
9. Outdoor Water Parks
Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge Resorts.
Some Great Wolf Lodges have outdoor water parks in summer months. Great Wolf Lodge Wisconsin Dells, for instance, gets 60,000 additional square feet in summer, with its Thunder Bay outdoor water park: giant pool with geysers; waterslides; miniature version of Fort MacKenzie play zone; kiddie bumper boats; Family Cabanas for rent.
10. Grand Lobby with Animated Clock Tower
Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge Resorts.
The Grand Lobby is several stories high and features a giant fireplace and an Animated Clock Tower where a nightly show and story-telling take place. The Lobby is big enough for activities such as Howl-O-Ween trick-or-treating or a disco at night. During December, it transforms into Snowland.
