"Great Wolf Lodge" is a big name in indoor water park resorts: the original is in Wisconsin Dells, the little town that started the trend. Great Wolf Lodge still has a big presence there but is also colonizing other towns, spreading the brand to Great Wolf Lodge Poconos, Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky, Williamsburg VA, and more.
Great Wolf Lodge: Signature Features
Generally a core set of features repeat at the Great Wolf Lodge waterpark resorts.
The Lodges:
- attractive rustic look
- Grand Lobby, typically 4-storey, with giant fieldstone fireplace
- Clock Tower in the Grand Lobby (with animated show)
- all-suite guest rooms, including suites that can sleep eight, and themed suites such as Wolf Den with a "room within a room" for kids
- family restaurants
Water Park Features
Again, certain features repeat at most Great Wolf Lodges:
- Bear Track Landing is the main indoor waterpark, with a mix of features such as waterslides, wave pool, toddler pool, etc..
- Fort MacKenzie is a multi-level tree-house with spray guns, fountains, hoses, and a giant bucket at the top that spills water all over
- indoor water pool (called Beaver Tail Lake, and Rainbow Lake, Slap Tail Pond at different properties)
- Howlin' Tornado: a 6-storey funnel tube slide
- Spirit Island is an additional waterpark (at Great Wolf Lodge Wisconsin Dells) with waterslides, lazy river, activity pool, etc.
- Raccoon Lagoon, or Loon Lagoon, are names for the summertime outdoor pool at some resorts, with geysers, sprayers, water basketball, etc.
- Thunder Bay: outdoor summertime pool area. Features vary at different properties; the Wisconsin Dells Great Wolf Lodge has a giant pool, geyser, version of Fort MacKenzie play zone, kiddie bumper boats, family cabanas.
"Dry" Fun
As above, you'll find most features at most Great Wolf Lodges, but some locations have special offerings, too. And don't forget the Seasonal Fun, below.
- musical show every night at the Animated Clock Tower in the Grand Lobby, followed by night-time story-telling
- Cub Club for kids, with crafts and activities to do with parents
- Mascots Wiley™ the Wolf and Biko™ the Bear
- Northern Lights™ Arcade
- Some properties have Elements Spa, with Aveda® products; other spa types are found also; Iron Horse™ Fitness Room at some properties
- MagiQuest interactive fantasy game is available at many Great Wolf Lodges. Players make their way through the Lodge, following an Adventure, seeking magical items, and pointing at them with a special Wand that causes crystals to glow, and boxes of treasures to open, and yield up clues to continue the game.
- Wiley's Woods multi-level "foam ball play center" - at Great Wolf Lodge Wisconsin Dells.
Seasonal Fun
Howl-O-Ween. Halloween-themed activities in October might include:
- nightly story-time in the Grand Lobby gets Halloween-ish
- rooms decorated in Haunted Forest, wizard, dragon and other themes
- trick-or-treat trails, with colorful characters
- costume contests, pumpkin decorating, horse-drawn hay rides, crafts such as masks or Jack-o-lanterns.
Snowland. This holiday season happens at all Great Wolf Lodges in December. Features typically include:
- Grand Lobby decorations: snowflakes, icicles, lights, Christmas trees, "glacier polar bears and penguins", even indoor snow (and roaring fireplaces too)
- Santa's Arrival & Tree Lighting
- visit with Santa, North Pole University for Elves, carol sing-alongs
- animated musical Great Clock Tower Holiday Show
- bedtime storytime with Rowdy the Reindeer
- Secret Santa Station: "No Adults Allowed!" place where kids can make gifts for mom & dad
- Polar Bear Race on the giant waterslides
Great Wolf Lodge locations:
- Wisconsin Dells
- Great Wolf Lodge Poconos, PA
- Sandusky, OH
- Kansas City, KS
- Mason, OH
- Niagara Falls, Canada
- Traverse City, MI
- Williamsburg, VA
- Grapevine, TX
- Grand Mound Washington
Find out more:
- see more about Signature Features at Great Wolf Lodge (with photos)
- visit the Great Wolf Lodge site
- check recent visitors' comments for any GWL property, at TripAdvisor.com
