Hey, Tigers! Welcome back to another one of my articles! If this is your first time reading one of my pieces, please make sure to check out the other ones I have written! Right when I was struggling to choose a topic to write about for this edition of The Tiger, me and my family decided to go on an early Spring Break trip to Great Wolf Lodge. That’s when I was inspired to write about this topic. I have made countless memories at this hotel with my family and friends, as I have gone here since I was very young. Great Wolf Lodge has undergone many changes in the past year. Just a few years ago, the hotel changed its name and was remodeled. I strongly encourage you to keep reading and find out more about the history of Great Wolf Lodge and its current state. I hope this article will inspire you to visit with your family any time you’re looking for a little getaway to make lasting memories, the same way I have been able to. This is especially great if you’re looking for somewhere to take your younger siblings this Spring Break!

What is Great Wolf Lodge?

The Great Wolf Lodge is a chain of resorts that are known for their indoor water park and activities, such as mini golf, rope courses, bowling, arcades, wall-climbing, and MagiQuest adventures as well as restaurants, snack and treat shops, and stores. They also have a list of activities they host throughout the week, such as dance parties, story times, crafts, etc. And, of course, there are hotel rooms and suites. (Well, duh!! That’s literally what a hotel is! You can’t have a hotel without rooms…like girl, what!?) There are a total of 23 different locations in the United States. Below is a list of various locations.

• Grand Mound, WA
• San Francisco/Manteca, CA
• Anaheim, CA
• Scottsdale/Salt River, AZ
• Colorado Springs, CO
• Dallas/Grapevine, TX
• Houston/Webster, TX
• Kansas City, KS
• Minneapolis/Bloomington, MN
• Wisconsin Dells, WI
• Traverse City, MI
• Chicago/Gurnee, IL (This is the location I visit and I love it because it is close to home, the hotel is large, and it is very clean.)
• Niagara Falls, Ontario, CA
• Sandusky, OH
• Cincinnati/Mason, OH
• Atlanta/LaGrange, GA
• Naples, FL
• Charlotte/Concord, NC
• Pocono Mountains, PA
• Baltimore/Perryville, MD
• Williamsburg, VA
• Mashantucket, CT
• Boston/Fitchburg, MA

History Behind Great Wolf Lodge

The water park slides and pools were similar when the hotel was Key Lime Cove, but the decor now is very different. The inside of the water park may have reminded you of your childhood bedroom back when it was Key Lime Cove. When this resort opened in 2008, it was known as the official resort of Six Flags Great America. In 2017, it was announced that the resort would undergo renovations and change its name to Great Wolf Lodge. The resort officially became Great Wolf Lodge in 2018. Since then, there have not been any major changes.

Other important info for your stay 

You should know that the prices for rooms typically vary depending on what kind of suite you would like to stay in, the time of the year, day of the week, and availability. Check-in time typically begins at 4pm and check-out time is 11am. Water park passes are included with your stay. The water park is open from 10am to 8pm Monday-Thursday. Friday the water park is open from 10am to 9pm, Saturday from 9am to 9pm, and Sunday from 9am to 8pm. 

Great Wolf Lodge Restaurants

Great Wolf Lodge has 10 dining options: Barnwood; Campfire Kitchen; Hungry as a Wolf; Buckets, Burgers, & Bites; Timber’s Tacos; Wood’s End Creamery; Dunkin’; The Watering Hole; The Outpost; and Freshwoods Market. You can find all of their menus on the Great Wolf Lodge site. Barnwood is a great restaurant to dine in for dinner with your family during your stay. Though they are quite expensive, they offer delicious American cuisine along with a bar. Campfire Kitchen is a breakfast buffet with American cuisine. Hungry as a Wolf has pizzas, salads, and pasta for your entire pack! As it says on the website, at Buckets, Burgers, & Bites, you can enjoy burgers, chicken, and so much more. This is my personal favorite as they have such a large variety of food options for somewhat reasonable pricing. Timber’s Tacos has a Mexican cuisine that offers street tacos, salad, and snacks! If you have a sweet tooth, make sure to stop at Wood’s End Creamery to fill that craving with some delicious ice cream. Then, of course, they have a Dunkin’! The Watering Hole is a bar located in the water park open during lunch and dinner time. There is also the Outpost which is bar-only. Finally, there is Freshwoods Market, a Grab & Go option; it’s like Great Wolf Lodge has their own 7-eleven located in their hotel! They have drinks and quick snacks. Also, after a certain time, usually around noon, Dunkin’ closes, however, you can usually find some leftover donuts at Freshwoods Market. All restaurant hours depend on the day, time of the year, and the meal time for which they are open. You can even purchase dining deals before your stay to save some money. There is a platinum dining deal, best suited for a family, at the cost of $120 that offers $150 of dining credit valid at all restaurants. Then there is a gold dining deal, best suited for a family, that costs $85 that offers $100 dollars of dining credit valid at all restaurants. There is also a silver dining deal, best suited for a family, with the cost at $45, and in return you receive $50 of dining credit valid at all restaurants. Finally, there is a dining deal known as the Wolf Wakeup Breakfast. This package is a bit different from the others as it is for the breakfast buffet only and you are charged $17.99 per person each day.

Attraction Passes

Great Wolf Lodge offers 3 different attraction passes that all benefit you by saving time and money. Firstly, they offer their best value, Wolf Pass. This pass is best suited for family, teens, and children with the cost at $79.99 per package. A single package includes one MagiQuest game; your choice of a Vellara Wand, standard Wand Mod, or Magi belt; one small Great Wolf Lodge Candy Shop candy cup; one Kid’s Ice Cream; one game of bowling at Ten Paw Alley; a single climb admission to Howler’s Peak Ropes Course; a double climb admission to Rustic Ridge Climbing Wall; one game at Howl-in-One-Mini Golf; one Oliver’s Mining Co. Experience; one Pair of Great Wolf Swim Goggles; and one Paw Points game card for Northern Lights Arcade that is $5 worth of game credits. On the website, it also states close-toed, close-heeled shoes and a minimum height are required for certain attractions. Secondly, there is a Paw Pass, best suited for teens and children with the cost of $69.99 per package. This includes one MagiQuest game; choice of Vellara Wand, standard Wand Mod, or Magi belt; one small Great Wolf Lodge Candy Shop candy cup; one Kid’s Ice Cream; one Paw Points game card for Northern Lights Arcade with $5 worth of credits; and one leather treaty wristband. Finally, the Pup Pass, best suited for children and toddlers, starting at $49.99 per package including one Build a Bear animal (just the animal, not the outfit); one small Great Wolf Lodge Candy Shop candy cup; one Kid’s Ice Cream; and one Paw Points game card for Northern Lights Arcade with $5 worth of credits. There are also lots of other deals, packages, add-ons, birthday party options, and gift cards that Great Wolf Lodge offers that you can learn more about on the “Deals” section of the website. You should also know that you can always find an activity schedule for the week in the lobby of your resort, where it will tell you about any upcoming meet and greets with the hotel mascots, any mural shows, any crafts, any dance parties, and more. The activity schedule changes frequently. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, you should definitely visit Great Wolf Lodge with your family or younger siblings soon if you’re looking for a close-to-home getaway. I really hope you enjoyed this article and stay tuned for more to come. 

Source:

• (Great Wolf Lodge, n.d.)