Florida’s first Great Wolf Lodge coming to Naples next year. Here are 8 fun facts about waterpark resort
While some South Florida residents love having the beach in their backyard, others might want a taste of the mountains every once in a while. Luckily, they're getting their wish sooner than later.
Construction for Florida's first Great Wolf Lodge resort in Naples has made immense progress over the last year, with a completion date set for the summer of next year.
Sitting near the I-75 and Collier Blvd interchange, the $250 million endeavor will see 20 acres with 500 family-friendly suites and an expansive 100,000-square-foot indoor water park with six swimming pools and an array of water slides for all ages.
"We do have an outdoor resort pool," Steve Jacobsen, executive vice president of the Chicago-based company, said to the Naples Daily News. "There's much more for the families to do, (like a) family entertainment center. What that is, is all the dry play elements. It's the ropes, it's the bowling, it's the MagiQuest (virtual reality treasure hunt), and all the other food and beverages. We'll have anywhere between six to eight different food venues, everything from grab-and-go to a really nice sit-down restaurant."
Here are some fun facts about the waterpark and wilderness resort before Florida residents book their stay:
Everything on Naples's 2024 location: Great Wolf Lodge opens new park, its largest. When will it debut in Florida? What we know.
Great Wolf Lodge was founded in Wisconsin
Great Wolf Lodge at first had a slightly different name when it came onto the scene.
Great Wolf Lodge originally began as a small indoor water park resort called Black Wolf Lodge, founded in 1997 by brothers Jack and Andrew "Turk" Waterman, the original owners of Noah's Ark Water Park in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.
The name change didn't happen until a few years later when Black Wolf Lodge was purchased by The Great Lakes Companies Inc in 1999. In 2000, president and founder, Craig A. Stark, and the team changed the name to Great Wolf Lodge, and its company headquarters was established in Madison, Wisconsin.
In 25 years, Great Wolf Lodge has grown to 20 locations across the country
After Naples, additional U.S. resorts are targeted for the Houston area later in 2024 and Mashantucket, Connecticut in 2025. Work for a Jackson, Tennessee venue was delayed at the end of last year, with the masses there hopeful it can start by 2024.
Here are 20 locations currently open:
The biggest Great Wolf Lodge is in Maryland
Perryville's Great Wolf Lodge opened this past month boasting winding water slides, obstacle courses, interactive "quests" and more.
The over $250 million project is the biggest waterpark in the chain's history so far, taking up 48 acres of space with 128,000 square feet of waterparks, 57,000 square feet of family entertainment, and a 700-room resort.
Operates North America's largest family of indoor water park resorts
The biggest attraction at Great Wolf Lodge is its huge indoor water park that can be enjoyed by all ages at any time of the year. Today’s Great Wolf Lodges typically have over 75,000 square feet along with water park space that includes several attractions and different size slides.
The best age to stay at the resort is between 7 to 13, experts say
While there's something fun and exciting available for every single age group, experts at Coupon Craving recommend that the best age to enjoy Great Wolf Lodge is those between the ages of 7 to 13.
It costs between $300 to $700 to spend the night at the lodge in Florida, but pay attention to deals
Depending on the size of the room, the number of guests, and the season, patrons can book a vacation for roughly $300–$700 per night.
The Naples Daily News reported that participating in clubs like AAA can save you up to $100 or so, depending on the day, and your membership number from those is required for reservations. They also highlight using promo codes when booking and checking discount sites, such as Groupon, first.
It was featured on an episode of 'Undercover Boss'
In 2010, Great Wolf Lodge’s CEO, Kim Schaefer, appeared on the CBS reality show “Undercover Boss," which features heads of companies posing as employees of the company while being secretly filmed.
Schaefer posed as a stay-at-home mom returning to the workforce as she visited several Great Wolf Lodge branches. She worked as a lifeguard supervisor, a front desk clerk, wait staff at the Lodge’s restaurant, and as part of the children’s programs.
In the end, Schaefer was so touched by one of the employees that Schaefer worked with, Deanna Lyons. She said she was moved by her dedication and enthusiasm for her job that Lyons was promoted and received a salary increase.
For any fans of magic quests, they have their own interactive wand system
Great Wolf Lodge has a special scavenger hunt game called Magi Quest for guests to uncover secret quests throughout the resort.
If you wish to purchase a special Magi Quest wand, you can use the wand with interactive devices located throughout the entire lodge. During your journey, you’ll collect magical items, learn powerful Runes, and then use them to complete fantastic adventures. You can also heal the Pixie in her enchanted garden or face the fiery wrath of the Red Dragon.
The game can take up to nine hours if you go through all of the quests and can also be used with interactive devices located in the themed guest suites.
Mickey Mouse and Minions step aside — they have their own mascots
Like any amusement park, Great Wolf Lodge has mascots that show up for children’s activities and at character breakfast buffets. The mascots include Wiley Wolf, Violet Wolf, Oliver Raccoon, Rachel Raccoon, Brinley Bear, and Sammy Squirrel.
At the Lodge’s Clubhouse Crew, kids can choose from the mascots and make one for themselves in the gift shop. These interactive stuffed animals can be used with devices throughout the resort and in the themed guest rooms.
Speaking of mascots, they have appeared in an animated movie
Great Wolf Entertainment and 6 Point Harness produced an animated film called "The Great Wolf Pack: A Call to Adventure," which premiered at Great Wolf Resorts in 2022.
The film, directed by former Disney animator Chris Bailey (Runaway Brain), follows the adventure of five newly-redesigned versions of mascot characters Wiley Wolf, Violet Wolf, Oliver Raccoon, Brinley Bear, and Sammy Squirrel.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Great Wolf Lodge is heading to Florida. Learn its lore before 2024
