Great Wolf Lodge has become North America’s Premier Family Entertainment Brand, and an icon in its own right. Led by the passionate leadership team at Great Wolf Resorts, the brand’s success and accolades have made it the indoor waterpark hotel industry leader. Through innovation and dedication to customer service excellence, the company has grown to twelve resorts.
In 1997, the first Great Wolf Lodge resort opened in Wisconsin Dells, WI. Almost overnight, a new trend in the hospitality industry was born, combining quality accommodations with the finest in family recreational activities – all under one roof. The wildly popular and successful resort quickly grew from 117 rooms and 20,000 square foot waterpark, to 309 Rooms and a 40,000 square foot indoor waterpark in 1999, to 437 rooms and approximately 76,000 square foot waterpark by 2006.
Great Wolf Resorts quickly identified that this new concept of a fully-integrated, branded vacation experience was something that could be replicated in markets across the country. They developed a culture and mission statement designed to create an internal environment that served as the incubator for successful guest service. Beginning with custom training programs, standards of service, and operating procedures, everything centered around one core mission: “Creating family traditions, one family at a time.”
Next came the development of themed entertainment offerings that went well beyond the waterpark, designed to extend the average length of stay and capture more incidental expenditure dollars. The pipeline began with specialty restaurants, arcades, spas, and children’s activity areas – all designed to enhance the overall guest experience.
Upon this strong brand foundation, Great Wolf Lodges began opening from coast to coast to enthusiastic receptions by guests of all ages:
• 1997: Wisconsin Dells, WI
• 2001: Sandusky, OH
• 2003: Sheboygan, WI
• 2004: Traverse City, MI and Kansas City, KS
• 2005: Williamsburg, VA
• 2006: Niagara Falls, ON, Pocono Mountains, PA, and Mason, OH
• 2007: Grapevine, TX
• 2008: Grand Mound, WA
• 2009: Charlotte/Concord, NC
Great Wolf Resorts continues to expand its “paw print” by licensing the Great Wolf Lodge brand and providing expertise in indoor waterpark hotel management. To learn more about licensing and management opportunities click here.
