Great Wolf Lodge to open a new indoor water park in Southwest Florida, 2nd in Southeast
Great Wolf Resorts Inc. is bringing its first Florida indoor water park resort to Naples, about two driving hours from either Bradenton or Miami.
The company broke ground in July on the resort, the brand’s 21st in North America. The only other location in the Southeast is in Atlanta, and has been popular with families across the region.
Construction on the Naples location is expected to take 18-24 months, with a grand opening in spring/summer of 2024.
Construction is under way near the Interstate 75-Collier Boulevard interchange, next to the Paradise Coast Sports Complex.
Planned are 500 family-friendly suites and a 100,000-square-foot indoor water park on 20 acres.
Planned amenities for Great Wolf Lodge in Naples
▪ A 100,000-square-foot indoor waterpark, heated to 84 degrees with a variety of body slides, tube slides, raft rides, activity pools and splash areas for all ages.
▪ A 62,000-square-foot family entertainment center, the Great Wolf Adventure Park, with a variety of family-friendly attractions, including MagiQuest, a live-action adventure game where players use interactive magic wands to battle goblins and dragons.
▪ A collection of family events and activities, including Yoga Tails, a morning exercise program that combines tales from the creatures found in the Spirit Water Forest with yoga poses, and evening events such as Great Wolf Lodge’s signature Hustle & Howl dance party and Story Time event.
▪ Several dining options in a variety of culinary styles ranging from pizza and burgers to upscale dining and premium ice cream treats at Wood’s End Creamery.
▪ Family-friendly suites in a variety of categories and styles including Great Wolf-themed suites with separate sleeping quarters for kids designed as either a log cabin or wolf den and outfitted with bunk beds and Great Wolf character theming.
The resort will also have suites with multiple bedrooms for large families or multi-generational groups.
The Madison, Wisconsin-based company opened its first resort in Dells, Wisc., in 1997. The investment for the Naples resort is estimated at $250 million.
“As we look to expand the Great Wolf Lodge experience to new markets, we are excited to place our newest resort in South Florida. This resort will offer families in the Sunshine State an easy, carefree escape, where parents and kids have the opportunity to laugh and play together and strengthen their family bonds,” Murray Hennessy, chief executive officer for Great Wolf Resorts, said in a press release.
“South Florida has been on our radar for some time, and now, thanks in large part to the tremendous support from Collier County as well our shareholders Blackstone and Centerbridge Partners, we’re excited to make this resort a reality,” he said.
For more information, visit greatwolf.com.
This story was originally published September 21, 2022 at 4:30 PM.
