Great Wolf Lodge Breaks Ground in Grapevine, Texas
Construction Begins on 404-Suite Indoor Waterpark Resort, Slated to Open Late 2007
MADISON, WI, June 14, 2006. Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:WOLF), America's leading family of indoor waterpark resorts, broke ground today in Grapevine on the $100+ million, eight-story Great Wolf Lodge. The 450,000 square-foot, northwoods-themed indoor waterpark resort will be the company's ninth Great Wolf Lodge location.
"Great Wolf Lodge will be a first-class, year-round destination with amenities and attractions that will appeal to families," said Kim Schaefer, chief operating officer for parent company, Great Wolf Resorts. "In addition to one of the largest indoor waterparks in the nation, the resort will have children's crafts and activities, nightly story time in the Grand Lobby, animatronics and themed children's suites, a massive arcade, as well as Whirlpool Suites and a full-service Aveda(R) Concept Spa."
The property, located at 1400 E. Highway 26 in Grapevine, (across from the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center), will include 404 family suites that sleep six to 10 people. Ten different suite configurations will provide a suite-type to accommodate the desires of each guest. Layouts range from open plans with shared bedrooms to areas divided to allow for more privacy. Four kid-themed suites are designed for families with younger children and include a separate in-room sleeping area with rustic, handcrafted bunk beds.
The 98,000 square-foot indoor entertainment area features a year-round, indoor waterpark, standing 80-feet tall from floor to ceiling. The 84-degree waterpark will house six pools, including a gigantic wave pool and multiple zero-depth entry children's activity pools. Nine action-packed waterslides offer thrills to kids of all ages. Kiddie slides will entertain the youngest guests, while the enclosed six-story, Howlin' Tornado extreme funnel ride and multiple waterslides winding in and out of the building will call to older kids and kids at heart.
The waterpark will be highlighted by Great Wolf Lodge's signature treehouse waterfort - an interactive water experience for the entire family featuring 12 levels of water-based adventure interconnected with suspension bridges, cargo nets and web crawls, where guests can shoot, squirt and spray with more than 60 guest-activated water effects. After climbing to the top, guests can slide down body slides. Every few minutes a bell will sound, announcing that the giant bucket located at the top has filled with water and is about to tip. It's a sight to see when everyone gathers beneath to be drenched by a waterfall of nearly 1,000-gallons, cascading from 48 feet above. Guests wanting to enjoy the sunshine will be able to splash in the outdoor waterpark featuring two tube slides, a recreation pool, family whirlpool and patio area.
Great Wolf Lodge promises to serve as Texas' premier family resort and indoor waterpark. Other amenities include: two casual-themed family restaurants; 7,000 square-foot arcade and ticket redemption center; an Aveda Concept Spa; fitness room; confectionery; gift emporium; animated clock tower; and 10,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space.




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