Great Wolf Lodge: Florida's first indoor water park is now open

While Florida’s myriad outdoor attractions are subject to the temper tantrums and turbulent weather present in the Sunshine State’s summer months, indoor experiences offer climate-controlled havens for family-friendly fun.

Great Wolf Lodge’s newest location lands in Naples with a 92,000-square-foot water park, a 62,000-square-foot adventure park and a 500-room resort, altogether providing more than 500,000 square feet of inside space for escaping the elements.

The Collier County location, now open for business, is one of the brand’s 22 indoor water park resorts nationwide.

"We’re not a hotel with a pool. This is like a Six Flags inside," said Jason Bays, general manager of Great Wolf Lodge South Florida.

Florida’s first indoor water park, which features 12 slides, three pools and two water play zones, will be kept at a constant 84 degrees.

"Here, we have to be able to heat it, but we also have to be able to cool it," Bays said. "That is unique to here, Georgia, Phoenix and Houston."

Though this is Great Wolf Lodge’s first location in Florida and its southernmost offering, the chain has longevity and fans in other corners of the country with a nearly 30-year history that began in Wisconsin Dells.

Now, the brand has spawned a life and world of its own with detailed characters and storylines associated with the resort’s theming, an on-site MagiQuest adventure game and loyal fans who are willing to travel.

All of this spells good news for tourism in Southwest Florida.

"Collier County commissioned a study looking at the economic impact of Great Wolf over a 30-year period," Bays said. "It is estimated that Great Wolf will have a $5 billion impact on the local community."

That’s not to mention the creation of more than 600 jobs and an anticipated longer length of stay at the Florida resort so that tourists can explore nearby beaches and Floridian fun.

Making a splash

Within the cavernous water park space, there are myriad ways to float through the day, with options for all ages and thrill levels ranging from lazy to adrenaline-pumping.

Breakaway Bay and River Canyon Run are both raft slides that are unique to Great Wolf Lodge’s Florida location.

"It’s the first of its kind. It goes into a Tornado Bowl, back and forth and then goes into a vortex spin cycle," Bays said of the former. "It spins the raft around with four people or five people in it, then drops it down about 20 feet."

In a testament to water slide innovation, Rapid Racer, a dueling water "coaster," uses jet propulsion to blast riders through a small uphill portion.

The focal point of the park is Otter Cave Waterworks, a three-story water play structure topped by a bucket filled with hundreds of gallons of water that tips over periodically. A few other slides descend from the top level of the fort. The Crooked Creek lazy river winds its way through this area for laid-back floats inside. Guests can also enjoy a wave pool.

There is a dedicated toddler area dubbed Cub Paw Pool, which features a miniature water slide and a splash pad. Adults can find their own space away from the kids in a hot tub area with a minimum age of 21.

Venture outside to find cabanas, space for about 400 people, an outdoor bar and a large pool.

Limited day passes will become available for the water park at some point after the resort’s grand opening.

Indoor offerings

Tucked inside in a large room next to the water park, visitors can find adventure while taking a harnessed tour of the Howlers Peak Ropes Course. The Howlers Peak Adventure Trail presents a ropes-free trek meant for most ages, set right above and next to a mini golf course.

This 62,000-square-foot area also includes the Northern Lights Arcade, the Ten Paw Alley bowling area and Oliver’s Mining, where young ones can pan for gems.

The Virtual Frontier is a virtual-reality experience and a first for Great Wolf Lodge, bringing futuristic scenarios and faraway lands to life.

Just off the lobby within Buckhorn Exchange, the resort’s retail store, guests can visit a Build-A-Bear workshop, where they can craft stuffed animals that resemble wolves, raccoons and more.

While there are countless attractions in Florida, Great Wolf Lodge finds its appeal in its theming, signature attractions, dining options and family-friendly nature.

The grand lobby features programming from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily, starting with "Yoga Tails" every morning. In this area, guests can meet characters, enjoy dance parties, work on arts and crafts or see the "Legend of Luna" lobby show.

MagiQuest, the resort’s interactive wand game, has also proved to be a popular way to become immersed in the story of Great Wolf.

"There are about 50 elements throughout the lodge," Bays said. "You can wave your wand, and different things will happen. You can battle dragons or free pixies. The game takes about four hours to complete, on average. You can save your game and come back to it at another time."

Bays said the lodge also prides itself on being a safe, comfortable place to stay — where families often wear their matching Great Wolf Lodge flannel pajamas around the resort without a care in the world.

In the lobby, guests can also find "snowfall" and leaves changing on LED screens to simulate the changing seasons, even in sunny Florida.

The resort has a separate space for birthday parties and a conference center, which can accommodate more than 400 people for business meetings and special events.

Stay and dine

Designed with families in mind, there are no Great Wolf Lodge suites that sleep fewer than six people. Visitors can choose from eight different suite plans, the largest of which can fit up to 14 people.

Themed suites include bunk bed areas with a maximum of seven guests, while the premium suites can accommodate even bigger groups. The largest, the Wolf Geyser Suite, has four separate sleeping areas, including a private master bedroom, three full bathrooms and a common area for the whole pack to hang out.

"We have a tremendous opportunity to welcome people with large families, including aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents," Bays said.

When it comes to dining, the standard fare option is the Hungry Wolf Food Hall next to the adventure park, with windows on the water park side as well. Timbers Table & Kitchen presents a casual dining experience, or guests can opt for the slightly elevated Fireside restaurant.

Guests can visit Dunkin’ for their coffee and doughnut needs, while the Freshwoods Market is open 24 hours a day with grab-and-go options. Wood’s End Creamery is the go-to spot for ice cream.

When combining all of its myriad offerings and features, Great Wolf Lodge contains attractions and points of interest geared toward visitors of all ages, all packaged into one unique facility that can’t be found elsewhere in the state.

"There’s no indoor water park in the state of Florida, and there’s not a Great Wolf Lodge in the state of Florida," Bays said. "While Orlando has a tremendous amount of things to do, down here, there’s a really great opportunity to be a unique offering catered to families and kids."