There are less than two months until Floridians can finally take a break from the beach and retreat to the mountains — so to speak.
The states first Great Wolf Lodge resort is set to open in Naples in early fall, with the $250 million development housing an indoor water park that is kept at a warm 84 degrees year-round.
Sitting close the I-75 and Collier Boulevard interchange, the 20-acre resort includes 500 suites, multiple restaurants and is home to several family-friendly attractions, including the 100,000-square-foot indoor water park. But is there an option for locals who don’t necessarily want to book a room every time they want to go down the slides or relax along the lazy river?
What is the Grand Lodge of the Wolf?
Big Wolf Store is a family-friendly resort that offers an indoor water park and other activities for all age groups.
According to your website, Great Wolf Lodge is “North America’s largest family of indoor water park resorts.” It was originally started as a small indoor water park resort called Black Wolf Lodge, founded in 1997 by brothers Jack and Andrew “Turk” Waterman in Wisconsin.
It has since grown to 22 Great Wolf Lodge resorts across the U.S. and Canada, including two new locations opening this year in Naples and Houston.
When does Great Wolf Lodge open in Naples?
South Florida’s Great Wolf Lodge plans to open on Wednesday, September 25th. Big Wolf Store in Florida will be at 3900 City Gate Blvd., Naples.
See countdown clock for opening: When does Great Wolf Lodge open in Florida? That’s when, what to know
What will the water park at the Great Wolf Lodge resort in southwest Florida be like?
Sitting close the I-75 and Collier Boulevard interchangethe 20-acre resort includes 500 suites and a 100,000-square-foot indoor water park with 12 slides, three pools and two interactive water play zones.
Here are the highlights, provided by Great Wolf Lodge:
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Separatist Bay: This is the first of its kind for Great Wolf Lodge. You’ll enter a five-passenger raft and be sped up in a cone-shaped “tornado” before exiting in a 360-degree loop. You will then enter a giant bowl, spin, and free fall into the starting channel.
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Lontra Cave Water System: Multi-Level Interactive Water Playground with 1,000 Gallon Tipping Bucket
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High paw roll: This slide takes you through enclosed chutes as you twist and turn before falling into a water-filled exit.
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Forest Gutter: This is a body slide that accelerates riders through 360-degree turns, sharp turns and drops.
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Fast Runner: Slides side by side, you can compete with your loved ones.
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River Canyon Race: Family raft ride that takes you down one of the park’s longest slides. There are no sharp drops in this one.
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Tapa Tail Lagoon: Family wave pool that produces waves of up to one meter.
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Crooked Creek: Relaxing lazy river.
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Otter Springs: Play pool with soft slides for babies and toddlers.
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Chinook Inlet: Activity pool with basketball hoops and floating obstacles.
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Big foot pass: Lily Pad Obstacle Challenge.
Great Wolf Lodge South Florida will also have a zero-entry outdoor pool and hot tub area surrounded by outdoor cabanas.
Are all Great Wolf Lodge water parks the same?
While all Great Wolf Lodge locations offer slides and pools, the exact type and number of water attractions varies by location.
Which slides and pools are suitable for children?
All of Great Wolf Lodge’s water attractions are suitable for children, except North Hot Springs, which is an adults-only hot tub.
Can Florida residents purchase an indoor water park day pass?
Yes, but wait, it won’t be available immediately when it opens. Officials said there are more than 800 parking spaces for the 500-room resort, but they first want to understand what the guest pattern is.
“The best way to experience Great Wolf is to stay overnight and enjoy our restaurants, 61,000-square-foot adventure park and water park,” said Jason Bays, general manager of Great Wolf Lodge South Florida. who comes to Florida after leading the network’s Atlanta-area unit.
“That being said, a few months after we open, we will have some limited day pass opportunities for guests who just want to spend the day with us.
More: Water parks may be your way to escape Florida’s brutal heat. 17 to consider
How much are day passes to Great Wolf Lodge?
Although a price for Naples has not been set locally, the day passes at newer resorts they cost $80 for a week pass per person and $120 for Saturday or Sunday.
How popular are day passes at Great Wolf Lodge?
In an interview with “In The Know,” Great Wolf Resorts Vice President Jason Lasecki shared that the popularity of day passes depended on location.
Many of the day passes at the Georgia resort came from guests staying at a neighboring hotel who saw Great Wolf Lodge and said, ‘Hey, let’s spend the day there,’ Lasecki said.
“But what you’ll find is that overnight guests end up having a richer experience. The water park is definitely the standout attraction.”
Contributing: Kendall SmallNaples Daily News
This article originally appeared in the Fort Myers News-Press: Florida Great Wolf Lodge: Can you buy a day pass to the new water park?
