Family fun hits a new high in Southwest Florida with the introduction of mega indoor water park resort Great Wolf Lodge in September. The woodlands-themed chain has been among the buzziest developments in town since its East Naples location was announced two years ago.
Kids’ jaws drop when they enter the 92,000-square-foot indoor water park (set to a comfortable 84 degrees year-round). Relish all-time favorites like the Crooked Creek lazy river, a ton of slides (some more than 50 feet tall), a wave pool and tricked-out splash pads for tots. Touted as a ‘fourth-generation’ benchmark for future Great Wolf Lodges, the Naples location (the brand’s first in Florida) steps up the game with new attractions like Breakaway Bay, a five-person raft adventure that sends riders spiraling around a cone-shaped funnel. Banking on our nearly year-round sunshine, the outdoor pool area is bigger than at other locations, too, and stocked with cabanas and a parent-pleasing bar.
Once kiddos’ fingers get pruney, the family can tackle the 60,000-square-foot dry-land Adventure Park, with a ropes course and Great Wolf’s first indoor zip line. Between the 100-plus-game arcade and an updated version of the resort’s Virtual Frontier virtual reality game, you won’t hear teens complain. Plus, there’s the MagiQuest resort-wide live-action game—a wonderfully quirky attraction with a legion of fans who visit the resorts just to play. Wizards as young as 6 can pick up supercharged ‘wands’ to use in myriad quests, with growling goblins, glowing crystals and Treetop Pixies throughout the property providing clues as players collect runes and battle bosses.
Everything—including five restaurants; spacious suites with separate, wolf den-themed bunk bed nooks; mini-golf; character shows; story time yoga sessions and pajama dance parties—is there for you in one easy-to-get-to place, off I-75. Book a night for a throwback summer staycation, or get a day pass to kiss goodbye to those “Mom, I’m bored” weekend moments.