By Jeanni Ritchie
I’m sitting at a trampoline park back in Louisiana with my grandsons and great-nephews as I work on this article, having woken up this morning in the mood to wear my wolf ears from Great Wolf Lodge.
While I was putting on their socks and wristbands a young boy came up to the net.
“Hey, did you go to a hotel where you got those ears?” he’d asked.
“I did! Great Wolf Lodge!” I’d replied.
“Me too!” he excitedly exclaimed. “I have my ears at home.”
“Well wear them sometime!” I’d said. It’s like being a part of a secret society, the experience bonding you with other campers for life.
That’s what we’re called- campers- and there’s a full agenda of activities planned day and night. My first “summer camp” at Great Wolf Lodge was at the newer Webster location, right outside of Houston.
In the Grand Lobby, I played trivia, attended the Bedtime Story, joined in on the Kid Dance Party, did some arts and crafts, and met camp characters Violet the Wolf and Sammy the Squirrel.
In addition to the scheduled activities, there are other things to do at your leisure. A Build-A-Bear workshop had me creating not a bear but a monkey for my mom who collects stuffed primates! I scored several strikes in Ten Pin Bowling and completed the Magi Quest, a unique opportunity to point a lighted wand at several kiosks or tree trunks to complete your adventure. I played mini-golf and watched kids braver than me zip line around the Adventure Zone!
A giant indoor waterpark and smaller outdoor one had water play for the whole family. That is the main attraction of Great Wolf Lodge, a temperature controlled year-round waterpark!
My Wolf Pass gave me access to many of the additional activities, including a fill-your-cup candy cup at the Emporium! A game card to the arcade was also included, a place I visited every day of my stay.
There are plenty of food options at Great Wolf Lodge as well, from Dunkin’ to the Great Wolf Food Hall to the upscale Fireside restaurant where I had a platter of Lodge S’mores that were to die for!
You can bring food in, go out to get meals, or even DoorDash some food in. You certainly won’t go hungry!
Great Wolf Lodge is a great destination for the family…or the solo adventurer who wants to feel like a kid again!
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist who is planning to visit Great Wolf Lodge in the Dallas area next. She hears there’s an American Girl store there! She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
