Great Wolf Lodge to hold grand opening at first Florida resort. Here’s when

NAPLES, Fla. – Florida residents looking to stay at a luxurious indoor water park don’t have to wait any longer.

The Great Wolf Lodge has announced the grand opening celebration of its first-ever Florida resort next week.

According to the company, the new resort is located in Naples near the Interstate 75 and Collier Boulevard interchange, right next to the Paradise Coast Sports Complex.

The $250 million resort features 500 rooms and unlimited access to a 92,000-square-foot indoor water park for guests.

In a release, company officials explained that the centerpiece attraction of the water park is the “Otter Cave Waterworks” — a multi-level interactive water play structure with intertwined “leaking” water pipes, spray jets, four twisting slides, and the Great Wolf Lodge’s signature, 1,000-gallon tipping bucket.

The Naples resort is also be the second of the chain’s new generation of properties, which focuses on thematic tie-ins with the Great Wolf Lodge’s 2022 animated children’s film, “The Great Wolf Pack: A Call to Adventure.”

Even aside from the character theming, the lodge offers new attractions in its Adventure Park, such as a zipline and virtual reality, a company spokesperson told News 6.

“Guests are also invited to enjoy free daily events and activities, including dance parties, arts and crafts, and story time,” Great Wolf Lodge’s website reads. “Our Adventure Park is also full of attractions available at an additional cost.”

According to a company release, other highlights at the resort’s water park include:

• BREAKAWAY BAY: “Making its Great Wolf Lodge debut, Breakaway Bay is an exhilarating family raft adventure that can accommodate up to 5 riders. Riders quickly accelerate before dropped into a cone-shaped ‘tornado’ where they slosh up one side and down another before exiting into a 360- degree loop. They head down a long straightway before entering a giant bowl that will spin them around before freefalling down into the splash channel.”

• HIGH PAW ROLLER: “A body slide filled with constant excitement and anticipation as riders surge through enclosed flumes, race along the outer wall of open-air saucers, and experience a few more twists and turns before splashing down into a water-filled runout.”

• FOREST FLUME: “This open flume body slide accelerates riders through 360 loops, high-banking turns, and quick acceleration drops to provide an exhilarating ride from top to bottom.”

• RAPID RACER: “Riders can race side-by-side down a course featuring drops, chutes, and serpentine curves. Adding to the excitement of this winding tube ride, there are two sections of the course with only a low wall separating riders to help spur that competitive racing spirit.”

• RIVER CANYON RUN: “A rollicking family raft ride that sends up to five riders on a white-water adventure down one of the park’s longest slides. As you slide down, you’ll pass enchanted hieroglyphics, and with no steep drops, this a great slide for families to enjoy together.”

• SLAP TAIL POND: “A family favorite. The audio cue of a howling wolf brings this gigantic wave pool to life with waves reaching up to three feet in height. The active surf rolls through every five minutes, to the giggling delight of every child in the pool.”

• CROOKED CREEK: “A reprieve from the more active attractions in the waterpark, guests can relax and float on tubes down this winding lazy river that encircles the Otter Cave Waterworks play structure.”

• OTTER SPRINGS: “A special section of the waterpark designed exclusively for toddlers and younger guests. This play pool is filled with perfectly sized water slides featuring gentle slopes and tiny turns, making them the go-to attractions for the ‘under 42 inches’ set.”

• CHINOOK COVE: “Activity pool featuring basketball hoops, floating obstacles, and other action-oriented elements for children.”

• BIG FOOT PASS: “Unique water obstacle challenge where kids and adults alike balance on floating logs and lily pads while traversing the pool. Cargo netting hangs down to help guests cross from one side to the other.”

For those looking for more slow-paced relaxation, the new lodge will have an outdoor pool and hot tub with cabanas so that families can enjoy the warm weather.

An overnight stay at the resort will provide guests with two days of access to the indoor water park, with standard rates starting at $199.99 per night.

In a surprise twist, the resort officially opened to guests on Sept. 18 — a week earlier than its initial opening date of Sept. 25. It marked the chain’s 22nd lodge in the U.S.

However, the resort is still planning a grand opening celebration inside the water park on Thursday, Oct. 10. The event will feature elected officials, Great Wolf Resorts CEO John Murphy, General Manager Jason Bays, and a “surprise celebrity guest.”

News 6 is set to provide an inside look at the resort following the opening event. Check back with News 6 for updates.