We check out a family favorite, Great Wolf Lodge, after it underwent a $40 million renovation.
We always have a howling good time at Great Wolf Lodge in Ground Mound, Washington. My family has gone back again and again, and we’ve enjoyed the recent updates so much it’s worth sharing. Great Wolf Lodge invested $40 million into their Grand Mound location renovations and officially reopened in summer 2023. If you haven’t had a chance to visit yet, it’s worth the hour and a half drive up the I-5. As Great Wolf aficionados, we’ve also visited the Great Wolf location in Los Angeles. And I can confidently say that our local Washington lodge tops it. Gone are the dark corners of mini golf and cramped arcade space. Instead, the lobby lights up with new storytelling, toddlers splash through a new watery play space, and upgraded food options make this trip more enjoyable.
What’s New at Great Wolf Lodge
For families who have been before, you’ll notice quite a few differences, from in-room refreshes, lobby upgrades to new gaming, shopping and swimming renovations.
Our lodge and water park experience began with a new digital check-in. There was a concierge onsite to help us get started, and to best understand the new paid parking, too ($25/day). Beyond the check-in, the new storytelling and activity area on the main floor is simply stunning. The interactive lights and digital screens offer a selection of wolf and wilderness themed stories year-round. And look for free activities like kids yoga, dance parties and more. Pro tip: I strongly recommend downloading the Great Wolf Lodge app prior to your stay. The app will help you manage your reservation, allow you to order food, manage any extra charges, and it also notifies you of the schedule of free lobby activities.
While my family’s favorite place to be is the water, there’s lots of fun to be had on land. We noticed that the mini golf is gone, but the upstairs arcade has expanded by 1,000 square feet. You’ll find multiple, brand-new claw machines, and a separate “ticket” store across the hallway. Pro tip: The arcade runs on digital cards; you can purchase credits onsite with a credit or debit card. You can also select digital tickets, so your winnings won’t require an extra bag of their own, but beware, the new claw machines are kinda tricky.
In past visits, the food selection at Great Wolf had always been a pain point for our family. We felt lackluster food was a small price to pay for a waterpark weekend, and typically ordered out from a restaurant nearby or brought our own snacks. Besides updates to the lodge’s Timbers Table & Kitchen buffet, Fireside restaurant, poolside snack bar, and pizza joint, there is now a Fatburger (pictured above), Hot Dog On A Stick and Buffalo’s Express on the ground floor of the waterpark, and a Pretzelmaker on the second floor arcade level that serves surprisingly good breakfast sandwiches for $7. Don’t worry tired parents, there is still a Starbucks downstairs near the lobby with standard coffee pricing, too.
Even the gift shop has gotten a fresh look, featuring a new Build-a-Bear Workshop (starts at $35) and Candy Shop. Munch on added grab-and-go food options like sandwiches at the merchant downstairs, too.
Classic Lodge Attractions
Our family favorite is by far the wave pool. Since about the age of 3, my son’s been on a quest to swim the deepest spot and surf the current. “I like how it bounces you up,” he says, now 10, and still unable to touch the bottom of the deepest section. The water slides, basketball hoops, and lily pad crossing are all still there. And yes, moms can cross the lily pads, too.
Families with littles will love the entirely new toddler swim area. The old play space had multiple slides and a ship-like splash area that made it harder to track littles. The redesign features a more open layout for better visibility, a single slide, and multiple water features.
The mining experience is still upstairs (single admission $11), and the ropes course remains outside in the right weather ($10-$20 seasonally). The MagicQuest Adventure remains open as an additional add-on to your stay (reusable wand $20-$30, reusable topper $22-$27, single game $17), allowing kids to run the entire hotel with wands and interactive exhibits. Sadly, my child prefers the arcade, despite my pleas to share a dragon-topped light up wand adventure together.
Rates for a standard suite at the lodge can vary widely — $589 for an upcoming Saturday night with no discounts to $150 for a summer weekday deal booked far in advance. But there’s almost always a sale you can grab if you plan ahead. Pro tip: Great Wolf Lodge holds a booking special every August 4 in honor of their 84-degree water. Groupons are common, and if you sign up for the newsletter you’ll find some additional options, too. Consider booking a weekday for smaller crowds and lower prices.
Pro tip: Waterpark entrance is included with your room reservation. Guests can swim starting at 1 pm the day of check in whether your room is ready or not, and until closing time on the day of check out.
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