The second phase of Great Wolf Lodge’s $125 million expansion project is underway in Monroe County.
Representatives of the Pocono Township resort and indoor water park at 1 Great Wolf Drive announced plans for the second phase on Thursday. Great Wolf broke ground in March on the expansion’s first phase. When the entire expansion is complete by late spring or early summer 2023 it will be the largest of its kind, Great Wolf spokesman Jason Lasecki told lehighvalleylive.com Friday.
The second phase of the Pocono resort includes a 200-room tower, which will bump the resort’s room total to 632. A 40,000-square-foot expansion to Great Wolf’s indoor water park includes two new slides. Other plans for Phase II include a new dining concept, “Fireside,” bring family outdoor dining inside.
Think “dining under the stars,” Great Wolf Resorts CEO Murray Hennessy said during Thursday’s broadcasted news conference.
Phase will put new carpets and furniture in the lobby, and includes a new full-service dining concept. Phase I will wrap up this year.
Thirty “Woodland Villas” will be completed in mid-2023. The 1,500-square-foot villas each have three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living area, kitchenette and private outdoor living space. They sit next to the main resort building.
The villas were designed to accommodate large, multi-generational families or visitors who want a home away from home during an extended stay in the Poconos, Hennessy said. The Woodland Villas feature an exclusive check-in area with a lounge for guests to enjoy games, crafts or relaxation.
Completed Phase I projects include updates to the Dunkin’ restaurant; a Woods End Creamery ice cream shop and a Great Wolf Candy Company store; as well as renovations to the Hungry As A Wolf pizza shop and the Buckets hamburger stand. The interactive adventure game, “MagiQuest,” has new characters and adventures.
Great Wolf employs 650 people. Lasecki said there are plans to bring that total to 1,000 by the time the project is completed. Great Wolf in the Poconos was constructed in 2005 for $150 million, Hennessy said.
In 2019 all 401 guest suites were updated and “Oliver’s Mining,” an attraction for children opened. The Cub Paw toddler pool in late March 2022 was remodeled with frog and turtle-themed splash pads, a water-spraying tree and collection of “kiddie slides.”
Hennessy said families are flocking to the resort.
“Coming out of lockdown ... they were desperate to get out and do something,” Hennessy said. “A drive-to destination was what people were seeking. And we’re right in that sweet spot.”
Great Wolf’s Pocono location won’t be its largest for long. Great Wolf’s 20th location in Perryville, Maryland is expected to be neck and neck with the Pocono site when it opens in 2023 before eventually surpassing it, Hennessy said.
Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
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