Ready to create vacation memories with your children? You’ll find family-friendly fun for kids of all ages, plus some special time for adults, at the Great Wolf Lodge in Lagrange, Georgia. Located about an hour from Atlanta, it’s the perfect spot for a weekend getaway. Affectionally known as the “Sweet 16,” this is the 16th Great Wolf Lodge to open in the United States. It has a new design as well as new attractions. Ready to plan your vacation? Here’s our Guide to the Great Wolf Lodge in Lagrange, Georgia.

I attended a Media weekend at the new Great Wolf Lodge in Lagrange. GA. All opinions are my own.

Great Wolf Lodge Guide

Included Activities At Great Wolf Lodge:

These activities are exclusive to resort guests and are enough to keep the most active family busy. You won’t need to leave the complex to find something to do.

For the Family:

Wiley’s Water Park
With over 93,000 square feet, this water park has activities for everyone from babies to adults.  Kept at a balmy 84 degrees year round, you can enjoy the water park any time of year. The Lagrange location has some new features exclusive to Georgia. There’s two new slides,  the Triple Thunder; a heart-pounding ride that drops you into three different waterslide features,  and the Rapid Racer, a ride that allows you to challenge your friends to see who drops out of the tube first.  The park has also been designed to house some of the tubes on the outside of the building, allowing more space inside the water park.  Other waterslides include the Otter Run, the Wolf Tail, and the River Canyon Run.

Playing in the Club Paw Pool.

Babies and Toddlers will love the Whooping Hollow and Club Paw Pool area, complete with 3 mini water slides,  mini (stationary) jet skis that squirt water, sprinklers and more.  For the preschoolers and up, they’ll enjoy Fort Mackenzie and Totem Towers, the fort, water slide, and play area with a bucket that dumps 5000 gallons of water every five minutes and Big Foot Pass, an activity course where participants try to cross floating lily pads. All ages will love the Crooked Creek lazy river that drifts along beside the water slide area,  Chinook Cove, the indoor activity pool complete with basketball hoops, floats,  and more, and Slap Tail Pond, the wave pool.

Thirsty guests can stop by The Watering Hole, the bar located inside Wiley’s Water Park. It’s specially designed in the middle of the park to allow patrons to keep an eye on their kids. Another perk is the abundant charging stations available at the bar, allowing guests the option to always be connected.

One of my favorite features of the water park was height measurements taken before entering the park. If a child looked under a certain height, she was given a wristband indicating their approximate height. This allowed the lifeguards to look at the child’s wrist and know which rides were suitable without having to stop and measure the child each time. It made the lines for the rides move much quicker and prevented disappointment for children who were unable to ride after standing in line. Another plus is the number of observant (and friendly!) lifeguards on duty.

Tip: Lockers and cabanas are available for an additional fee. Prices for cabanas start at $149 per day, ensuring that they will be available from the opening to the closing of the water park. Free life jackets are available for everyone and available in toddler to adult sizes.  Towels are conveniently located in the water park.

*Raccoon Lagoon- The spacious outdoor activity pool is filled with fountains and more for everyone in the family to have a good time.  Outdoor cabanas are also available for rent and there’s plenty of tables available in the shade to sit, relax, and watch the kids play.

Indoor Water Park Hours are 8:30 AM until 8:30 PM. Outdoor Water Park activities also close at 8:30 PM. 

For the Kids

*Outdoor Playground– Kids of all ages will enjoy climbing the mini rock wall, walking across the rope bridge, and sliding down to do it all over again. I noticed the xylophone was especially popular with the younger set.
*Camp Howl Kids Camp and Store- Stop by here with the younger kids for some “Paws on Projects.” The daily craft time gives the kids a chance to take a break for the more strenuous activities, draw, color, or make their own buttons. Afternoons include daily face painting and balloon twisting sessions.
*Yoga Tails– start the morning with kiddy yoga and a woodland story. Each pose creates a different scene from the story. It’s a great way to sneak in exercise.

*Wolf Walk- Take a walk around the lodge and meet up with resort mascots Wiley and Violet Wolf.
*Critter Cartoons-Sit in one of the kid-sized chairs and watch cartoons on the huge screen in the lobby. It’s a good way to get the littles to prepare for naptime.
*Great Games-Enjoy family time and a little friendly competition with Bingo and Trivia Games.

*Jammie Jamboree – Bring the younger kids (it’s designed for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers) and prepare to get your groove on with this fast-paced dance party. The dance leaders really have some moves and it’s a fun way to get exercise and dance like no one is watching.
*North Woods Friends Bed Time Story- Wind down after the dance party with a fun woodland themed bedtime story. Shhh! There are surprise appearances from Wiley and Violet Wolf to complete the evening.
*Hustle and Howl Dance Party- For the older kids, aged kindergarten and up, who are ready to dance the night away.

For the Adults

*Iron Horse Fitness Center- Don’t want to miss your gym time? The Iron Horse Fitness center is exclusive for guests and has plenty of equipment to help you get your daily workout.

The Great Wolf Adventure Park

The “fun zone,” with all activities conveniently located on one side of the resort, provides a safe place for family fun. Some of the activities are best suited to older children, but we found plenty to keep two 2-year-olds busy! These activities cost extra and are available to the public as well as resort guests.

*Magiquest Marketplace – Immerse yourself in a Magic Quest that allows you to complete different challenges, like defeating the evil dragon, Charlock,  around the lodge at your leisure. Each quest takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete with the goal of becoming a Master Magi.  This game can take up to four hours to complete so allow plenty of time for your quest. This activity is unique to GWL and the information you save will transfer to each lodge. While the game was too complicated for our 2-year-olds, they also have an option for the 5 and under set. We registered our magic wands and were able to visit each of the quest stations and use our wands to light up the quests and experience sound effects throughout the lodge.  Costumes and other props are available for purchase as well.  Suitable for all ages. 

*Howler’s Peak Ropes Course– Race above the Adventure Center as you tackle this ropes course with a surprising amount of twists and turns. You’ll be able to climb through obstacles, balance on the ropes, and zip across bridges. Each visit to the ropes course will last at least 20 minutes but can be expanded to a longer time if there is not a lime. This activity has a height requirement and you must have closed toed shoes to participate.

Howl in One Golf Course.

*Howl in One Golf Course- A 9 hole golf course featuring ball eating fish, sand traps, and more. Suitable for all ages. 
*Northern Lights Arcade- You’ll find activities for toddlers to adults in this arcade with everything from a mini carousel to skee ball. Trade in your tickets to win prizes when you’re finished playing.
*Oliver’s Mining Company- Purchase a bag of gems and sift through them just like the old gold miners did. You’ll receive an identification card to help you identify the gems and minerals you discover.  Suitable for all ages.

*Rustic Ridge Climbing Wall–  You’ll be able to scale this 21-foot summit on your journey to reach the top. This activity also has a height requirement and you must have closed toed shoes to participate. 
*Ten Paw Alley- Designed for kids, this alley features half-length lanes and 5-pound bowling balls. Suitable for all ages. 
Tip: Save money by purchasing a “Paw Pass,” which offers a bundle of activities at a lower price. These can be purchased at the time of booking. Also available is the upgraded “Wolf Pass,” which offers bonus activities not included in the Paw Pass.
Great Wolf Adventure Park is open from 9:00 AM until 11:00 PM. 

Dining Options

If you’re feeling hungry Great Wolf Lodge has you covered with a variety of dining options for all tastes.

*Campfire Kitchen– This cafeteria-style restaurant is available for breakfast (7:30 AM until 11:00 AM)  and dinner (5:00 PM until 9:30 PM.)  Walk through the line and choose entrees, like baked spaghetti, chicken fingers, or grilled chicken,  sides, like pasta salad or hot veggies, desserts, like cheesecake and banana pudding, and a variety of drinks including a freestyle soda machine. We were able to find several dairy free options for the kids as well as gluten-free options.

*Timbers Tacos– located both outside and inside the water park, you’ll find a variety of options for lunch and dinner.  We tried the nachos, tacos, and rice bowls and enjoyed all of them. I recommend the nachos, with a hearty helping of meat and oozing with melted cheese.  Gluten free and dairy free options were available. They also accommodated food preferences, preparing some of the tacos with just black beans for the kids.  Open daily from 11:00 AM until 9:00 PM.

*Barnwood- This is Great Wolf Lodge’s more upscale restaurant for the quieter family meal or the romantic dinner for the parents.  Open for breakfast (7:30 AM until 11:00 AM) and lunch and dinner (Noon until 10 PM), you’ll experience fabulous service and awesome food. Start the day with one of their delicious breakfast items, ranging from light, fluffy biscuits with a rich, creamy sausage gravy, to a must try Fried Green Tomato Eggs Benedict.  Wash it down with a mimosa and you won’t be disappointed.

The Fried Green Tomato Eggs Benedict.

*Hungry as A Wolf – Get your pizza fix here with one of their massive (and incredibly yummy!) pizzas. If you’re not in the mood for pizza, try one of their Greek or classic salads. Open daily from 11:00 AM until 11:00 PM.
*Buckets Incredible Craveables– This is the place to pick up burgers, hot dogs, and fries. We stopped by and picked up some of their allergy friendly fries for the girls. I was impressed with how when the server didn’t know the answer to our questions, they called out the kitchen manager to help. Open daily from 11:00 AM until 9:00 PM.

*Ben & Jerrys- For the ice cream craving. Open daily from 11:00 AM until 10 PM.
*Dunkin Donuts-  Need a sugar fix to perk you up or your morning coffee? You’ll find it here. Open daily from 6:30 AM until 10:30 PM.
*Freshwoods Market- A convenient place to pick up snacks, drinks, or premade meals, like fruit, sandwiches, and salads.  Open daily until 11:00 PM.

*The Watering Hole-located inside Wiley’s Water Park is the place to sit and unwind as you watch the kids play.  Open daily from 11:00 AM until 8:30 PM.
*The Outpost- This is the bar for when you want some quiet time away from the kids. Open daily from 11:00 AM until 11:00 PM. Hint: Try the Mimosas.
All food purchased on site can be taken into Wiley’s Water Park.

Tip: Need allergy friendly options? Inform the staff upon check in and they’ll send the chef to talk to you about what foods are available for you. One of our kids has a severe dairy allergy and at each restaurant we visited, the kitchen manager was called in to answer our questions. They were helpful and polite, even going as far as telling us all the ingredients used in the dish.

Shopping

Flip Flop Shop- Forget your flip flops and need something to wear to the water park? Stop by this shop, opening in July, to make a pair of your own!
Camp Howl Kid’s Club & Store -While the daytime activities in Camp Howl are free, you can also visit their Creation Station and store.  Here you’ll be able to make a stuffed version of one of your favorite Great Wolf Lodge characters and purchase an outfit for them too! With the purchase of an outfit valued at $19.99, you’ll also receive a Great Wolf Lodge shirt for your new friend as well as a vinyl backpack, which was perfect leaving our hands free, while still carrying Violet the Wolf on our adventures.

Buckhorn Exchange Gift Shop-located in the lobby, this is the place to shop for all of Great Wolf Lodge souvenirs. 
Paddle Bay Store-forget something you need for the water park? Want to pick up a clothing item? This is the place to go.
Great Wolf Candy Company- Drop into this store and pick a cup to fill with your favorite candy.  A favorite with the kids, they can fill the cup with as many varieties of taffy, gummies, and jelly beans as they wish.
All shops are open daily from 9:00 AM until 10 PM.  

Lodging

No matter the size of your family, you’ll find Great Wolf Lodge has accommodations to suit your needs.  All rooms feature a fridge, plenty of outlets to keep you connected, and free wi-fi.  Handicapped-accessible rooms are available and the Great Wolf Lodge is a no smoking facility.  Options include standard guest rooms, themed guest rooms, and premium suites.

Standard Options Include:

*The Deluxe Queen Suite with 2 queen beds and 1 twin sleeper sofa, which will sleep five.
*The Family Suite with 2 queen beds and 1 full sleeper sofa, which will sleep six.

Themed Options Include:

*The Wolf Den Suite- with a queen bed, full sized sleeper sofa, and a cave-themed sleeping area with 2 bunk beds, which will sleep six.
*The Kid Cabin Suite- with a queen bed, full sized sleeper sofa, and a cave-themed sleeping area with 3 bunk beds, plus a private patio (based on availability), which will sleep seven.

Premium Options Include:

*The Deluxe Wolf Den Suite- features a cave themed sleeping area with a queen bed, and a private bedroom with two queen beds and a full sized sleeper sofa, plus a private patio, based on availability. This suite can sleep 12.
* The Deluxe Kid Cabin Suite- features a cabin style sleeping area with two bunk beds, a daybed, and a television, a private bedroom with two queen beds and a full sized sleeper sofa, and an additional queen bed and full sized sofa sleeper in the main sitting room. A private patio, based on availability, is offered as well. This suite can sleep 13.
* The Grizzly Bear Suite- includes one king bed in the master bedroom, two queen sized beds in the second bedroom and a full sized sleeper sofa in the sitting area.  This suite has two bathrooms and sleeps eight. A private patio is included, based on availability.

Great Wolf Lodge has extra features which made our stay even more fun. Upon check-in, the kids were given adorable wolf ears to wear during their stay.  The check out was super easy; when I stopped to ask what I needed to do, the clerk told me, “Nothing. You’re good. Everything will be emailed to you.” That was a relief when I’m wrangling toddlers and luggage.  “Hibernation Time” between the hours of 10 PM and 6 AM meant we could expect quiet time after we put the kids to bed.  But my favorite feature by far was the Wristband room keys.  How convenient is it not to have to worry about misplacing keys while at the waterpark or digging for it when carrying an armful of screaming toddler and all of their gear?

Tip: Microwaves are not available in the rooms, but public microwaves are located on each floor at the ice/vending sites.

For Adults Only

Want a relaxing dinner without the kids or a romantic nightcap? Great Wolf Lodge has you covered.
*Camp Howl is a private service open to guests from 5 PM to 9 PM each evening. For $35 for the first child and $25 each for more children in the same family, they’ll keep the kids entertained and fed while you enjoy free time. Adults must remain on the resort property.
*Wine Down Service– Once the kids are asleep, order the Wine Down service and you’ll have wine delivered to your door. They’ll even send a text to let you know they’re outside of the door instead of knocking because we all know how quickly kids can wake up if they think they’re not part of the action.
*Adult Oasis Outdoor Hot Tub– This elevated area is located beside the outdoor swimming pool and is only open to guests 21+.

Special Promotions

*Spring a Palooza– Prowl around the lodge to find clues for the Spring scavenger hunt, visit the gardens, each representing a different Great Wolf kid, and attend bubble dance parties.
*4th of July– Enjoy fireworks and festivities and *Labor Day weekend fun.
*Howl-o-ween– Enjoy a spooky treasure hunt around the resort to find candy, wander among the Halloween decorations and attend special dance parties.
*Snow Land– During the month of December, the lodge is transformed into a winter wonderland. You’ll be able to find special suites decorated for winter, fun winter activities for the kids, and a Life-Sized Gingerbread House.  Bonus! For a $20 fee, tt’s available to rent while you enjoy a meal from the Barnwood restaurant.  The house seats up to 8 and the rental fee is donated to the Ronald McDonald House. Note: The meal is an additional fee. 
*Birthday Packages– Book this package and have your room decorated with a birthday poster on the door and balloons, a birthday card, plates, napkins, forks, and a birthday cake delivered to your room. You’ll also receive fun surprises like  dining credit  (at select restaurants) and attraction credit (at select attractions.) This is available year round to make that birthday a day they’ll never forget.

Rates

The base rate for a Deluxe Queen Suite is $199 per night, but specials are frequently available. Sign up for the Early Saver program-with bookings 60 days in advance- and save up to 50% off of the basic rates. Parking on the resort is free.  The parking lot is huge and it’s easy to forget where the car is parked, so valet parking is available for a fee of  $20 per night.  Want to know more ways to save money at Great Wolf Lodge? Read these 10 Money Saving Tips10 Money Saving Tips.
Tip: Be sure to book 2 to 3 weeks in advance to get the room type you want.

Have you visited a Great Wolf Lodge? What are your favorite activities?