Website Progress Report

We are oh so close to being done with the midwest states. We now have just a few more South Dakota Indoor Water Parks to add to the directory - and the new Best Western Hotel indoor waterpark in La Crosse, WI and we will be able to move on to Northeastern states.

We are adding states according to popularity, in terms of frequency of online search, and we are seeing more searches for the Northeastern states than any of the other regions right now. We expect to have this region complete by the first week of April.

On a personal note, my family and I are headed to the Mall of America tomorrow for spring break. Of course, we MUST visit the Wisconsin Dells on the way. This trip we will be visiting the Chula Vista Resort in the Dells. We are truly looking forward to it.

I am hoping to return with information and photos on the construction of what will be the largest waterpark in Minnesota - The WaterPark of America slated to open Spring, 2006.

Thank you for your support of our brand-spanking new website. Please tell your friends and family about us, and (shameless begging) we would also appreciate any online links you are willing to provide. Any additional links you can give to us on family or travel related message boards will be of great help to us.

Have a great Easter!

Dawn
Indoor-Water-Parks-Guide.com

March 23, 2005 10:30 AM US Eastern Timezone

Great Wolf Lodge Opens Today in Williamsburg, Virginia; Family Resort and Indoor Waterpark Offers Vacationers a Northwoods Retreat

Spring Travel & Leisure

Great Wolf Lodge opened today in Williamsburg, Virginia. The northwoods themed family resort features one of the world's largest, and Virginia's premier indoor waterpark. (Photo: Business Wire)

WILLIAMSBURG, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 23, 2005--The new Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, Virginia has opened its doors! Set amidst a backdrop of towering pines, the four-story, log-sided 301-suite family destination is designed to capture the atmosphere and adventure of the northwoods. The first-class, full-service resort welcomes travelers and vacationers, families and business clientele to enjoy the first-class amenities of Virginia's premier indoor waterpark resort.

"Williamsburg is a destination in itself," said Curtis Brown, general manager of Great Wolf Lodge. "When guests return from the many area historical sites and attractions, they can relax and enjoy an array of first-class amenities here. For those who don't want to venture outdoors, Great Wolf Lodge offers a complete vacation all under one roof."

The guest suites offer 10 different room configurations to best accommodate the needs of each guests. Layouts range from open plans with shared bedrooms to areas divided to allow for more privacy. Three kid-themed suites, KidKamp, Wolf Den and KidCabin, are designed for families with younger children. Both the Wolf Den Suite and the tent-themed, KidKamp Suite include a separate in-room sleeping area with rustic handcrafted bunk beds to accommodate two children.

"Most people carry with them a romanticized notion of the log cabin experience," continued Brown. "The Lodge offers that relaxing, cabin ambiance combined with the first-class resort experience."

Upon entering the three-story Grand Lobby, guests will find themselves in what is commonly referred to as the "living room" of Great Wolf Lodge. Overstuffed furniture and natural wood tables and chairs offer a place to unwind near the massive stone fireplace. The resort's northwoods decor features numerous authentic natural accents and artifacts that celebrate the great outdoors. At the center of attention stands the Grand Clock Tower, which comes to life three times daily, entertaining guests of all ages through animation and song. Following the 8 o'clock show, children gathered at the clock tower will switch their focus to storytime by the fireplace.

Engulfed in northwoods forest murals and adorned with antique camping artifacts, The Loose Moose Cottage and Camp Critter Bar & Grille provide a warm welcome and the unique charm of a camping village. Guests will dine under the canopies of towering Oak and Maple trees, surrounded in an outdoor adventure.

Inside the colossal indoor waterpark, Bear Track Landing, the temperature is always 84-degrees! Featuring eight waterslides and six pools, including a giant indoor wave pool, the waterpark will submerge guests in nearly 300,000 gallons of fun. The four-story Fort Mackenzie has over 60 interactive geysers and sprays. Atop the 48-foot structure is the Great Wolf Lodge signature "tipping bucket," filling with water every few minutes, tipping at the sound of a bell, and drenching everyone gathered below with nearly 1,000 gallons of water.

Beyond the water adventure, kids will love Northern Lights Arcade and game room, and parents will appreciate the family friendly atmosphere. The black-lit, action-packed arcade features over 100 different games, ranging from good old-fashioned skee-ball to fast paced racing motorcycles. Cub Club, the children's activity and birthday party room, is located next door. The resort posts scheduled daily activities so kids won't miss a thing. The "Ambassador of Fun" leads children in entertaining and educational arts, crafts and activities, and also includes Cub Club membership newsletter.

For those wanting to slow things down, Elements - An Aveda Concept Spa offers seven feng shui treatment rooms for facials, massages, spa treatments, manicures and pedicures.

Great Wolf Lodge is located at 549 E. Rochambeau Drive in Williamsburg, Va. For more information about Great Wolf Lodge, log on to www.greatwolflodge.com or call 1.800.551.WOLF (9653).

Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. (TM) (NASDAQ:WOLF) is the largest owner, operator and developer in America of drive-to family resorts featuring indoor waterparks and other family-oriented activities. Great Wolf Resorts owns and operates its family resorts under the Great Wolf Lodge(R) and Blue Harbor Resort(TM) brands. Great Wolf Resorts is a fully integrated resort company with Great Wolf Lodge locations in: Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Mich.; Kansas City, Kan,; Williamsburg, Va.; the Pocono Mountains, Pa. (scheduled to open in Fall 2005) and Niagara Falls, Ontario (independently owned by Ripley Entertainment, Inc. - a Jim Pattison Company, scheduled to open in Spring 2006); and Blue Harbor Resort & Conference Center in Sheboygan, Wis.

Contacts
Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.Erin Payne (Public Relations), 608-661-4775 or Jennifer Beranek (Public Relations), 608-661-4754

New Indoor Water Park - La Crosse WI

Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at http://www.lacrossetribune.com

Indoor water park ready at Best Western

Gerard Ondrey, 11, of Minnetonka, Minn. plays water basketball in the Tropical Water Park while staying at the Best Western Midway Hotel in La Crosse.

PETER THOMSON photo By STEVE CAHALAN / La Crosse Tribune

The Best Western Midway Hotel Riverfront Resort at 1835 Rose St. has completed its new indoor water park in the hotel's domed swimming pool area.

The public is invited to its grand opening from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

The open house will feature free food and pop and registration for prizes.
The water park features a large slide, basketball hoops, wading pool with kiddie slide and geysers, whirlpool with neck massager, arcade room and pool table.

The project cost about $500,000, said Patti Stellmaker, the hotel's general manager. The hotel opened in 1972 and is continuously being upgraded, she said.
"Everything's brand new" in the water park, Stellmaker said.

"Our main purpose was to provide an affordable getaway, with gas prices being what they are," she said. "You can stay in town and have fun with your family." But the new facility also is expected to attract hotel guests from out of town.

The water park is for hotel guests, and a special room rate is available for area residents. People who aren't staying at the hotel still can purchase birthday party swim packages, which are available Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. or 3 to 7 p.m.

Starting next week, the hotel also will have special events on Friday nights and Saturdays, such as big splash contests, Hula Hoop contests and scavenger hunts.

"The corporate person is still important to us," Stellmaker said. Executive-class rooms for business travelers have been created in another part of the hotel, away from the water park area.

Steve Cahalan can be reached at (608) 791-8229 or scahalan@lacrossetribune.com.

All stories copyright 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 La Crosse Tribune and other attributed sources.

Indoor Water Parks Guide

Website Progress Report

Hello fellow water park lovers!

I just wanted to update you on our website develoment progress.

We have completed the directory for Michigan, Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Dells (Ok, I know this IS actually part of Wisconsin, but that was a big job, so it deserves to be listed separately.)

We are half-way through Minnesota and will (hopefully) finish it up this week.

My goal is to have all of the midwest directory complete by the end of next week. Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin have the highest number of indoor water parks, so the rest of the country will go fairly quickly.

We will also be adding Canadian indoor water parks as soon as possible.

Well, that's it for tonight. Thank you for your patience. We'll have this ready for you in no time.

Dawn O.
Indoor Water Parks Guide aka www.funwaterparks.com

Indoor Water Park News

Iowa is getting another indoor water park!

Dickison County Board of Supervisors have approved rezoning of 70 acres new East Lake Okoboji to allow for the development of a 100-million dollar resort development which will include an indoor water park and condominiums.

The "Bridges Bay Indoor Water Park Resort" will break ground in the spring with the indoor water park slated for a December opening.

This news continues the trend toward adding luxury condominium units to indoor water park resorts. Other indoor water park resorts that are building condominiums as part of the resort complex include the Chula Vista Resort, Wilderness Resort, and the Kalahari Resort - all in the Wisconsin Dells, Boyne Mountain Grand Lodge and Double JJ Ranch, in Michigan, and another half a dozen in the midwest.

Indoor-Water-Parks-Guide.com

Indoor Water Parks Guide

Welcome to my Indoor Water Parks Blog!

I began developing a comprehensive online directory of indoor water parks in January. It is still under development but coming along nicely.

At this point I have compiled a complete listing of all the Michigan indoor water parks. I am currently working on the Wisconsin Dells, which is the indoor water park meca, so it is taking a bit longer than expected.

Please feel free to suggest indoor water parks that you have visited. Any comments or reviews are also appreciated.

I will be updating this blog with my website development progress, and any interesting news related to indoor water parks.

But for now, I must go to bed....

Thanks for visiting.

Oh, I also have another website you might be interested in:

TV Shopping Surplus - Wholesale Home Shopping Channel Closeouts

Dawn
Indoor Water Parks Guide