Great Wolf Lodge is a chain of indoor water parks. There are currently 11 locations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. These resorts are popular for their “Great Wolf Kids” program, which offers kids activities all day. However, many people wonder who owns Great Wolf Lodge? The company was originally created by two families that merged their names to form Great Wolf Resorts. This name originates from the Staglieno family’s Great Dane “Great White” and the Wilks family’s wolf mascot “Wolfie.”
Who Owns Great Wolf Lodge?
Great Wolf Lodge is owned by an investor group that purchased the company from the Staglieno and Wilks families in 2014. The company now has two corporate offices: one in Madison, WI and the other in Aurora, CO.
It’s important to note that Great Wolf Lodge is a public traded company.
where is great wolf lodge?
Great Wolf Lodge is a chain of 11 locations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company was created by two families that merged their respective names to form Great Wolf Resorts. This name originates from the Staglieno family’s Great Dane “Great White” and the Wilks family’s wolf mascot “Wolfie.” While Great Wolf Lodge is owned by two different families, it’s publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
The History of Great Wolf Resorts
The company was originally created by two families that merged their names to form Great Wolf Resorts. This name originates from the Staglieno family’s Great Dane “Great White” and the Wilks family’s wolf mascot “Wolfie.”
The company began as a small amusement park that only had a few water slides and a pool.
In 1989, the company opened its first indoor water park in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. This location now has four slides, a wave pool, and a lazy river.
In 1991, Great Wolf Lodge opened its second location in Sandusky, Ohio. The resort was designed to look like a big lodge and had its own fireplaces and stone fireplace.
In 1995, the company opened its first resort outside of the United States in Niagara Falls, Canada. This location now offers a large indoor waterpark and suites located next to the falls.
In 2004, Great Wolf Resorts closed its last amusement park and focused solely on water parks at resorts.
In 2009, the chain opened its first resort in Mexico near Acapulco.
In 2012, Great Wolf Resorts opened its 11th location in Garden Grove, California.
How Much Does it Cost to Stay at Great Wolf Lodge?
Great Wolf Lodge offers a variety of rooms at a range of prices. The most inexpensive option is the standard room, which costs $270 for a four-night stay. Other options include the Royal suite, which is $1109 for a four-night stay and the Wolf Den suite, which is $939 for a four-night stay. All rooms include breakfast and dinner every day, and an evening snack when it is served.
The cost of your Great Wolf Lodge stay varies depending on your choices. Additionally, you will also need to factor in the cost of transportation and extras like water park passes and add-ons like dinner shows.
For more information on how much it costs to stay at Great Wolf Lodge, click here.
What is the “Great Wolf Kids” Program?
A great aspect of Great Wolf Lodge is the “Great Wolf Kids” program. This program is a supervised children’s area where kids can play games, swim, and dine on their own menu. The “Great Wolf Kids” program is available to those aged two and up.
The need for a supervised children’s area is that many parents don’t want to leave their kids unattended at a pool or water park. This is where the “Great Wolf Kids” program comes in to fill that void. These parks offer a safe and fun atmosphere for kids of all ages to enjoy with their parents.
How Does The “Great Wolf Kids” Program Work?
The “Great Wolf Kids” program is a favorite for children and their parents. This is because it offers a variety of activities for kids aged 4-12. Activities include arts and crafts, bike riding, scavenger hunts, and more.
The “Great Wolf Kids” program is also a great solution for parents who want to use the water park without their children. It gives kids a place to go and parents a place to relax.
The program has been so popular in the last few years that it has expanded to include activity areas outside of the water park. These areas give kids the opportunity to explore and play in places like the adventure park, bowling alley, and more.
The Great White Wolf (The Staglieno family)
The Staglieno family includes the company’s founder, Bob Staglieno, his wife Sharon, and their children.
In 2000, the Staglienos bought a water park in Niagara Falls, Canada. In 2004, the Staglieno family bought Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells. (The Staglienos also own Niagara’s water park- Splashtown).
The Wilks family includes the company’s founder, David Wilks, his wife Diana, and their children. The Wilkses expanded the company with the purchase of Great Wolf Lodge in 1997.
The Staglieno family (also known as The Great White Wolf) now owns the company’s headquarters and three resorts. They also own Splashtown in Niagara Falls.
The Wilks family (also known as The Great Gray Wolf) owns seven resorts.
The Family Wilks (The Wilks family)
Jim and Anne Wilks founded the company in 1987. They had four children, of which their son, Steve, is still with the company. The Wilks family has owned the company since its inception.
Jim Wilks has served as the CEO since its inception. He is also the chairman of the board. His son, Steve Wilks, is currently the president and chief operating officer. Anne Wilks left the company in 2000.
Great Wolf Resorts is now headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, but their main office is located in Grapevine, Texas.
How the two families became Great Wolf Resorts
The Staglieno family was founded in 1981 by Michael Staglieno, Sr. and his wife Joan. Over time the Staglieno’s built up their business to include hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
On the other hand, the Wilks family owned a small business called Big Foot Waterpark in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. They opened their first waterpark in 1979 and grew their business to include nine waterparks during the 1980s.
The two families merged in 1995 to form Great Wolf Resorts. Their first resort was called Great Wolf Lodge and was located near the Wilks family’s original Wisconsin Dells location.
In 2006, they opened a second location in Traverse City, Michigan. In 2007, Great Wolf Lodge added a third location to their chain in Sandusky, Ohio. The company grew from there and has been opening up new resorts all over the United States.
In 2015, Great Wolf Resorts was acquired by Centerbridge Partners for $1.35 billion. The company now has 11 locations under its belt and continues to grow.
Conclusion
Great Wolf Resorts is now owned by Centerbridge Partners, a private equity firm. They bought the company from Apollo Global Management in 2014. Apollo Global Management had bought Great Wolf Resorts from the Staglieno family and the Wilks family in 2007. The Staglieno family still owns a small percentage of the company.
Apollo Global Management was a private equity firm that invested in companies that could be turned into a public company or a private firm. They bought Great Wolf Resorts because it was going through financial trouble. Centerbridge Partners is a private equity firm that invests in troubled companies, so they wanted to partner with Apollo Global Management to help bring Great Wolf Resorts out of its financial difficulty.
Although Centerbridge Partners now has the majority of the company, the Staglieno family still has a small percentage of ownership. The Wilks family does not have any ownership of Great Wolf Lodge.