Great Wolf Resorts Explained
Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. |
Type: | Joint venture |
Traded As: | NASDAQ: |
Industry: | Hospitality |
Predecessor: | Great Bear Lodge (Sandusky, OH), Black Wolf Lodge (Wisconsin Dells, WI) |
Founded: | , in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, United States |
Founder: | Jack and Andrew Waterman |
Hq Location City: | Chicago, Illinois |
Hq Location Country: | United States |
Locations: | 20 (with four under construction and seven under consideration) |
Area Served: | United States, Canada, and United Kingdom |
Key People: | Murray Hennessy (CEO) |
Services: | Family Waterpark Resorts |
Num Employees: | 6,000[1] |
Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. (formerly known as Great Wolf Lodge) is a chain of indoor water parks. The company owns and operates its family resorts under the Great Wolf Lodge brand.[2] In addition to a water park, each resort features restaurants, arcades, spas, and children's activities.[3] Great Wolf Resorts is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
History
Great Wolf Lodge began as a small indoor water park resort called Black Wolf Lodge which was founded in 1997 by brothers Jack and Andrew "Turk" Waterman, the original owners of Noah's Ark Water Park in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.[4] Black Wolf Lodge was purchased by The Great Lakes Companies Inc. in 1999. In 2000, president and founder, Craig A. Stark, and the team changed the name to Great Wolf Lodge and the company headquarters were established in Madison, Wisconsin.[5] In 2001, the company built a second location in Sandusky, Ohio, and named it Great Bear Lodge. When a third location opened in 2003, the decision was made to place all future parks under the Great Wolf Lodge banner. The name of the Ohio location was changed to Great Wolf Lodge in 2004. The chain has since added sixteen additional locations and has one under construction.[6] [7]
On May 1, 2012, Great Wolf Resorts announced it was adding a new amenity or attraction to each of the resorts in time for the summer season. In addition, the company spent more than $4 million renovating the company's first two locations – Wisconsin Dells and Sandusky.[8]
In April 2017, Great Wolf Resorts relocated its corporate headquarters to Chicago, Illinois.[9]
In June 2023, Great Wolf Resorts opened its twentieth and largest resort in Perryville, Maryland.
Apollo acquisition
On March 13, 2012, Apollo Global Management announced an agreement to acquire the company for $703 million.[10] Following the announcement, an investor group filed a complaint in Delaware Chancery Court stating that the deal, in which Apollo would pay $5 a share, undervalued the company. On April 12, 2012, KSL Capital Partners made an unsolicited offer of $6.25 a share, and Apollo followed suit raising its bid to $6.75 a share.[11] KSL then raised its cash offer to $7 a share on April 8, 2012, beginning a rare public bidding war.[12] After Apollo upped its offer again to $7.85 a share on April 20, 2012, KSL Capital Partners later announced it would not be making additional offers.[13] The company's shares traded as low as $2.18 in October 2011, but climbed above $5 following the announcement in March 2012 and reached a 52-week high of $7.50 during trading in April 2012.[14] [15]
Centerbridge acquisition
On March 24, 2015, Centerbridge Partners reached an agreement with Apollo to acquire the Great Wolf chain for $1.35 billion.[16] The acquisition was finalized on May 12, 2015.[17]
Blackstone and Centerbridge joint venture
In September 2019, Blackstone Group made a deal to purchase 65% controlling interest in Great Wolf Resorts from Centerbridge Partners. The two firms agreed to form a $2.9 billion joint venture to own the company.[18]
Properties
Great Wolf Lodge locations:[19]
Location | Year Opened |
---|
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin | 1997 |
Sandusky, Ohio | 2001 |
Traverse City, Michigan | 2003 |
Kansas City, Kansas | 2003 |
Williamsburg, Virginia | 2005 |
| 2005 |
Niagara Falls, Ontario | 2006 |
Mason, Ohio | 2006 |
Grapevine, Texas | 2007 |
Grand Mound, Washington | 2008 |
Concord, North Carolina | 2009 |
Fitchburg, Massachusetts | 2014 |
Garden Grove, California | 2016 |
Colorado Springs, Colorado | 2016 |
Bloomington, Minnesota | 2017 |
LaGrange, Georgia | 2018 |
Gurnee, Illinois | 2018 |
| 2019 |
Manteca, California | 2021 |
Perryville, Maryland | 2023 |
Webster, Texas | 2024 | |
Previous locations:
Locations under construction:
- Mashantucket, Connecticut[21]
- Naples, Florida[22] – Estimated to cost $250 million to build, ground was broken on July 14, 2022, and the resort is expected to open on September 25, 2024.[23]
- Bicester, Oxfordshire, England[24] - A proposal to build a Great Wolf Lodge location in Chesterton near Bicester, Oxfordshire was submitted in 2019. The proposal was accepted by planning inspectors in 2021.[25] Work on remodelling the plot of land acquired for the site began on December 30, 2021,[26] with construction of the location itself beginning in 2022.[27] [28] The intended completion date for the construction of the Bicester location is scheduled for late 2024.[29]
- Jackson, Tennessee[30]
Locations under consideration:
The corporate headquarters, the "Great Wolf Den,"[40] is in 350 North Orleans,[41] in River North,[40] in the Near North Side, Chicago.[42] The facility, the "Great Wolf Den," began operations in 2017.[40] Previously, the headquarters were in Madison, Wisconsin.[43] According to the company, the headquarters move occurred so the company could be closer to various sites of business operation.[44] Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago, attended the ribbon cutting of the facility.[41]
Other brands
Great Wolf Lodge also owns MagiQuest.[45]
In other media
Great Wolf's previous CEO Kim Schaefer was featured in the U.S. version of TV's Undercover Boss, which included visits to several lodges where she worked alongside a lifeguard supervisor, front desk clerk, and restaurant waitstaff as well as participated in the children's program.[46] [47]
Great Wolf Entertainment and 6 Point Harness produced an animated film, called The Great Wolf Pack: A Call to Adventure, which premiered at Great Wolf Resorts on Labor Day, September 5, 2022. The film, directed by former Disney animator Chris Bailey (Runaway Brain), follows the adventure of five newly-redesigned versions of mascot characters Wiley Wolf, Violet Wolf, Oliver Raccoon, Brinley Bear and Sammy Squirrel.[48] [49] [50] [51] [52]
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Great Wolf Resorts’s Competitors, Revenue, Number of Employees, Funding, Acquisitions & News - Owler Company Profile. June 8, 2020. June 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608154702/https://www.owler.com/company/greatwolfresorts. live.
- Web site: Corporate Profile Great Wolf Corporate. https://web.archive.org/web/20111016115925/http://investor.greatwolfresorts.com/corporateprofile.aspx?iid=4107002. dead. October 16, 2011. October 16, 2011. November 25, 2018.
- Web site: History. 2009. Great Wolf Resorts. November 20, 2011. December 14, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20091214143931/http://corp.greatwolfresorts.com/history. dead.
- News: For generations, Andrew Watermans run Dells hotels. December 14, 2010. WiscNews.com. November 20, 2011. September 5, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170905111121/http://www.wiscnews.com/wisconsindellsevents/lifestyles/announcements/article_aaf95304-07b6-11e0-a684-001cc4c002e0.html. live.
- News: Marc Vaccaro, Co-founder of Great Wolf Resorts Inc., Resigns. Daykin. Tom. February 14, 2006. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. September 5, 2017. September 5, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170905045632/http://hotelexecutive.com/newswire/23441/marc-vaccaro-co-founder-of-great-wolf-resorts-inc-resigns. live.
- News: Great Wolf Resorts Announces License and Management Agreement for New Great Wolf Lodge in Pittsburgh, PA. January 13, 2010. Great Wolf Resorts. November 20, 2011.
- Web site: Great Wolf Resorts Announces License and Management Agreement for New Great Wolf Lodge in Garden Grove, CA. June 28, 2010. Great Wolf Resorts. November 20, 2011.
- News: Great Wolf Lodge Invests in Family Fun in 2012. May 1, 2012. Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.. June 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20140517132539/http://www.greatwolf.com/files/press-releases/New-at-Great-Wolf-Lodge-Resorts-050112.pdf. May 17, 2014. dead.
- News: Great Wolf Resorts Opens New Chicago Headquarters. April 26, 2017. NBC Chicago. November 25, 2018. en. November 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181126005426/https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Great-Wolf-Resorts-Opens-New-Chicago-Headquarters-420535894.html. live.
- News: Apollo to Acquire Water Park Operator for $703 Million. Ahmed. Azam. March 13, 2012. New York Times. March 28, 2012. March 18, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120318044336/http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/apollo-to-acquire-water-park-operator-for-703-million/. live.
- News: Deal to buy Great Wolf approved by board after Apollo increases offer. State Journal Staff. April 6, 2012. Wisconsin State Journal. April 11, 2012. August 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230814200754/https://madison.com/wsj/business/deal-to-buy-great-wolf-approved-after-apollo-increases-offer/article_bb25e032-7ff9-11e1-98d0-001a4bcf887a.html. live.
- News: De La Merced. Michael. Private Equity Firms Duel Over Water Park Operator. https://web.archive.org/web/20120410062051/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/private-equity-firms-duel-over-water-park-operator/. April 10, 2012. April 8, 2012. April 11, 2012. live. New York Times' Dealbook.
- News: KSL Capital cries uncle in Great Wolf bidding war. Harden. Mark. April 23, 2012. Denver Business Journal. April 24, 2012. May 17, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140517205237/http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/broadway_17th/2012/04/ksl-capital-cries-uncle-in-great-wolf.html?fb_comment_id=fbc_10150700031178111_22206711_10150700923113111#f13b4622ca03ec5. live.
- News: Leon Black's Bid Gets No Respect as Great Wolf Surges: Real M&A. Lachapelle. Tara. March 23, 2012. Bloomberg News. March 28, 2012. March 29, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120329130526/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-23/leon-black-s-bid-gets-no-respect-as-great-wolf-surges-real-m-a.html. live.
- News: Great Wolf Stock Hits New 52-Week High (WOLF). TheStreet Wire. April 11, 2012. The Street. April 11, 2012. April 13, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120413140058/http://www.thestreet.com/story/11491408/1/great-wolf-stock-hits-new-52-week-high-wolf.html. live.
- News: Exclusive: Centerbridge in $1.35 billion deal for Great Wolf Resorts: sources. Stone. Mike. Oran. Olivia. Roumeliotis. Greg. March 24, 2015. Reuters. June 9, 2015. June 19, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150619005043/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/24/us-great-wolf-m-a-centerbridge-idUSKBN0MK1V220150324. live.
- News: New owner pledges to grow Great Wolf Lodge chain. Schuyler. David. May 12, 2015. Milwaukee Business Journal. June 9, 2015. May 19, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150519064758/http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2015/05/12/new-owner-pledges-to-grow-great-wolf-lodge-chain.html. live.
- News: Blackstone to Buy 65% of Park Operator Great Wolf Resorts. Clark. Patrick. October 2, 2019. Bloomberg. October 12, 2019. October 12, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191012120956/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-02/blackstone-to-buy-65-of-great-wolf-resorts-waterparks-operator. live.
- Web site: Great Wolf Lodge Locations . Great Wolf Resorts . July 30, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210610171917/https://www.greatwolf.com/locations . June 10, 2021 . live.
- News: Great Wolf Resorts Announces Sale of Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan, WI. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306062148/https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/24/idUS125624+24-Mar-2011+BW20110324. March 6, 2016. March 24, 2011. June 16, 2012. dead. Reuters.
- Web site: Foxwoods announces high-stakes casino expansion in Connecticut . February 15, 2022 . February 16, 2022 . February 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220216155658/https://nypost.com/2022/02/15/foxwoods-announces-high-stakes-casino-expansion-in-connecticut/ . live .
- Web site: Fernandez . Phil . Breaking Ground newsletter: Will the Great Wolf rise in Southwest Florida? . . October 20, 2020 . January 12, 2021 . November 28, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201128172503/https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/archive/2020/10/20/will-the-great-wolf-rise-in-southwest-florida/5998092002/ . live .
- Web site: David Dorsey . Great Wolf Lodge . Great Wolf Lodge breaking ground on East Naples $250 million water park, resort . Gulfshore Business . July 13, 2022 . July 23, 2022 . July 23, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220723160414/https://www.gulfshorebusiness.com/great-wolf-lodge-coming-to-east-naples/ . live .
- Web site: Great Wolf Resorts planning first UK indoor water park and adventure park. August 2019. August 4, 2019. August 3, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190803145323/https://blooloop.com/news/great-wolf-water-park-oxfordshire/. live.
- Web site: Great Wolf Lodge: Giant water park resort WILL be built in Oxfordshire . November 28, 2022 . Oxford Mail . en . November 28, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221128170540/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19295075.oxfordshire-water-park-resort-great-wolf-lodge-given-green-light-inspector/ . live .
- Web site: Digging starts at golf course next to water park resort site . December 2, 2022 . Bicester Advertiser . en . December 2, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221202215423/https://www.bicesteradvertiser.net/news/19807935.digging-starts-golf-course-next-great-wolf-lodge-water-park-resort/ . live .
- Web site: Sisk tipped for £200m Oxfordshire water resort . November 28, 2022 . Construction Enquirer . en-GB . November 28, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221128170542/https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2022/09/16/sisk-tipped-for-200m-oxforshire-water-resort/ . live .
- Web site: Everything we know so far about the water park resort coming to Bicester . November 28, 2022 . Bicester Advertiser . en . November 28, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221128171600/https://www.bicesteradvertiser.net/news/19940638.great-wolf-lodge-everything-know-far-oxfordshires-new-water-park/ . live .
- Web site: Home Page . November 28, 2022 . Great Wolf Lodge UK . en-GB . December 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221210005427/https://greatwolfuk.co.uk/ . live .
- News: Great Wolf Lodge construction postponed, Jackson leaders remain optimistic. December 21, 2022.
- Web site: Great Wolf Lodge resort starts talk. December 2, 2015. Squamish Chief. February 9, 2016. February 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160211052434/http://www.squamishchief.com/news/local-news/great-wolf-lodge-resort-starts-talks-1.2124426. live.
- Web site: Indoor water park could be coming to El Paso. March 29, 2017. El Paso 411. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170329184202/http://elpaso411.com/2017/03/indoor-water-park-could-be-coming-to-el-paso/. March 29, 2017.
- Web site: Little Egg Harbor Developer Courted Great Wolf Lodge Resorts. January 16, 2019. The SandPaper.
- Web site: Great Wolf Lodge Might come to Orange County New York . Recordonline.com . January 6, 2019 . July 17, 2019 . July 17, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190717152417/https://www.recordonline.com/news/20190106/talks-continue-on-possible-water-park-for-camp-la-guardia-site . live .
- Web site: Lisa J.. Huriash. Great Wolf Lodge resort with indoor water park may come to South Florida. South Florida Sun Sentinel. January 9, 2019. November 25, 2019. July 8, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190708230945/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-bz-great-wolf-lodge-florida-20190108-story.html. live.
- Web site: Great Wolf Lodge Indoor Waterpark Planned for Cornwall. Choose Cornwall. January 10, 2023. January 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230115173648/https://choosecornwall.ca/news-english/great-wolf-lodge-indoor-water-park-planned-for-cornwall/. live.
- Web site: US leisure operator reveals idea to bring indoor water park resort to Basingstoke . March 1, 2023 . Basingstoke Gazette . en . March 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230301141719/https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/23350671.great-wolf-resorts-bring-indoor-water-park-resort-basingstoke/ . live .
- Web site: February 28, 2023 . Huge indoor water park and resort could be coming to North Hampshire . March 1, 2023 . Newbury Today . en . March 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230301074600/https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/huge-indoor-water-park-and-resort-could-be-coming-to-north-h-9301253/ . live .
- News: March 7, 2023 . Basingstoke council backs sale of golf centre for indoor waterpark . en-GB . BBC News . March 8, 2023 . March 8, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230308131524/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-64883364 . live .
- Web site: Great Wolf Resorts Opens New Chicago Headquarters. NBC Chicago. 2017-04-26. 2023-12-26.
- News: Fran Spielman. Emanuel leads cheer for latest corporate HQ to move to Chicago. https://web.archive.org/web/20170426233411/http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/emanuel-leads-cheer-for-latest-corporate-hq-to-move-to-chicago/. April 26, 2017. April 26, 2017. Chicago Sun-Times. April 27, 2017. live. The new corporate headquarters, [...] is at 350 N. Orleans, in the same building as the Chicago Sun-Times.. (The quote shows that the NBC Chicago "Great Wolf Resorts Opens New Chicago Headquarters" is talking about the same building.)
- Web site: Home. Great Wolf Resorts. 2023-12-25. 350 N Orleans St, Chicago, IL 60654. - Use the address and match it to Chicago community areas.
- Web site: Home. https://web.archive.org/web/20171215051606/https://www.greatwolfresorts.com/. Great Wolf Resorts. December 15, 2017. 2023-12-26. 525 Junction Road, Madison, WI 53717. live.
- News: Shropshire. Corilyn. Water park company that bought Key Lime Cove moves HQ to Chicago. Chicago Tribune. April 26, 2017. April 27, 2017. April 26, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170426213207/http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-great-wolf-resorts-moves-to-chicago-0427-biz-20170426-story.html. live. Moving to Chicago allowed[...].
- News: Proprietary Brands - Great Wolf Corporate. Great Wolf Corporate. November 25, 2018. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20181018112216/http://www.greatwolfresorts.com/brands/. October 18, 2018. MagiQuest: Some of the most popular attractions at any Great Wolf Lodge are the exciting, interactive adventure games that transform the hotel into an enchanted realm of wonder. Participants purchase magic wands, wand toppers, costumes and other themed merchandise in the MagiQuest Marketplace and engage in journeys, quests and ever more engaging levels of play..
- Web site: 'Undercover Boss' returns to area. October 3, 2010. The Cincinnati Enquirer. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20101017175923/http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20101003/ENT11/10030319/-Undercover-Boss-returns-to-area. October 17, 2010. October 3, 2010.
- News: Huff. Richard. Great Wolf Resorts CEO Kim Schaefer works all over the company on 'Undercover Boss'. October 4, 2010. Daily News. New York. October 4, 2010. October 4, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101004051402/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2010/10/01/2010-10-01_to_go_undercover_a_boss_has_to_work.html. live.
- Web site: Six Point Harness Feature Premieres at Great Wolf Resorts. Duncan. Keltie. Cartoon Brew. August 11, 2022. September 16, 2022. September 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220920163337/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/six-point-harness-feature-great-wolf-premiere-219853.html. live.
- Web site: Great Wolf Ent. Unveils Characters' New Look for 'The Great Wolf Pack'. Milligan. Mercedes. Animation Magazine. October 14, 2021. September 16, 2022. September 30, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220930195815/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2021/10/great-wolf-ent-unveils-characters-new-look-for-the-great-wolf-pack/. live.
- Web site: THE GREAT WOLF PACK: A CALL TO ADVENTURE - Official Trailer (2022). www.youtube.com. July 25, 2023. July 25, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230725202803/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mx2mtZC_l4. live.
- Web site: The Great Wolf Pack (Short 2022) ⭐ 8.3 | Animation, Short, Action. m.imdb.com. July 25, 2023. July 25, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230725202803/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15742458/. live.
- Web site: INTERVIEW: Chris Bailey On Howl You’ll Enjoy "The Great Wolf Pack" – Animation Scoop. www.animationscoop.com. March 23, 2023. March 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230323162319/https://www.animationscoop.com/interview-chris-bailey-on-howl-youll-enjoy-the-great-wolf-pack/. live.