Groundbreaking for the Great Wolf Lodge® in Southern California

MADISON, Wis., May 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Great Wolf Lodge, North America's largest family of indoor waterparks, and McWhinney Real Estate Services, officially broke ground today on Great Wolf Lodge Southern California. Located in the City of Garden Grove, Great Wolf Lodge Southern California will be the brand's largest resort and will soon provide new and memorable experiences for families traveling in the Golden State.

"As the leader in indoor waterpark resorts, we are thrilled to expand our brand into Southern California," shared Kim Schaefer, chief executive officer, Great Wolf Resorts, Inc., "We are bringing a unique, year-round family entertainment destination to the market. Great Wolf Lodge Southern California will feature the very best in family-focused vacations in a region synonymous with entertainment and family fun."

The centerpiece of the all-suite resort will be more than 100,000 square-feet of indoor waterpark fun. With signature Great Wolf Lodge water rides and attractions, including the thrilling six-story Howlin' Tornado™; the amazing Wolf Tail™ slide, with its 360 degree loop; Slap Tail Pond^® wave pool and Fort Mackenzie^® - a multi-level interactive tree house with a 1,000 gallon tipping bucket – Great Wolf Lodge Southern California will offer fun for the whole family.

Great Wolf Lodge Southern California is wholly owned by GWGG, LLC, a joint venture between affiliates of McWhinney and Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.

"We are proud to partner with the respected team at Great Wolf Resorts to expand upon McWhinney's strong history of developing properties in Southern California," said Chad McWhinney, CEO and Co-Founder of McWhinney. "We are honored by the opportunity to create a development of this caliber and serve the district's community."  

Families will delight at the wide variety of entertainment offerings and amenities Great Wolf Lodge Southern California has to offer – all under one roof. Attractions and activities include:

• MagiQuest, a live-action, adventure game where kids use wands as they embark on quests throughout the resort, while battling dragons, collecting gold and saving pixies;
• Scooops^® Kid Spa, perfect for ice cream-themed manicures and pedicures;
• Ten Paw Alley™ mini bowling;
• Evening Story Time by the fireplace – a Great Wolf Lodge tradition bringing everyone together in the Grand Lobby each night.

Great Wolf Lodge Southern California will also feature several dining options and food outlets, including the Lodge Wood Fired Grill™ restaurant and bar, Bear Paw Sweets & Eats™ confectionary cafe, Hungry as a Wolf^® handcrafted pizza and pasta, and Buckets Incredible Craveables™, conveniently located inside the waterpark.

After a fun-filled day, families can wind down in one of the resort's Northwoods-themed suites. Kids will love the unique cave-themed Wolf Den and log cabin-themed KidCabin^® suites created just for them. Complete with bunk beds these room styles offer kids a private and cozy place to sleep after a fun-filled day.  Each of the more than 600 suites will comfortably accommodate at least six people and include an in-room refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker.

Access to Great Wolf Lodge Southern California's indoor waterpark is free and exclusive to resort guests, providing great value and the perfect place for families to spend time together.

In addition to catering to leisure travelers, Great Wolf Lodge Southern California will boast more than 13,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. Complete with a dedicated group entrance, built-in audio/video technology, customizable catering options and a world-class team of industry professionals, the resort's conference center will provide an entirely new option for meeting planners to host groups.

"The addition of Great Wolf Lodge Southern California brings a new reason to visit the region's most popular tourist area," said Garden Grove City Manager, Matt Fertal, "We are excited to have this unique attraction to call our own."

The Grove District – Anaheim Resort offers a lively family destination with nine world-class hotels, several brand restaurants, and nearby shopping.  Located within a few miles from many major Southern California attractions, beaches, airports, and freeways; the Grove District also features convenient public transportation systems.

Great Wolf Lodge Southern California will be located on Harbor Boulevard and is expected to open in early 2016.

About Great Wolf Lodge: 
Great Wolf Lodge is North America's largest family of indoor waterpark resorts and the brand leader in the waterpark resort industry. Great Wolf Lodge is a first-class, full service, year-round destination resort. Extending far beyond waterparks, Great Wolf Resorts provides families with quality accommodations, exceptional service, as well as popular proprietary amenities all under one roof – creating family traditions, one family at a time. Opening in early 2016, Great Wolf Southern California is the company's 13th indoor waterpark resort. For more information on Great Wolf Resorts and its brand of indoor waterpark resorts, visit greatwolf.com.

About McWhinney: 
McWhinney has offices in Loveland and Denver, Colo. and is comprised of a team of talented professionals who are passionate about creating great places for people and providing fabled experiences to our customers. McWhinney develops innovative and sustainable master-planned communities and award-winning vertical commercial and mixed-use projects. Since 1991, McWhinney has planned and developed more than 6,000 acres in several master-planned communities and more than 6 million square feet of vertical commercial and mixed-use properties throughout the Rocky Mountain region and on the West Coast. For additional information, visit mcwhinney.com

About the City of Garden Grove: 
Garden Grove is the fifth largest city in beautiful Orange County, CA, and home to many of the most recognized cultural and spiritual centers in the nation, including Little Saigon, the Korean Business District, and the Christ Cathedral (formerly the Crystal Cathedral). Some of Southern California's most affordable new housing developments, the third largest school district in the county, and a strong, business-friendly atmosphere makes Garden Grove an ideal place for residents, businesses, and visitors. The Grove District – Anaheim Resort, centrally located just one mile from the Disneyland Resort, offers several brand-name hotels, restaurants, and nearby shopping areas, along with the arrival of the Great Wolf Lodge Southern California water park hotel in early 2016. For more information, visit the City of Garden Grove website at www.ci.garden-grove.ca.us.

SOURCE Great Wolf Lodge