Thirty Woodland Villas, currently under construction and now accepting reservations, provide a personalized upgrade from the traditional guest experience with an exclusive check-in lounge, VIP parking, plus a private pavilion for activities and movie nights. Each villa, designed to host multi-generational families or large groups, sleeps up to ten people and can be conjoined for even more space.

The villas' outdoor living areas were brought to life by renowned designer and HGTV star Nate Berkus. His design celebrates nature in a functional way. For example, the outdoor dining table also serves up ping-pong fun. “Nate was great to work with. He has two kids of his own and really understood the vision,” said Bill Colavito, general manager of Great Wolf Lodge – Poconos.

For the small but mighty wolf packs, a new Mountain Tower will bring an additional 200 guest suites to the property. Inside the main lobby, a new full-service, sit down restaurant & bar called Fireside is now open, complimenting Great Wolf's original buffet dining option, which is also receiving a refresh.

“Fireside is the quintessential campfire dining experience and we themed the menu around that with steaks, burgers, smoked mac and cheese, and of course our signature s'mores dessert,” said Chef Luke Polles.

Open year-round, the indoor waterpark is being expanded to add seven new waterslides, twenty additional cabanas, plus an indoor-outdoor food and beverage venue. The outdoor waterpark and four-story ropes course area will receive upgrades as all. “We have an outdoor hot tub, outdoor fire pits for evening activities, outdoor food and beverage activities, a huge pool with splash pads, and eight cabanas that were also designed by Nate Berkus. It ties in to our Woodland Villas,” Colavito explained.

This massive $125 million expansion matches Great Wolf's initial investment in 2005, when opening as the Poconos' first indoor waterpark resort. Now, all 95 acres are under construction, and the new additions will create 300 permanent jobs.

“They saw the Pocono Mountains as an opportunity that needed to be revived. Since the property was built in 2005, we've had close to $2 billion in additional hospitality and tourism investment. There's not really a lot of places in the United States that you can point to, or even one, that has had that kind of investment. So, it's significant,” said Chris Barrett, CEO of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau.

The outdoor attractions as well as the new addition to the indoor waterpark open July 4, 2023. The Woodland Villas and Mountain Tower will follow in late summer. And remember, Great Wolf Lodge is open throughout the construction process!