Great Wolf Resorts Inc. is planning to build its first resort in Florida on a site across Interstate 4 from Disney World near Orlando.
The company, that is the owner and operator of a chain of indoor water parks, has declared its intentions to Orange County to build an 800-room hotel featuring a built-in water park on 50 acres of land at 8800 Meadow Creek Drive, according to county records.
Great Wolf Resorts Inc. is based in Wisconsin and has 12 locations in operation across the U.S. and Canada with another two in development. The closest Great Wolf resort to Orlando is in Concord, N.C. The company is still in negotiations to buy the property as the 50 acres of land is currently owned by Garrison Orlando Land LLC which bought the land from UBS Bank in 2010 for $8.75 million. That property sits next to the 1,037-unit Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas and the Orlando World Center Marriott.
Most Great Wolf resorts come with several water-based activities such as water slides, interactive pools and lagoons featuring things like water cannons, and other attractions such as rope courses, bowling alleys and 4D theaters. Great Wolf water park resorts are indoors and located mostly in colder climates. The water park in Orlando would be both indoors and outdoors. It could also include spas, fitness rooms, children zone and restaurants, space for conferences, miniature golf courses and bowling alleys.