Great Wolf Lodge in Mashantucket, Connecticut opened recently, to rave reviews!
While this property is slightly smaller overall, in comparison to Great Wolf Lodge (GWL) locations in the tri-state area, it is extremely quaint and accessible for this very reason!
As the 23rd Great Wolf Lodge in North America it is strategically located between NY and Boston! GWL Mashantucket is either a perfect “stand alone” road trip destination or a stopover on route to Boston and beyond.
There is so much to do at GWL or you can opt to do nothing at all and lounge by the beautiful outdoor pool while enjoying fine fare and your very own cabana.
We had the opportunity to experience all that the new Great Wolf Lodge Connecticut has to offer. The ropes course and zip line is located INSIDE the property. Many GWL locations have their climb and zip line activities outdoors. Either way it is a perfect activity for teens and adults alike!
All of the activities guests look forward to are centrally located around the ropes course and zip line area. This makes up the complete Adventure Park area. They are easily accessible, with no downstairs area to go to in order to partake in either bowling, mining, the arcade or even late night snacking!
The 92,000 sq. ft indoor waterpark includes the famous GWL lazy river and wave pool, 13 slides, a younger kids area, basketball hoops in the water and much more! They have wonderful food options within the waterpark. The famous Buckets offers delicious, quality chicken fingers and the best churros around!
Speaking of food, no visit to the new Great Wolf Lodge, Ct. is complete without dining at the famous Fireside restaurant! I always love to try the fish, especially salmon when offered. Fireside did not disappoint! The Grilled Salmon and Avocado Salad is a perfect summer dish for lunch or dinner! Another top salmon dish is the Honey Bourbon Salmon. Served with brown rice pilaf and grilled seasonal vegetables, it was light but very filling and that hint of bourbon did the trick!
My favorite signature starters were Roasted Tomato Soup and their famous Sweet Cast Iron Cornbread! You can even dip some of the cornbread into the soup!
Try not to skip dessert. I definitely did not! The lodge smores are a staple at GWL and they were as delicious as always. It feels like a campfire, right at your table!
The buffet breakfast is equally amazing, especially after you have enjoyed the wonderful waterpark area the day/early evening prior. Great big breakfast/brunch to indulge in before you head home. At the buffet you can choose from what felt like 100 dishes. Everything from homemade, gigantic French toast portions, to grits to fresh carved turkey, to made to order healthy vegetable omelets!
All of the GWL Ct. dining locations also offer options for those who are vegetarian or vegan. A dish of pan roasted Brussel sprouts with brown rice pilaf and grilled lemon, for example, was incredible!
As you can see there is so much to do and don’t forget the famous MagiQuest! It is an additional cost but is an activity so many kids of all ages look forward to when visiting Great Wolf Lodge. I think it is worth the splurge, although you will be so busy at the waterpark, visiting with family and friends, you may not even have time for it! It is great to know the option is there!
There are numerous free, structured activities to engage in throughout the day and evening. Yoga, book readings, dance parties and much more! Make sure to download the GWL app for a smooth experience and a great way to stay both connected and engaged without feeling overwhelmed or pressured to do everything in one day! Definitely a great 1-2 night stay ideally, although you can squeeze a lot into two days with just one overnight stay as well! This is because you can also use the waterpark after your check out from your extra comfortable room and/or famous family suite!
Some other extras charges to be aware of- Resort fee and parking fee. For the budget conscious, you can park for free at Foxwoods casino and walk right over to the GWL property. They are on the same larger property/reservation.
GWL in Mashantucket cannot wait to welcome you to their beautiful, new and slightly more consolidated location!
Visit them today: https://www.greatwolf.com/connecticut, (9) Instagram
**Although we were hosted as part of a media weekend, all of the experiences and opinions are my own**
