$250 million Great Wolf Lodge to open early in Naples

Great Wolf Lodge in Naples has set an opening day and started hiring.

The new family resort opening just off of Interstate 75 will open its doors Sept. 25 — slightly ahead of its original time frame.

A company spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday, but the new opening day was posted on the resort’s website with promotional discounts already available.

Great Wolf Lodge is a family-friendly chain of themed resorts centered around indoor waterparks. The $250 million Naples resort, Great Wolf Lodge South Florida, is being built on 20 acres on the eastern end of Collier County, near the Paradise Coast Sports Complex.

The Madison, Wisconsin, company broke ground on the resort in July 2022 and at that time estimated it would open sometime in October of this year. But all along officials have said that day could be pushed up.

While Great Wolf has started taking reservations already, the company has also begun looking for employees. On the career page of its website Feb. 21, there were job postings seeking an IT manager and for directors of housekeeping, finance and food and beverage in Naples.

The company says that it expects to hire 600 people by the time the resort opens.

What’s happening with the construction of the Great Wolf in Naples is in sharp contrast with the building of the Allegiant Travel Co.'s Sunseeker Resort Port Charlotte, about 70 miles north. That project, due to a global pandemic and a major hurricane, opened in December three years late and $225 million over budget.

When complete, the Naples’ resort will feature 500 suites and a 100,000-square-foot indoor water park, along with a 62,000-square-foot family entertainment center.

The center of the project, and what’s likely going to be its largest attraction, is a 90,000-square-foot indoor water park that will include body and tube slides and raft rides, along with activity pools and splash areas.

The $250 million for the project, company officials have said, comes from Great Wolf shareholders Blackstone and Centerbridge Partners. The Collier County Commission has approved $15 million in incentives for the project.