24 Reasons to Visit Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky Ohio on Your Next Family Vacation

Whether it’s the dead of winter, the beginning of spring, or the end of fall, there’s never a bad time to visit an indoor water park. If you’re planning a trip, Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky Ohio is the perfect spot for a weekend getaway, big family outing, or quick day trip.

Surrounded by slides, rides, and other fun activities, it’ll be hard to wipe the smile from your face!

History of Great Wold Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge has several locations throughout the United States, but the first one opened in 1997 in Wisconsin Dells Wisconsin. The Sandusky location opened in 2001.

Today, there are Great Wolf Lodge locations in North Carolina, Michigan, Texas, Washington, and many other states. Its success in offering lodging and indoor entertainment spurred an industry trend.

Great Wolf Lodge - Sandusky, Ohio
Great Wolf Lodge | photo via @mrs_leah_vance_

Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky Ohio Water Rides

If you’re looking for water park thrills, Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky Ohio has them in spades. Here’s a long list of attractions that are worth exploring!

Whooping Hollow

The Whooping Hollow play pool is the perfect size for children and toddlers to explore. Little dips, turns, and slopes make it a go-to spot if you have a young child that’s still getting used to the water.

Great Wolf Lodge - Sandusky, Ohio
Great Wolf Lodge | photo via @carsynnichole

Alberta Falls

Four stories of fun are packed into Alberta Falls. Thrill-seekers will zip through steep pitches and banking turns, riding outside the building before getting dropped into the plunge pool at the end.

You can go down in solo or tandem tubes. Just be aware that there’s some accelerating, decelerating, and side-to-side motion during the ride.

Otter Run

The Otter Run waterslide is fun for the whole family and is the perfect attraction for the small and tall. There are gentle slopes and turns and a smooth landing, so this may be a ride that you do over and over again.

Fort Mackenzie

A wondrous water tree fort, Fort Mackenzie provides loads of fun for lodge visitors, especially young kids. Children can explore all the levels of this splashy wonderland, its interactive water toys, and hands-on splash features.

The main attraction in the fort is the gigantic 500-gallon bucket that fills continuously with water until it’s ready to tip. When the fort’s bell rings, kids can stand under the bucket to feel the rush of water spill over the top of them.

Great Wolf Lodge - Sandusky, Ohio
Great Wolf Lodge | photo via @josie.steffes.roberts

Totem Towers

Once kids have reached the top of the Fort Mckenzie treehouse, the Totem Towers waterslides are the perfect way to “escape” from the fort. They can take off on their own, or race with a friend.

Chinook Cove

Everyone loves basketball, and Chinook Cove is the perfect spot for kids and families to let their imaginations run wild as they shoot some hoops.

Caribou Creek

For visitors looking to slow things down, Caribou Creek is the perfect way to do it. Grab a raft, and float down the river as you forget all your worries. You can ride for as long as you like, and it’s not hard to feel relaxed once you settle into a groove.

Great Wolf Lodge - Sandusky, Ohio
Great Wolf Lodge | photo via @josie.steffes.roberts

Manitoba Tubs

The Manitoba Tubs are a great spot for adults and kids of all ages to slow down and take a break. You’ll be in heaven in these relaxing hot tubs. Just note that there’s no lifeguard on duty.

Soak’n Oak Springs

The Soak’n Oak Springs area will keep little ones as busy as bees while they climb into an oak tree waterslide and slide back down again. This treehouse pool also offers fountains and deep slashes, giving toddlers plenty of toys to have fun with.

Big Foot Pass

Youngsters who want a challenge can test themselves on the Big Foot Pass aqua adventure, which involves making their way across floating lily pads with cargo nets underneath. It’s a test of balance and sway that kids will love.

Kids Attractions at Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky Ohio

Kids young and old will have plenty of fun at the Great Wolf Lodge water park in Sandusky Ohio, but there are plenty of other kid-friendly attractions that are included with a stay at the lodge, including:

  • Character Appearances — The Great Wolf Kids are often at the lodge, so kids can get their pictures taken with Wiley the Wolf and other characters.
  • Paws-On Projects — These free projects can be a fun part of a stay at the lodge, offering kids a chance to create something wonderful.
  • Critter Cartoons — For kids who like to draw, this class teaches them to draw the Great Wolf Kids characters and create masterpieces that they can display at home.
  • Great Clock Tower Show — In the lodge lobby, this show packs plenty of jokes, stories, songs, and more to entertain visitors of all ages.
  • Story Time — Kids can end a fun-filled day of swimming and other activities with a story right before bedtime.
  • Dance Party — If your kids aren’t ready for bed just yet, they can let off some energy with a late-night dance party featuring all the latest hits.
Great Wolf Lodge - Sandusky, Ohio
Great Wolf Lodge | photo via @raphaelwarren12

Other Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky Ohio Attractions

MagiQuest

MagiQuest is an action-adventure game that turns the lodge into a world of discovery and makes kids the stars of the game. They choose a wand, top it with extra powers, and go off on their quest. During the quest, kids collect magic items and learn different runes that help them complete adventures.

Great Wolf Lodge - Sandusky, Ohio
Great Wolf Lodge | photo via @josie.steffes.roberts

Ten Paw Alley

Ten Paw Alley is a great place for the whole family to have some fun, and no special shoes are required. The shorter lanes and smaller balls make this a very fun activity.

Northern Lights Arcade

The Northern Lights Arcade is packed full of fun games to entertain the whole family. The more games you play, the more tickets you can win, and you can redeem the tickets for prizes!

Great Wolf Lodge - Sandusky, Ohio
Great Wolf Lodge | photo via @josie.steffes.roberts

Oliver’s Mining Sluice

The Oliver’s Mining Sluice allows kids to pan for beautiful gemstones. Then, they can take home what they find in a keepsake bag.

Shopping at Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky Ohio

After you’ve had plenty of fun at the Great Wolf Lodge’s indoor water park, or if you need to stock up on essentials, there are many shopping options available at this family destination resort:

  • The Buckhorn Exchange Gift Shop has souvenirs for visitors of all ages, including jewelry, totes, books, and lodge-themed items, such as clothes.
  • At the MagiQuest Marketplace, kids can select a magic wand and begin embarking on a fun action-adventure game.
  • The Bear Essentials Swim Shop has everything you need for indoor water park fun, including swim trunks, swimsuits, towels, and more.
  • Kids can also build their own Great Wolf Kids characters at the lodge’s Build-A-Bear Workshop.
Great Wolf Lodge - Sandusky, Ohio
Great Wolf Lodge | photo via @carsynnichole

Frequently Asked Questions About Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky Ohio

Where is Great Wolf Lodge?

Great Wolf Lodge currently has family resorts in 12 states and one in Canada. The Sandusky Ohio Great Wolf Lodge is located at 4600 Milan Rd.

How much does Great Wold Lodge cost?

You can book a stay at Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky Ohio or buy a day pass, which allows you access to the indoor water park and more than 50 activities. The day pass includes free life jackets and all-day fun.

When is Great Wolf Lodge open?

Other than holidays, Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky Ohio is open 24 hours a day, every day.

Is there a parking charge at Great Wolf Lodge?

Parking for guests at Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky Ohio is complimentary.

What should I bring to Great Wolf Lodge?

If you’re a guest at Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky Ohio, it helps to have a few essentials — swimsuits or swim trunks and additional swimming gear, including goggles, flip-flops, and earplugs.

Also, make sure to bring comfortable clothes for when you’re not swimming and a bag to carry wet swimsuits home.

Are there dining options available at Great Wolf Lodge?

There are many dining options available at Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky Ohio, and you can even have food and drinks delivered to your cabana during your stay.

What are the Great Wolf Lodge check-in and checkout times?

Check-in time begins at 4 p.m., and checkout time is 11 a.m.

Great Wolf Lodge - Sandusky, Ohio
Great Wolf Lodge | photo via @mrs_leah_vance_

Discover More Sandusky Ohio Indoor & Outdoor Fun

No matter how old you are, it’s not hard to have fun at Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky Ohio. Whether you want to spend the entire time playing in the indoor water park or split your time between the water park and the numerous other things to do in Sandusky, you’re guaranteed to have fun.

In fact, there are a lot of Sandusky indoor things to do, as well as outdoor things to do in Sandusky. You could book a stay at one of the many Sandusky Ohio hotels, and do as many activities as possible!