Great Wolf Lodge Georgia Review: Our Stay in a Wolf Den Suite

When we booked a one-night stay at Great Wolf Lodge near Atlanta, I wasn’t sure whether one night would be enough time to enjoy the water park and everything else at the resort. As it turned out, we packed a lot into our short visit.

My 11-year-old son had a great time, my husband and I ended up enjoying the water slides more than expected, and we left feeling like we had experienced nearly everything we wanted to do.

Overall, it was a fun family getaway, and here’s my honest review of our stay at Great Wolf Lodge Georgia.

Where Is Great Wolf Lodge Near Atlanta?

Despite being promoted as Great Wolf Lodge Atlanta, the resort is actually located in LaGrange, Georgia, about an hour southwest of downtown Atlanta, depending on traffic. It is conveniently located near Interstate 85 at Exit 13.

Great Wolf Lodge Georgia
150 Tom Hall Parkway
LaGrange, GA 30240

The LaGrange resort opened in 2018, so it had already been welcoming families for several years by the time of our visit. Great Wolf Lodge itself began in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, in 1997 and has since expanded to locations across the United States and Canada.

Florida also has a Great Wolf Lodge, which opened in 2024 in Naples. I’d like to visit that one next since it is a little closer to home.

How We Got a Wolf Den Suite Upgrade for $15

I made our original reservation through the Great Wolf Lodge website and booked the basic Family Suite, which has two queen beds, a sleeper sofa, a mini-fridge and a living area.

The day before check-in, I received an email inviting me to bid on a room upgrade for $15. Since it was only my husband, my son and me, we did not need a larger suite. However, I thought one of the themed rooms would make the visit more fun, and $15 didn’t seem like much, so I went for it.

When we checked in, we learned that our bid had been accepted and we had been upgraded to a Wolf Den Suite. If you receive one of these upgrade emails, it is worth giving it a try.

Inside Our Wolf Den Suite

The most unique feature of the Wolf Den Suite is the separate Northwoods-themed sleeping area for kids. It has bunk beds tucked into their own little den, along with a separate TV. My son thought it was really cute, and it made the room feel much more special than a standard hotel room.

The suite also included a queen bed, full bathroom, two TVs, mini-fridge and coffee maker. The little paw-print soaps were an especially cute touch. Our suite didn’t have the usual full-size sleeper sofa, because it had an ADA bathroom. Otherwise, the suites have a sleeper sofa.

The room was clean and comfortable overall, but it did show some wear. It did not feel sparkling new, and the pillows were oddly lumpy. I would definitely recommend bringing your own pillows.

My biggest complaint was the lack of a proper workspace. There was only a tiny table and an uncomfortable chair.

Great Wolf Lodge clearly expects guests to spend their time playing rather than working—which is understandable—but a regular hotel desk would have made a big difference for an adult who needed to get some work done.

You can see what I was working with in the photo below. There was barely enough room to fit my mousepad on the table.

Checking In and Using the Wristbands

Check-in went smoothly. I used a kiosk for self check-in, although I later had to stop at the front desk to pick up my son’s Pup Pass.

Instead of a traditional room key, each guest receives an RFID wristband. The wristband serves as your water park admission and room key, and it can be connected to a credit card for purchases around the resort. We also used ours when checking out water park towels.

It was convenient not having to carry a room key or wallet around all day.

Great Wolf Lodge operates as a cashless resort, so plan to use a credit card or set up charging privileges on the wristband. The lodge may also place an authorization hold on your card at check-in.

The wristband is also used for access to the parking lot. Parking is an additional $20 nightly charge rather than part of the advertised room rate, which is a bit annoying. You have to park there, and you are there to stay, so why charge us extra for it? It should be included with your room rate.

Arrive Early and Enjoy the Water Park Before Check-In

One of the best things to know before visiting is that you do not have to wait for your room to be ready before using the water park.

Room check-in begins at 4 p.m., but overnight guests can enter the water park as soon as it opens on arrival day and stay until it closes on departure day.

We arrived early, left our luggage in the car and went straight to the water park. Our room was ready on time at 4 p.m., so even though we stayed for only one night, we still got a full day of fun.

Water park hours can vary by date, so check the Great Wolf Lodge app or the resort’s website before your visit rather than assuming a set opening time.

The Three Great Wolf Lodge Pass Levels

Great Wolf Lodge offers three attraction-pass levels. The exact contents and prices can change, so verify them for your dates, but this is how the current Georgia passes compare.

Pup Pass

The Pup Pass is intended for younger children and includes a pass-exclusive Build-A-Bear furry friend, small candy cup, kid’s ice cream and a $5 arcade card.

Paw Pass

The Paw Pass is aimed at children ages five and older. It currently includes one MagiQuest game; a choice of a MagiQuest Vellara wand, Evergreen Leaf topper or belt; a small candy cup; swim goggles; a kid’s ice cream; and a $5 arcade card.

Wolf Pass

The Wolf Pass includes the broadest mix of activities. It currently comes with one MagiQuest game; a wand, topper or belt; a small candy cup; one game at Ten Paw Alley; a $5 arcade card; one round on Howler’s Peak Ropes Course; double admission to Rustic Ridge Climbing Wall; a kid’s ice cream; and one round of Howl-in-One Mini Golf.

We were happy with the Pup Pass, but the Wolf Pass may be a better value for a child who wants to try several of the paid attractions.

What Comes With the Pup Pass?

I paid $49.99 for a Pup Pass for my son. Pass prices and included items can change, but the Pup Pass includes:

• One pass-exclusive Build-A-Bear furry friend
• One small candy cup from Great Wolf Candy Company
• One kid’s ice cream
• One $5 Paw Points game card for Northern Lights Arcade

The pass-exclusive Build-A-Bear choices were included at no additional cost. My son chose a dragon that cost a little more, so we paid the difference to upgrade.

I had never watched the full Build-A-Bear process before, and I didn’t know there was a whole little ritual involved.

First, they choose a heart, then make a wish, then that heart is placed in the stuffed animal, and they start doing the stuffing. At the end, the person making it pulls some strings and the hole closes up and is tied shut. It was neat to watch!

MagiQuest, the Arcade and Other Activities

The water park is the main attraction, but there is plenty to do without getting wet.

MagiQuest is an interactive fantasy game played throughout the lodge. Kids use special wands to activate objects, uncover clues and complete quests. We saw children running around in wizard robes and waving their wands at different items all over the resort.

We did not play because my son was 11 and was not particularly interested, but younger kids seemed completely absorbed in it.

We did spend time at Northern Lights Arcade, where games award tickets that can be redeemed for prizes. Part of our arcade play came with the Pup Pass.

We also played Howl-in-One Mini Golf. It is a small, cute course and made for a fun break from the water park.

Other paid attractions include Howler’s Peak Ropes Course, Rustic Ridge Climbing Wall and bowling at Ten Paw Alley, but we did not try those during this visit.

Our Experience at the Indoor Water Park

The 100,000-square-foot indoor water park is kept at approximately 84 degrees year-round. Most of the water park is indoors, which means weather is not much of a concern and you can spend the day there without getting sunburned.

The lines were not very long during our visit, so we did not spend much time waiting for slides.

I had not been on water slides since I was probably my son’s age, and I was honestly a little nervous at first. Once I tried them, though, they were a lot of fun.

The major attractions include:

• Wolf Tail: The most intimidating slide, with a floor that drops out beneath you. My husband and son rode it, but I sat that one out!
• Otter Run: A fast, high-thrill body slide. This one has a section that is completely dark, and it’s a little scary. I rode it once and that was enough.
• Totem Towers: A pair of enclosed body slides.
• Rapid Racer: A multi-lane mat racing slide.
• Triple Thunder: A high-thrill tube attraction. We rode this one a couple times in a row.
• River Canyon Run: A family raft ride that can be enjoyed together as a group. This one was a lot of fun too!
• Crooked Creek: A small lazy river where you can float and take a break.
• Slap Tail Pond: The indoor wave pool.
• Fort Mackenzie: A multi-level water playground with slides and interactive features.
• Chinook Cove: A water basketball and activity pool.
• Big Foot Pass: A floating obstacle-crossing activity.
• Cub Paw Pool and Whooping Hollow: Gentler areas designed for smaller children.

My favorites were the tube and raft slides. My son and I rode together on one, and our family rode together on the larger group raft ride. Those were much more my speed than the pitch-dark body slide or the trapdoor drop.

Outside, Raccoon Lagoon provides a regular seasonal swimming pool, while Northwoods Springs is the outdoor hot tub area. The outdoor space is the only significant part of the water park where sun exposure becomes a factor.

Since I didn’t have my phone on me while we were riding waterslides, this is the only pic I got of the waterpark area:

Towels, Lockers, Showers and Cabanas

You do not need to pack pool towels. Great Wolf Lodge provides them inside the water park. They must remain in the water park and be returned to avoid a fee.

We rented a locker for the day and could open and close it as often as needed. Locker prices vary, so check the posted price when you arrive. I think ours was around $20, but we went for the biggest size.

There are also changing areas and showers, which are especially useful if you stay in the water park after checking out of your room.

Private cabanas are available to rent, but the price during our visit was around $200, which felt steep for our small family. Cabana prices vary by date, type and availability. We were perfectly fine using a locker instead.

Don’t Forget the Free Wolf Ears

When you arrive, stop at Buckhorn Exchange Gift Shop, located near the lobby, to ask for the complimentary wolf ears offered to resort guests.

I did not initially realize they were free and wondered why so many people were wearing them. They make a cute souvenir and are part of the whole Great Wolf Lodge experience.

Availability and pickup procedures can change, so ask a staff member if you do not see them right away.

Eating at Barnwood

We ate at Barnwood, the lodge’s sit-down restaurant. The food was okay, and the drinks were decent. As expected at a family resort, everything felt overpriced for what it was.

The most important detail for my son was that the children’s menu had buttered noodles—his favorite food in the world—so he was perfectly happy.

Below you can see we got a handful of noodles for $11.

There are several other places to eat around the resort, including quick-service options and snack counters. If you plan to eat every meal on-site, it is worth looking at the prepaid dining packages before your stay and comparing them with what your family would realistically order.

Free Kids’ Activities and Daily Programs

Great Wolf Lodge schedules complimentary family activities throughout the day. Offerings vary by date and season but may include morning yoga, character appearances, dance parties, crafts, games and story time.

You receive a schedule when you check in, and the Great Wolf Lodge app also lists current activities.

Most of what we saw was geared toward younger children, so we did not attend the programs. Plenty of little kids were enthusiastically participating, though.

That really sums up the resort’s target audience. This is a place designed for families with children, particularly younger kids. There were a few teenagers around, but most guests were families with elementary-school-age children or toddlers.

How Long Should You Stay at Great Wolf Lodge?

We stayed only one night, but because we arrived early and used the water park before our room was ready, it felt like a full visit.

We were able to enjoy the slides, swim, play mini golf, visit the arcade, make a stuffed animal, have dinner and explore the resort.

For most families, I think one or two nights is ideal. Two days gives you enough time to see and do everything without feeling rushed. I personally would not plan a much longer stay because repeating the water park day after day might begin to feel old, especially with an older child.

If we return, I would let my son bring a friend. If your child does not have a sibling or friend along, you become the default partner for every slide and activity.

My husband and I had fun joining him, but he would have loved having another kid there to go on the slides over and over without dragging Mom and Dad along.

Checking Out and Getting Our Final Bill

Checkout was simple and could be completed digitally, so there was no room key to return.

The final bill was supposed to be emailed automatically, but mine never arrived. It was surprisingly difficult to reach someone who could resend it, and I did not receive the bill until a couple of days later.

That was my only administrative problem. Once the bill arrived, all the charges were correct, and the rest of the reservation, check-in and checkout process had gone smoothly.

Is Great Wolf Lodge Georgia Worth It?

For a family with children who love pools and water slides, Great Wolf Lodge Georgia is a fun one- or two-night getaway.

The indoor water park is the obvious highlight, but the themed rooms, arcade, mini golf, MagiQuest, Build-A-Bear and scheduled children’s activities help turn it into more than a hotel with a pool.

The resort is not inexpensive once you add parking, meals, attraction passes, a locker and optional upgrades. The rooms also show some wear, and they are not especially well designed for an adult who needs to work.

Still, our room was clean, our $15 Wolf Den upgrade made the stay more memorable, and my son had a wonderful time.

He wants to go back—with a friend next time—and that is probably the best review Great Wolf Lodge could get.

Note: Pass contents, operating hours, fees, attraction availability and other resort details may change. Verify current information with Great Wolf Lodge when booking.