Houston, we have a new indoor waterpark! Yes, Great Wolf Lodge–the oh-so-popular year-round family destination–just opened a brand new location 35 minutes southeast of Houston in Webster, Texas. The expansive resort has toddler play pools, high-thrill water slides for teens, and lots of other fun activities under one roof, making it an easy vacation spot the whole family can enjoy.
My kids and I had been counting the days until Great Wolf Lodge Houston’s grand opening, so I was thrilled to be one of the first families to book an overnight stay and experience all the fun. Read on for my first hand review of the attractions and amenities, plus helpful tips for planning your trip and ways to save.
Choose from a number of comfortable suites, including adorably themed KidCabins.
Great Wolf Lodge’s Upgraded Suites and Amenities
Keeping families in mind, Great Wolf Lodge Houston/Webster offers suites that comfortably accommodate 4-14 guests–including adorably themed KidCabin suites. As a family of 5, we typically feel cramped in hotel rooms, but the Great Wolf Geyser Suite we booked couldn’t have been a more comfortable fit for our whole crew.
We were thrilled to find a king-size bed in the primary bedroom, two bunk beds in the kids quarters, and even two bathrooms. My awe-struck oldest son whispered “This is so cool…” as we explored the suite, and he was absolutely right. Other amenities across the rooms include comfortable pull-out couches, TVs, mini-fridges, and coffee makers.
Take a look at all the different Great Wolf Lodge suite options.
The expansive water park features wave pools, lazy rivers, twisting water slides, kiddie pools, and more. Photo by Nan Ross
Year-Round Indoor Water Park
The epic 92,000-square-foot water park is undoubtedly the main event at Great Wolf Lodge–and my kids unanimously voted it our first stop after unloading the car. Kept at a comfortable 84 degrees year-round, the enormous indoor park has wave pools, lazy rivers, twisting water slides, kiddie pools, relaxing hot tubs, and more–truly something for everyone.
There are also plenty of comfy chairs around for those looking to lounge, as well as both indoor and outdoor cabanas that can be reserved in advance for a fee.
All of the water slides are conveniently marked with a thrill level and height requirement.
Best Water Park Features at Great Wolf Lodge
According to my kids, here are the best water slides and features at Great Wolf Lodge Houston/Webster:
- Slap Tail Pond: This is the largest indoor pool in the park with gentle waves to play in and a zero-depth entry that makes it fun and accessible for all ages.
- Otter Cave Waterworks: A four-story water fort treehouse complete with slides, toys, and a gigantic bucket that soaks unsuspecting kids when tipped over.
- River Canyon Run: This was the biggest hit with our bunch because we could all slide down together in a giant tube fit for five!
All of the water slides are marked with a thrill level and height requirement. With all three of my kids meeting the 42-inch requirement on most of the larger slides, we tested them all and deemed them a ton of fun but “not too scary.”
See all the Great Wolf Lodge Houston/Webster water park features, plus their height limits and thrill levels to plan your adventure.
The ropes course is a popular attraction at the60,000-square-foot adventure park.Photo by Nan Ross
Top Attractions at Great Wolf Lodge Webster
The fun and games don’t end at the water park. Great Wolf Lodge also features an indoor adventure park that transports you to a 60,000-square-foot enchanted forest with many attractions. My family’s favorites were:
- Howlers Peak Ropes Course: My kids loved scaling this 3-story structure, completing aerial obstacles, and flying across the park on zip lines, all while safely harnessed.
- MagiQuest: This interactive live-action game was a huge hit with my kids–especially because we were able to take home our wands as souvenirs.
- Ten Paw Alley: We loved the shorter lanes and lighter balls at this kid-sized bowling alley. They made it much easier for everyone to play!
The adventure park also includes a Build-A-Bear Workshop, Howl in One Mini Golf, the Northern Lights Arcade, and plenty more things to do. See the full list of attractions at Great Wolf Lodge Houston/Webster.
Engaging events like yoga and crafts are included in the cost of your stay.
FREE Events and Activities at Great Wolf Lodge
Included in the cost of your stay, Great Wolf Lodge offers a number of fun and engaging events and activities throughout the day. From arts and crafts and yoga to bedtime stories and “late-night” dance parties, the whole family can get in on the action.
See all the free events and activities at Great Wolf Lodge Houston/Webster.
From sit-down restaurants to grab-and-go markets, there’s no shortage of food and drink options.Photo by Nan Ross
Dining and Food at Great Wolf Lodge
There’s no shortage of food and drink options at the resort, whether you’re looking for a cozy fire-cooked dinner or a vacation-worthy poolside co*cktail. Families can choose from two sit-down restaurants, Fireside and Timbers Table & Kitchen; the casual Hungry Wolf Food Hall; and the grab-and-go Freshwoods Market. There are also two bars–one swim-up and one inside the lodge–serving up co*cktails, beers, and other cold drinks. A sweet shop slings ice cream and other treats, and an on-site Dunkin’ makes it easy to grab a much-needed coffee or a snack.
After our busy day, we opted for dinner at Fireside, with its outdoor woodsy theme and delicious American cuisine. We loved the warm atmosphere and the menu filled with family-friendly classic dishes. For dessert, we tried Wood’s End Creamery, and everyone enjoyed their scoops of ice cream and sorbet.
Check out all the dining options at Great Wolf Lodge Houston/Webster.
Packages and special offers help make your Great Wolf Lodge visit and all the attractions more affordable.
Great Wolf Lodge Deals, Coupon Codes, and Packages
Great Wolf Lodge runs a number of promotions to make visits more affordable and to help families get even more bang for their buck. Take a look at these money-saving Attraction Passes, Dining Deals, and Packages.
What to Know Before Your Great Wolf Lodge Visit
- Unlimited access to the water park is included with your overnight stay.
- Room check-in is at 4:00 pm, but guests can enjoy the water park as early as it opens on the day of their arrival. Similarly, check-out time is 11:00 am, but guests can stay at the water park until closing that day.
- For an additional fee, you can opt for a late check-out at 2:00 pm.
- The attractions in the adventure park are an additional cost, but you can save big by purchasing passes in advance.
- Drop-in events and activities like crafts, movies, and dance parties, are all FREE with your stay.
- Unlimited resort-wide Wi-Fi is included with your visit.
- No need to pack life vests, beach towels, or inner tubes–those are all provided at the water park.
- Closed-toed shoes with rubber soles are required at some attractions, so make sure to pack a pair.
- Parking is currently $15 per night.
- Souvenirs, water park essentials, and forgotten necessities are all available at Buckhorn Emporium Gift Shop and Paddle Bay Outfitters.
- Head to the gift shop upon arrival and give ‘em your best “howl” to receive a FREE pair of souvenir Wolf Ears and become a member of the pack!
Ready to plan your visit to Texas’s brand new Great Wolf Lodge? Check availability and pricing for Great Wolf Lodge Houston/Webster.
All photos courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge unless otherwise noted
