https://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/real-estate/2026/02/13/great-wolf-lodge-mason-new-hotel/88607127007/?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=698ef62aa9dfda0001d59006&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwZnRzaAP8KV1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeHLaKMZHHb7VjgWaozVdz12P0ygmcHGUnPRb1vKXjeI5s7vrLDpinIQp4Bi0_aem_2sxGtvF45YnGNUEw4imqjw
 

This story seems to be on-and-off paywalled but the TL;DR is that Mason City Council recently approved the construction of a six story tower addition to Great Wolf Lodge. 

So it seems like the new tower is going in the parking lot somewhere in front of the current building. Interesting they chose there instead of right behind the waterpark where there is some open land there between the outdoor pool and columbia rd. 

Paywall for me, is it for additional rooms or a waterpark expansion?

 

1 hour ago, IndyGuy4KI said:

Paywall for me, is it for additional rooms or a waterpark expansion?

 

"A new six-story hotel tower in front of the current hotel building, facing Kings Island Drive.

The hotel will have 24 three-bedroom suites and be connected to the existing hotel.

The hotel will be 75 feet tall, as tall as the waterpark, and will be visible from Kings Island Drive.

Removal of 55 parking spaces to make room for the new tower."

Is GWL typically a nice and/or fun place? I've never been in there, though I think they used to have some kind of MagiQuest (or similar) attraction as well. My childhood experience with a different MQ location was very fun, but I don't know what all goes on in GWL overall. Good on them for adding capacity.

I assume the location was chosen because of the connection to the rest of the actual hotel parts. A connection on the south side would require relocating the road onto KI property or down a steep hill, while a connection on the north side would require guests to move through the convention center to get to the rest of the hotel. Connecting through the back of the indoor waterpark probably isn't desirable either. All three options would also likely disturb the retention pond between GWL and Columbia Road. The orange box is where I think the new wing is supposed to go.

6 hours ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

Is GWL typically a nice and/or fun place? I've never been in there, though I think they used to have some kind of MagiQuest (or similar) attraction as well. My childhood experience with a different MQ location was very fun, but I don't know what all goes on in GWL overall. Good on them for adding capacity.

I assume the location was chosen because of the connection to the rest of the actual hotel parts. A connection on the south side would require relocating the road onto KI property or down a steep hill, while a connection on the north side would require guests to move through the convention center to get to the rest of the hotel. Connecting through the back of the indoor waterpark probably isn't desirable either. All three options would also likely disturb the retention pond between GWL and Columbia Road. The orange box is where I think the new wing is supposed to go.

I stayed there last month with a group I was with. The thing I like most about the GWLs I've stayed at (Mason and Sandusky) is that the rooms are quite large and nice. The waterpark itself is fine, though it isn't really that big so it can get quite crowded in there. Apparently there used to be a water coaster there, but it seems it was removed due to maintenance issues and I wasn't really impressed by the slide they replaced it with. (Weirdly enough, it's named River Racer, though it opened before Kings Island's River Racers) The food there is also okay, but it is overpriced. There is MagiQuest there, though I personally didn't do it.

Personally, I do think the GWL in Mason is better than the one in Sandusky since it has a slightly larger water park. The thing with GWL is that they have a lot of locations across the country, but I find their waterparks to just be okay. There are better resorts out there that give GWL a run for their money, like with Kalahari and the Wilderness Resort. However, those you have to go out of your way to travel to, whereas GWL is a lot more accessible, especially since it's right across the street from Kings Island.

10 hours ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

Is GWL typically a nice and/or fun place? I've never been in there, though I think they used to have some kind of MagiQuest (or similar) attraction as well. My childhood experience with a different MQ location was very fun, but I don't know what all goes on in GWL overall. Good on them for adding capacity.

It's mainly geared towards families with kids, so if you don't have kids or aren't part of a group that includes kids, you may not get much enjoyment out of it. I've been to the one in Sandusky once (with my sister, brother-in-law and nieces back in 2020 - the girls were 2 and 4 at the time so they got a lot out of it) and the one in Mason several times (once or twice with family again, and a few times with other KIC members as we used to do holiday get togethers there) 

If they are going to add hotel space, they really need to add on to the waterpark as well. Clearly, they have the space for it.

The waterpark is packed as is on weekends and busiest days. It’s why we try to go on Sundays or early in the week when days and holidays allow.