Great Wolf Lodge Ultimate Storyteller Contest Winners

Great Wolf Lodge Pocono Mountains

Grand Prize Winner: Susan Nastro

Susan’s Story:
“Matt!” yelled Emily, who had just come up the stairs from the water park and was still dripping wet. “Let’s go find Violet; I want to take a picture with her!” The little girl was excited, but her big brother just rolled his eyes and flicked his Magic Quest wand at a picture on the wall.

“No, thanks,” he laughed. “That’s kid’s stuff.” Matt was older than Emily and thought he was too cool for that kind of thing. “Besides,” he continued, “it’s just someone in a costume—she’s not real.” He examined his wand, trying to figure out which topper would look best, ignoring his sister’s miserable expression.

Emily took a deep breath, fighting back her tears, when out of nowhere, she heard a loud giggle come from inside the Great Clock Tower. She was startled! No one was supposed to be in there. “Hey!” she said. “Who’s there?” Just then, Emily heard another giggle and saw a streak of brown and purple run up the stairs to the second floor.

The little girl gasped and ran up the stairs after whatever she saw. “Oh, great,” mumbled Matt, who was told not to let his sister out of his sight. He reluctantly followed Emily to the second floor.

When he got there, his sister was wearing the biggest smile he had ever seen on her face. She was laughing, and chasing someone around the Magic Quest trees. Finally, the two girls slowed down enough for Matt to see Emily’s new friend. She was brown and furry and wearing a purple shirt with a pink bow. It was Violet! And that was no costume. The pretty wolf winked and smiled at Matt. He smiled back shyly and asked, “Would you mind taking a picture with my sister … and me?”

Susan’s Prize:

One (1) Grand Prize Winner — “The Ultimate StoryTeller” — will receive:

• One complimentary three-day, two-night stay at Great Wolf Lodge - Poconos in a family suite for themselves and up to three additional family members in 2012.
• Two free Story Explorers games during the stay at the Lodge.
• One $100 Great Wolf Lodge gift card, awarded upon check-in, which can be used at any location in the Poconos Lodge.

First Runner-Up: Sarah Comparetta

Sarah’s Story:

Deep in the woods of the Pocono Mountains sat the most amazing place in the eyes of nine year old Ethan, The Great Wolf Lodge.

It was the last night of their visit and Ethan and his family just got back to their room from story time. Ethan was sad because he knew they would be going home in the morning.

Ethan woke up that morning to the laughing of Wiley and Violet. He was shocked to see them and not his family. Wiley and Violet quickly rushed Ethan down stairs. They told him he could go up and down the slides and play every game in the arcade as many times as he wanted to. Ethan was so excited.

A few days later Ethan was no longer having fun. He missed his family. Ethan realized as much as he loved Great Wolf Lodge and his new friends Violet and Wiley, he missed his family too. It was his family that made the lodge so much fun. He loved the time they had together playing in the water, listing to stories, playing in the arcade and racing cars. It was the time they spent together that made The Great Wolf lodge so great.

Ethan was sad and began to cry. Just then he heard Ethan! Ethan! wake up! It was his mommy. It was morning and his family was still at the lodge. He quickly sat up and looked around. Ethan had been dreaming. He was so excited to see his family and gave them all big hugs. As they gathered their stuff to leave, Ethan’s mommy asked, are you sad to be leaving Ethan? He responded, no mommy I would be sad if I didn’t have my family to share the Great Wolf Lodge with.

Sarah’s Prize:

One (1) First Runner-Up will receive:

• One complimentary two-day, one-night stay at Great Wolf Lodge - Poconos in a family suite for themselves and up to three additional family members in 2012.
• One free Story Explorers game during the stay at the Lodge.

Second Runner-Up Prize: Denise McGurl

Denise’s Story:

One day a little boy named Ryan was playing in his backyard. At the edge of the grass, by the tall pine trees, Ryan discovered a set of footprints that looked like dog tracks. Ryan thought his beagle puppy, Shea, ran away so he started following the tracks to search for her.

In the distance, he saw a white tail pop out from behind the bushes; then disappear behind another tree. “Shea!” Ryan exclaimed, as he ran ahead through the pine trees. Every time Ryan thought he caught up to the tail, it would pop out again somewhere in the distance.

Soon, Ryan realized he was lost. He sat down on a boulder and started to cry. Just then, the bushes started to shake and a wolf popped out; introducing himself as Wiley.

Wiley asked, “Why are you crying?” Ryan told him the about the tracks, his puppy Shea, and the tail he was chasing. Wiley said, “I think that was my tail you saw; and it sounds like they were my tracks you were following, too.”

Wiley put his arm around Ryan and explained “Don’t worry, I have a great sense of smell and I can lead you back to the path.” As they walked home, Ryan turned to the wolf and said, “But Wiley, what about Shea? I still can’t find her.”

“I have an idea to help find your puppy. I learned it in the wild.” said Wiley, as he let out a long hooowwwl. Before long, they heard another howl, but it wasn’t a wolf, it was a beagle bellow! It was Shea! She was at home the whole time burying her bone behind the garage.

Ryan gave Wiley a big hug for helping him find his puppy and they promised to be friends forever.

Denise’s Prize:

One (1) Second Runner-Up will receive:

• One free Story Explorers game for use during next visit to Great Wolf Lodge - Poconos in 2012.