At Great Wolf Lodge, family fun and family safety go hand in hand. Our indoor water parks are designed so you can relax and make memories with the confidence that our pack is working hard to ensure a safe guest experience. Here's everything you need to know before you arrive.
What to Know Before Visiting the Water Park
- Safety is our top priority. We want all guests to enjoy their visit, but our first priority is keeping everyone safe. That’s why we invest in lifeguard training and adhere to strict standards that are audited by a third party.
- Some attractions have height and/or weight requirements. There are signs that explain ridership expectations for each attraction, and if you ever have a question, just ask a pack member.
- To ensure the water park is clean and ready for fun, we uphold water quality expectations that are monitored with automated systems and pack member evaluations.
Our Lifeguard Program
World-class indoor water park safety doesn’t happen by accident; it’s a result of expert partnerships, advanced technology, and a team that is constantly training to stay at the top of its game. Our lifeguards are your partners in safety, but they are not a substitute for responsible supervision. Children must be accompanied by a supervising companion in the water park at all time.
Ellis & Associates Partnership
We are proud of our longstanding partnership with Ellis & Associates (E&A), the global leader in aquatic safety and risk management since 1983. Through E&A's Comprehensive Aquatic Risk Management Program™ (CARMP™), we operate under industry-leading standards of lifeguarding. This partnership means our facility is continuously guided by expert consultants, audited against rigorous safety benchmarks, and subject to an operating plan approved by E&A.
Ellis Aquatic Vigilance System (EAVS)
Our facility uses the Ellis Aquatic Vigilance System (EAVS). High-definition analytic cameras provide additional coverage throughout the facility with a focus on bodies of water. Live feeds are monitored by certified lifeguards in an onsite control room, providing an additional layer of oversight, communication, and protection. EAVS integrates video surveillance, radio communication, and disciplined operating protocols for faster recognition and response to any swimmer in distress.
EAVS Operators support surveillance of our water areas by monitoring designated camera views, providing our on-the-ground safety team with an additional layer of lifeguarding that operates in partnership with our on-deck guards.
Lifeguard Training & Auditing
Every lifeguard at our facility is trained through E&A's International Lifeguard Training Program™ (ILTP®) — a performance-based curriculum that goes far beyond basic certification. ILTP® training includes advanced water rescue techniques and emergency care. Lifeguards must pass both written and practical evaluations and maintain proficiency through regular testing and certification renewals.
You may notice us inserting a piece of equipment in a pool or into a body of water that appears to simulate a swimmer in distress — this is one of the many ways our team continuously trains, audits, and evaluates our lifeguards to keep their skills sharp and their response times fast to ensure guests can feel confident about our pool safety.
Height & Weight Requirements
Height requirements exist for one reason: to keep every rider safe. Requirements vary by attraction and are strictly enforced — no exceptions, no tiptoes. Similarly, there are some attractions where there is a maximum weight for a group of riders.
We strongly recommend reviewing requirements before you arrive, to avoid any disappointment at the ride entrance. If you have a height or weight accommodation request, please reach out to our team in advance of your stay with us.
Life Jackets & Flotation Devices
U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets are always welcome in our water park — and we provide them free of charge. No reservation needed; just ask a pack member.
A few important notes:
- Only U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets are permitted
- Personal flotation toys, swim rings, and water wings are not allowed in the water park
- Life jackets are strongly recommended for non-swimmers and young children in the wave pool and deeper areas, and in California, all swimmers under 48” in height are required to wear life jackets in the wave pool.
Water Quality Monitoring & Sanitation
At Great Wolf Lodge, clean, safe water isn't something we check once a day and move on from; it's something we monitor continuously, around the clock. Our facilities use automated chemical controllers that monitor the readings in pool water in real time. This system measure pH, free available chlorine, oxidation reduction potential (ORP), and pool temperatures throughout the day. We want to ensure chlorine levels are safe for all guests.
These controllers monitor the pool readings keeping the levels within the minimum and maximum levels allowed by local jurisdictions. We have certified pool and spa operators (CPOs) who are aquatic technicians that perform manual checks throughout the day to ensure the controller readings are accurate.
Our Standards
Our water quality program meets or exceeds all applicable state and local health department requirements. We work closely with regulatory authorities and welcome routine health inspections as a further layer of accountability.
Rules for Everyone
Our water park rules keep everyone safe and having fun. Guests who do not follow park rules may be asked to leave the water park.
In all pool and water areas:
- No dunking, roughhousing, or behavior that puts others at risk
- No glass containers, outside food, or personal coolers in the water park
- No food or alcohol may be brought into the water park but there are options available for purchase once inside
On water slides and attractions:
- Follow all posted instructions at each ride entrance
- Obey all directions from lifeguards and ride attendants
- Remain seated and follow the correct riding position at all times
- Once finished with your ride if others are waiting in line, ensure you release your ride vehicle for the next guest and get in the back of the line if seeking to ride again
Guests with Limited Mobility or Accommodations Requests (Water Park Accessibility)
We want every guest to enjoy our water park. Accessible accommodations include:
- Pool lifts at select pools and attractions
- Aquatic wheelchairs available upon request
- Aquatics Manager assistance — please ask any pack member to connect you
Weather & Pool Closures
Our indoor water parks are always open and operate year-round regardless of weather, one of the many perks of being indoors! However, pool and attraction closures can occasionally occur due to:
- Unfavorable water chemistry that needs correction
- Nearby lightning or severe weather
- Maintenance or safety inspections
When a closure occurs, our team will communicate with guests promptly and reopen as quickly as it is safe to do so.
Sensory Guides for Every Attraction
We want every member of your family to feel confident and comfortable before they ever step in line. That's why we have partnered with The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), the global leader in autism and neurodiversity certification. As part of this partnership, IBCCES helped us develop a sensory guide for each slide, pool, and attraction in our waterpark. Each is rated across key sensory dimensions, so families, especially those with sensory sensitivities, anxiety, autism, or other sensory processing differences, can make informed choices about which experiences are the right fit.
What We Rate
Every attraction is labeled with sensory indicators across the following categories:
Sensory Factor | What to Expect |
Sound | Noise level inside and around the attraction — from quiet to loud music, rushing water, or crowd noise |
Light | Lighting conditions — including darkness, strobe effects, flashing lights, or blacklight |
Motion | Intensity and predictability of movement — from gentle floats to high-speed drops and sharp turns |
Water intensity | Amount of water contact — from light splashing to full submersion and high-pressure jets |
Enclosed spaces | Whether the attraction includes tunnels, enclosed tubes, or dark enclosed sections |
Wait environment | Sensory conditions in the queue — noise level, crowd density, lighting |
We're Here to Help
Every family's needs are different. If you'd like to talk through which attractions are the best fit before your visit, our guest services team is available to help you plan.
Sensory ratings are intended as general guidance. Individual experiences may vary. If your child has specific medical or sensory needs, we encourage you to consult with their care team when planning water park activities.
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