Water Park Safety at Great Wolf Lodge

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 family memories, knowing every precaution has been taken to protect the people you love. Here's everything you need to know before you arrive.

What to Know Before Visiting the Water Park

Parental Supervision: Lifeguards are on duty, but children must be accompanied by an adult in the water park at all times.
Check Attraction Heights: Height requirements are strictly enforced for safety—review requirements before your trip.
Complimentary Life Jackets: U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jackets are provided free of charge (no outside inflatable floaties/water wings permitted).
Sensory Guides Available: Ratings for sound, lighting, and motion are provided for every ride to help plan for sensory needs.
Year-Round Indoor Fun: Our water park operates indoors regardless of weather, with continuous 24/7 water quality testing.

Our Lifeguard Program

World-class aquatic safety doesn't just happen; it's the result of expert training, advanced technology, and top-of-the-line certification.
*Our lifeguards are your partners in safety but they are not a substitute for parental supervision. Children must be accompanied by an adult in the water park at all times.

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 cover every body of water, with live feeds monitored by a certified lifeguard in an onsite control room. EAVS integrates video surveillance, radio communication, and disciplined operating protocols for faster recognition and response to any swimmer in distress. EAVS Operators provide our on-the-ground safety team with an additional layer of lifeguarding that operates from open to close.

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. Our team continuously trains, audits, and evaluates our lifeguards to keep their skills sharp and their response times fast.

Height Requirements

Height requirements exist for one reason: to keep every rider safe. Requirements vary by attraction and are strictly enforced — no exceptions, no tip-toes.

We strongly recommend reviewing requirements before you arrive to avoid any disappointment at the ride entrance.

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

Water Quality Monitoring & Sanitation

At Great Wolf Lodge, clean, safe water is something we monitor continuously, around the clock. Our facilities use automated chemical monitoring systems that test pool water in real time, measuring pH levels, chlorine concentration, and other key sanitation indicators at regular intervals throughout the day.

When readings drift outside the ideal range, our system responds automatically, adjusting the water to bring it back into balance. Our aquatics team also performs hands-on verification testing throughout operating hours, providing a human check on top of the automated layer.

What We Monitor

Parameter	Why It Matters
pH levels	Keeps water comfortable for eyes and skin, and ensures sanitizers work effectively
Free chlorine	The active sanitizer that eliminates bacteria and pathogens
Combined chlorine	Indicates organic load in the water — triggers corrective action when elevated
Water temperature	Affects sanitizer effectiveness and guest comfort
Turbidity (water clarity)	Ensures lifeguards and EAVS cameras can see clearly to the pool bottom at all times

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.

Tips for a healthy swim:

Shower before entering the water park — it helps keep our water cleaner for everyone
Shower after your swim session, especially if you have sensitive skin or asthma, as prolonged exposure to chlorinated water can cause mild irritation
Take regular breaks from the water
Stay hydrated — it's easy to forget to drink water when you're already surrounded by it!
Take children to the restroom frequently
Guests in diapers must wear a properly fitted protective swim diaper

For additional healthy swimming guidance, visit the CDC Healthy Swimming page.

Rules for Everyone

These 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 park areas:

No running in the water park
No diving
No dunking, roughhousing, or behavior that puts others at risk
No glass containers, outside food, or personal coolers in the water park
No alcohol except in designated adult areas

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
Do not attempt to re-ride by staying in the landing pool

Guests with Limited Mobility or Disabilities (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 closures can occasionally occur due to:

Unfavorable water chemistry that needs correction
Lightning or severe weather near outdoor areas
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 each attraction at Great Wolf Lodge 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. Before arriving, check out our sensory guide to help you plan your stay and familiarize yourself with the rating for each attraction.

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