Black Wolf Lodge

The logo of Black Wolf Lodge, 1998

Black Wolf Lodge is the original name given to the Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells, WI when it first opened on May 26th, 1997. In August 2000, the resort's name was changed to Great Wolf Lodge by The Great Lakes Companies founders Marc Vaccaro and Bruce Neviaser following an April 1999 copyright suit in which the Lodge was sued by the similarly-named Blackwolf Run Golf Course in Koshler, Wisconsin.

History

Black Wolf Lodge was a small water park resort constructed by two brothers Jack and Andrew Waterman in October 1996. They were previously known for opening another water park in Wisconsin Dells by the name of Noah's Ark Water Park.

Black Wolf Lodge initially had 117 suites and a 20,000 sq ft water park when it first opened on Memorial Day 1997. When The Great Lakes Companies Inc purchased the property in 1999, it was expanded to 309 suites with a 40,000 sq ft water park including an outdoor water park called "Thunder Bay". Today, the Wisconsin Dells property has 437 suites with a 76,000 sq ft water park. The arcade was also referred to as Yukon Jack's Game Parlor which was later changed to Northern Lights Arcade.

What it Featured

• Spirit Island Waterpark (Renamed to Bear Track Landing Waterpark)
  • Mountain Rapids Tube Slide
  • Raging Indoor River
  • Twin Peaks Slides
  • Totem Power Plunge
  • Little Summit Slide
  • Bubbling Water Geyser
• Yukon Jack's Gaming Parlor (Renamed to Northern Lights Arcade)
• Loose Moose Bar and Grill
• Buckhorn Exchange
• Iron Horse Fitness Center
• Cub Club

Gallery

Big Foot Pass at Black Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge Wisconsin Dells, WI when it was still referred to as Black Wolf Lodge. Photo taken around 1999.

Lobby of Black Wolf Lodge

A family enjoys dinner in one of the restaurants at Black Wolf Lodge.

View of the Lazy River

Thunder Bay at Great Wolf Lodge Wisconsin Dells as it appeared during the Black Wolf Lodge era.

The indoor water park area as it appeared during the Black Wolf Lodge era.

A Black Wolf Lodge Game Token (obverse)

Game Token (reverse)

A sealed pack of Black Wolf Lodge Playing Cards.

Black Wolf Lodge Playing Cards out of container

A postcard for Black Wolf Lodge using a similar graphic as the 2001-2008 Great Wolf Lodge logo.

GIF from the Black Wolf Lodge website changing the name to Great Wolf Lodge

The lobby of Black Wolf Lodge (pic taken in 2001, only months after being rebranded to Great Wolf Lodge)

The icon from Great Wolf Lodge's website during the time they still named the area from Black Wolf Lodge

Logo for "Spirit Island", the original name of the waterpark area

Yukon Jack's Gaming Parlor

The waterpark at Black Wolf Lodge

Totem slide flume

Another Black Wolf Lodge token

A KidCabin as they appeared at Black Wolf Lodge

The website of Black Wolf Lodge

A hat from Black Wolf Lodge

A magazine ad for Black Wolf Lodge

Black Wolf Lodge postcard from 1998

Youkon Jack's page

The exterior of Black Wolf Lodge, taken from a newspaper article in 1999

Fort Mackenzie at Black Wolf Lodge from a 1999 newspaper article

Thunder Bay at Black Wolf Lodge, from a 1999 newspaper article

Thunder Bay at Black Wolf Lodge, from a 1998 newspaper article

Judy Waterman in the lobby of Black Wolf Lodge, from a 1998 newspaper article

Trivia

Black Wolf Lodge employees, 1997

• 7 employees of the original 1997 season at Black Wolf Lodge were Finnish students sent by the parliament to work in Wisconsin and bring back valuable working skills to the country