In Connecticut, a groundbreaking ceremony recently was held for the $300 million Great Wolf Lodge located next to Foxwoods Resort Casino. The property will offer more than 500 hotel rooms, a 91,000-square-foot waterpark and 61,000-square-foot family entertainment center and is expected to open in spring 2025.
Foxwoods Resort Casino President and Chief Executive Officer Jason Guyot said, “We’re just super excited, can’t wait to get this open. It’s great addition to the property.” Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Chairman Rodney Butler added, “This is a development that’s decades in the making, literally. This is the completion of a vision that my counsel had from back in the ‘90s, when we first launched Foxwoods, that we were going to be a true destination resort. We always felt like some family component is necessary to make a complete.”
Butler noted the project, a partnership between Foxwoods and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, will provide a significant economic impact for the tribe and the region. “When you think about the driver, this is going to be for tourism in Connecticut, bringing people in from all over New England and giving them another reason to visit the state, it’s a great opportunity for everybody.”
Governor Ned Lamont agreed the new development will attract tourists and revenue. He said, “Ironically 2021 2022, during the worst of Covid, were our busiest years for visitors. We kept our parks open, kept our beaches open. And I think we’re building off of that momentum right now.”
Great Wolf Resorts Vice President of Corporate Communication Jason Lasecki noted, “We’ve got slides for every age, every thrill level. Adventure Park, where we have activities like a ropes course, miniature golf, an arcade, other activities that the families can do together.” Lasecki said a Great Wolf Lodge typically attracts a half million visitors annually.
“So that’s a half million people coming here to this area,” Lasecki said.
Officials said Great Wolf Lodge will create 400 construction jobs and 500 permanent positions.
