Headed down there for a staycation with the boys. Got a night in a suite as a gift, so we took 6 boys (our two + 4), plus my wife and me.

If you like crowds and lots of impolite kids, this place is for you. There was minimal talent at the pool, if you know what I mean, but enough to make it interesting. One so nice it hurt to look. Seriously. Thankfully she stayed within sight for a while.

Spent parts of two absolutely beautiful spring days inside in a huge indoor pool, where the volume was so loud that I couldn't hear my phone ring. You almost needed earplugs.

The young boys all had "Magi" wands, so I played along with them. Essentially $30 to run up and down stairs all day long pointing at boxes and pictures. The young boys had a great time, I got an excellent workout, as I made them run it.

Young kids from 4-10 would have a lot of fun. Nothing much for parents, other than beer by the pool. Kids 11-6, enugh other kids that age to make it interetsing, and some waterpark rides.

This place offers very little for adults, other than beer by the pool, and maybe a Starbucks fix. The cost to head over to Silverwood would have been less, and would have offered more variety, plus the added bonus of being outside.

Saw too many WAY overweight people in swimsuits, too much back hair, and more tattoos that I knew existed.

Last time we ever go there. Thankfully, it was free.

Had a similar experience. We went a year ago, after a family party in Chehalis. It was fun for the kids, and maybe I think Neal had fun on the water slides. I watched kids, and some adults projectile vomiting and peeing at random. The life guards and custodians were well equiped with Lysol, and other Hazmat cleanup devices. The best was the rules sign, with No Pooping or Peeing in the water park. Would have rather been at an outside park, the chlorine fog in their was intense. I wont be back, it just reafirmed my phobia of public swimming pools.

matt

I've wondered what attracts people to a place like that. I couldn't be less interested, so I have a hard time figuring out how a resort like that makes it financially. I thought maybe they have a casino inside. Obviously it appeals to someone. Thanks for the report.

Sg

Isn't that lodge owned by the Chehalis Tribe? Maybe it gets a little subsidy from the casino for piling in guests?

Fish on...

Todd

Yeah it's owned by the Chehalis Tribe. I think the lodge business model is to attract families, so unless it offers childcare, I'm not sure how they could divert guests from the lodge over to the casino.

Last year my son's school used Great Wolf lodge as the over night stop for a field trip down there. They learned about Wolves at the wolf sanctuary near by, that was interesting.

You're right about the chorine cloud in that area. I didn't have swim trunks so I stayed on the balcony and watch the ruckus from above. The kids loved it, the adults tolerated it. Reminds me to much of Las Vegas.

The only good part about it, was it was the best accommodations ever for our over night field trips we ever had.

This years field trip was a two night trip down to the Mt St Helens area. Ever stay in a yurt with 10 smelly 10 year old boys who all fell into the pond? What is it with Kids and water?

I hate the GWL, but my kids love it. My 6 year old plays until she falls down tired. The 3 year old likes just chilling out in the little kids pool.

The air, the noise, the craziness, is all too much for me, but it seems like we put up with a lot to make our kids happy. We went with a big group one time and it was way more fun after the pool, sitting in someone's room drinking and chatting. But that can be done around any camp fire, any where.

I'll take a warm beach or lake front with nothing to do 1000x over the GWL. My girls would be the opposite.

Thanks for the reviews guys, we have been thinking about going and will probably pass now..

That place is terrible. There is no casino there, but it is wired for one. My understanding is that they have to lose money on the swimming park for a certain amount of time before they can put the casino in.....

They have to show a loss for some period and then they can attach the Casino. It is my understanding that was the plan from day uno. The utilities and drainage system is in place.

Thanks for the heads up--I just wish they didnt put in right on I-5 so the traffic gets messed up and the kids wouldnt freak "lets go there Daddy"

"Drainage system"?

For people's money?

No KD, for their bladders

My daughter has been wanting to head down that way,after reading this I'll never stop in there ever.Thanks for the heads up.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

The best part is they pay nothing into local services. Nothing to Thurston county general fund (ie. roads, sheriff, medic one), nothing to fire department and nothing to schools.

The community takes the brunt of the growth then pays the way for the tribe through their property taxes.

Chehalis tribe can F off.

i agree. the system is fucked up. why the hell should a reservation be allowed to expand? that's essentially what they're doing with trust lands.