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Year of the Wolf

Great Wolf Lodge Celebrates One-Year Anniversary

Press Release: Great Wolf Lodge
May 20, 2004
KANSAS CITY, KS -- A year ago this week, a massive log cabin resort at 10401 Cabela Drive opened its doors inviting families to enjoy an 84-degree, year-round getaway in their own neck of the woods. Since that opening, over 300,000 guests have enjoyed the woodsy decor, slept in the oversized log-framed beds, stood under the 1,000 gallon tipping bucket, and created hundreds of thousands of family fun memories.

It's been nearly one year since developers, The Great Lakes Companies, Inc.(TM) of Madison, Wis., area business owners, dignitaries, and members of the press raised a glass of champagne and toasted to the grand opening of Great Wolf Lodge®.

"It's been an outstanding first year and we are very grateful that we have had the opportunity to serve so many families in our first year of operation," said Russell Archuleta, Great Wolf's general manager.

"The Kansas City Great Wolf team has done an excellent job and the Village West community has been a great partner," said Eric Lund, Great Lakes co-owner and senior vice president of sales and marketing. Additionally, he attributed the success of Great Wolf Lodge to the marketing efforts, a strong relationship with the community and word of mouth.

Great Wolf Lodge was recently awarded the Wyandotte Community Tourism 2003 Organization of the Year presented by the Kansas City, Kansas / Wyandotte County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Great Wolf Lodge is located in Village West, Kansas City's new tourism district, next to Cabela's®, Nebraska Furniture Mart® and near the Kansas Speedway®.

During the course of the year, Great Wolf Lodge has...

   Created over 300,000 family fun memories

   Laundered over 1 million towels

   Distributed nearly 50 miles worth of waterpark wristbands

   Served over 21,000 pizzas from Camp Critter Bar & Grille

   Vacuumed over 11 million square yards of carpeting

   Fielded over 29,000 sales calls

   Celebrated nearly 6,000 birthdays

   Served over 2 tons of fudge

   Dumped nearly 54,000,000 gallons of water over guests from the
   famous 1,000 gallon tipping bucket

   Touched the imagination of children through 1,460 clock tower
   performances

   Scooped over 3,000 gallons of ice cream

   Read over 700 bedtime stories to over 6,400 pajama-clad children
   in front of the massive, stone fireplace

   Served over 20,000 burgers

Great Wolf Lodge, Kansas City, Kan., is part of the World's Largest Family of Indoor Waterpark Resorts(TM) owned and operated by The Great Lakes Companies, Inc., Madison, Wis. Other resorts include: Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Mich.; Williamsburg, Va. and The Pocono Mountains, Pa.; and Blue Harbor Resort & Conference Center(TM), Sheboygan, Wis. Great Wolf Lodge, Niagara Falls, Ontario, is the first internationally licensed resort and is owned by an affiliate of Ripley Entertainment, Inc.

To make a reservation call toll-free 1-800-608-WOLF (9653), or visit online at: www.greatwolflodge.com.

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Contact: 
     The Great Lakes Companies, Inc.
     Erin Payne, 608-251-6400 ext. 175
      or
     Jennifer Beranek, 608-251-6400 ext. 154

Source: Great Wolf Lodge