Great Wolf Lodge In Perryville: Celebrities And State Officials Welcome Maryland's Largest Family Resort

HAVRE DE GRACE - State officials and celebrities gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Great Wolf Lodge in Perryville on Thursday.

The new resort, Great Wolf Lodge's 20th in North America and the largest to date boasts 700 family-friendly suites and a sprawling 128,000 square-foot indoor water park with 22 slides for every thrill level.

An indoor water park area at the Great Wolf Lodge in Perryville. (Credit: Tess Woolslager/ Great Wolf Lodge of Maryland)

John Murphy, CEO of Great Wolf Resorts, officially opened the lodge at an event filled with fanfare and excitement.

"Great Wolf Lodge Maryland was built specifically for families and brings a new level of immersive entertainment not only to our brand but to the entire region," Murphy said.

Constructed with an investment exceeding $250 million from Blackstone and Centerbridge Partners, shareholders of Great Wolf Resorts, the new resort has created over 1,000 full and part-time jobs. More than half of the current bookings are from visitors coming from neighboring states and cities, including Philadelphia, Wilmington, Washington DC, and New York City, promising a significant boost to Maryland's tourism industry.

On top of the 22 water slides, the resort offers a variety of amenities, including Great Wolf Adventure Park, a 57,000-square-foot full-service family entertainment center.

The large lobby space at the Great Wolf Lodge in Perryville features an ornate rock fireplace. (Credit: Tess Woolslager/ Great Wolf Lodge of Maryland)

At the grand opening event, actor/producer/podcaster Anna Faris took on a fun challenge by riding all 22 water slides to raise funds for Make-A-Wish. Each slide ride resulted in a $1,000 donation, providing a total of $22,000 for the charity.

Celebrity Chef Duff Goldman also introduced new limited-edition Adventure Cakes, whose revenue will benefit The Believe In Tomorrow Children's House at Johns Hopkins throughout the summer.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore concluded the event by expressing his hopes that this new resort will provide significant tourism revenue for the area.

Anna Faris (left), Governor Wes Moore (center left), Great Wolf Lodge mascot, "Wiley the Wolf" (center right,) and Celebrity Chef Duff Goldman (right) pose for a photo at the grand opening. (Credit: Tess Woolslager/ Great Wold Lodge Maryland)

"Today, we are not just opening an indoor water park resort – but we are creating jobs in our communities and making Maryland a destination for families all across the state, country, and world," Maryland Governor Wes Moore said at the event. "We are going to make sure that Great Wolf Lodge Maryland is the number one Great Wolf Resort location in the nation."

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