For decades, the Mashantucket Pequot Nation has dreamed of expanding its offerings at
Foxwoods
by adding a
Great Wolf Lodge,
But the card had never been played.
“When our tribe first dreamed about the world of possibilities at Foxwoods, we literally envisioned a project like Great Wolf being part of what we could offer as a fully integrated resort, a place where good fun and good business can thrive side by side,” said Rodney Butler, chairman of the
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.
After years of hard work overcoming recessions and the global COVID-19 pandemic, the tribe realized its dream with the grand opening of Connecticut’s first
Great Wolf Lodge is just a brief stroll through the parking lot from Foxwoods Resort Casino.
It has taken quite some time,” stated Jason Guyot, the CEO of Foxwoods. “For many years, the tribe has strived to establish an indoor water park in Mashantucket, and finally all elements fell into place. Surprisingly enough, during the pandemic, we seized this chance to make it happen. However, Foxwoods has been undergoing transformation over a considerable period; therefore, we now offer additional facilities. Gaming isn’t our sole focus anymore.
Under Butler and Guyot’s leadership, and Great Wolf Lodge’s expansion fueled by a
$300 million investment
from Blackstone, a prominant investment management firm, and Centerbridge Partners, a private equity firm, Foxwoods now has a resort for families.
In 2020, according to Guyot, Foxwoods, established in the 1980s, and Great Wolf began collaborating on an agreement to introduce a lodge in Mashantucket.
It took more than two years of discussions, but where could be a better spot located precisely midway between Boston and New York City,” Guyot stated. “This region encompasses three states—with a population of 34 million residents, we now have this family-oriented recreational hub squarely within New England.
On Tuesday, during the grand opening ceremony, Governor Ned Lamont concurred that Connecticut provides an ideal setting for a resort such as Great Wolf Lodge.
“Next time, I’ll bring my swimming costume,” Lamont quipped.
“I’m incredibly pleased that we’ve seen more visitors come to the state of Connecticut than at any point in our history, and much of this success can be attributed to all of you gathered in this room today,” Lamont stated to the audience.
Following two years of construction,
Great Wolf Lodge in MashantUCKET
was completed before the deadline and
soft-opened April 25.
The resort’s primary draw is the massive 90,000-square-foot Great Geyser Waterpark.
The water park boasts 13 slides, with one standout attraction called Pequot Plunge, which marks its first appearance at Great Wolf,” said Henry Tessman, the lodge’s general manager. “This ride offers an exciting family raft experience complete with twists, turns, and drops, and it was christened in collaboration with our tribal partners.
Located outside the water park, this Great Wolf Lodge features cutting-edge technology and amenities such as a newly added high ropes course and zip line.
While families throughout the Northeast might know about Great Wolf Lodge, what we’re launching in MashantUCKET marks the progression of this experience,” stated John Murphy, CEO of Great Wolf. “We aim to enhance our resort offerings through narrative techniques, technological integration, and an engaging atmosphere.
Visitors can explore the Adventure Park, complete with a round-the-clock arcade, bowling lanes, miniature golf, and a cutting-edge virtual reality experience called Virtual Frontier. Additionally, guests will have access to Great Wolf’s special interactive game, MagiQuest, seamlessly integrated into the park layout.
Great Wolf Lodge currently operates 23 locations across the U.S. and Canada, including one just outside Worcester in Fitchburg, West Massachusetts, and another in the Poconos region close to where Pennsylvania meets New York.
This resort marks our fifth significant development project over the last two years and our third in the Northeast,” Murphy stated. “Families throughout New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island will now find it simpler than ever to immerse themselves in our Great Wolf adventure.
The introduction of family-oriented features at Great Wolf Lodge signals a broader transformation that Foxwoods has been aiming for—to establish itself as an inclusive venue suitable for visitors of every age group. Over time, the Foxwoods complex has evolved beyond just offering gambling and games; it now includes elements like celebrity-owned eateries and Tanger Outlets, noted Guyot.
Both Foxwoods and its nearby competitor, Mohegan Sun, experienced declines in gaming income during this period.
The Great Recession in 2008 along with the pandemic in 2020, as per the database maintained by the Department of Consumer Protection,
In 2006, the combined contribution of slot machine revenues to the state from both casinos exceeded $200 million. This figure declined to a range of $110 to $130 million by 2019 and continued to drop in 2020, going under $100 million for both establishments.
In October 2021, the state broadened its legal gambling offerings. Sport betting, available both onsite at tribal casinos and through various sportsbooks online, has seen significant growth recently.
from $10 million in revenue to the state in the initial year up to $98 million by 2024
.
Currently, both casinos aim to broaden their range of services beyond just gambling activities.
As soon as the doors at the nearby Great Wolf Lodge swung open, Guyot mentioned that some visitors have already been shuttling between the various properties. However, he noted that the crowd drawn to Foxwoods differs from those who frequent the Great Wolf Lodge.
We’ve noticed their visitors exploring Foxwoods, but essentially, by encouraging this, we understood it wasn’t benefiting our regular clientele,” Guyot explained. “Instead, it was attracting newcomers to MashantUCKET and drawing more individuals closer to Foxwoods.
Lamont noted that Foxwoods’ evolution to a family destination will be a good thing for Connecticut.
“It is good, clean fun for a kid, and it makes Foxwoods a long-term destination where a mom and dad can have a heck of a lot of fun,” Lamont said.
Regarding the community, Butler mentioned that this initiative has already yielded a beneficial economic effect.
It represents a strategic move towards our enduring financial success,” Butler stated. “This initiative will create hundreds of job opportunities for local households, generate millions in economic benefits for both our tribal community and the state, and further broaden the range of offerings within the tribe’s resort sector. This enhancement bolsters our governance, improves services for our members, and elevates overall well-being.
In honor of the lodge’s inauguration and recognizing all the teamwork involved, local dignitaries, financiers, and collaborators gathered together.
celebrity guest Mindy Kaling
The giant curtain was officially lowered to reveal Great Wolf Lodge at Mashantucket and greet the initial guests.
Kaling took up the challenge to tackle the waterpark slides and managed to raise $52,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
“I had an amazing time on the slides. I can hardly wait to share with my kids in Los Angeles that this was how I spent my entire day while they were at school,” Kaling remarked.
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