POCONO TWP., Pa. — Pack your bags, grab your wolf ears and celebrate the Poconos resort and indoor water park's 20th anniversary inside one of its brand-new snow globe chalets.
On Tuesday, Great Wolf Lodge Poconos debuted three globe chalets, described as a cozy take on après-ski and available for resort guests and day-pass holders through March 6.
“It’s really about being together... It’s private, it’s cozy, and it feels special.”Great Wolf Lodge General Manager Bill Colavito
The private chalets seat up to six guests and are designed in an alpine décor, and include seasonal treats such as hot chocolate, s’mores and optional add-on snacks.
Also included is access to a heated outdoor hot tub.
It's all part of Great Wolf's effort to elevate its winter offerings.
Resort General Manager Bill Colavito, known affectionately on the resort property as “Papa Wolf,” said the chalets were built around togetherness.
“It’s really about being together,” Colavito said.
“Families are roasting marshmallows, playing games, sipping hot chocolate, and then stepping right into their own hot tub. It’s private, it’s cozy, and it feels special.”
Feeling 'bougie'
For a Long Island, New York, family — longtime “Preferred Pack Members” with more than a decade of visits under their belt — the new experience was a clear win.
“We like the amenities, we like the extras — and the chalets are definitely something new.”Great Wolf Lodge guest Jessica Zielazny
“This is bougie — I feel really spoiled,” Olivia Cordray said Wednesday, bundled under a faux fur brown blanket between dips in the hot tub.
Her mom, Jessica Zielazny, said they’ve made Great Wolf part of their family rhythm.
“We come every winter and sometimes in summer with the cousins," Zielazny said. "We’ve seen the place change a lot over 11 years.
“We like the amenities, we like the extras — and the chalets are definitely something new.
"We used the hot tub last night, and I’m probably going back later.”
Each chalet comes outfitted with plush leather seating, cozy robes, board games, warm lighting and Bluetooth speakers to set the mood.
A private server and a heated walkway leading to the hot tub are also included, and both are reserved exclusively for chalet guests.
'True to our brand'
The food and beverage side of the experience was led by Food and Beverage Director Luke Polles, who leaned into the lodge’s kid-first identity.
“We’ve done snow globes for years, but we wanted to extend the experience,” Polles said.
Guests are greeted with hot chocolate and toppings when they arrive, followed by a s’mores kit — a staple Polles said is “true to our brand.”
While the team considered Swiss-inspired treats, he said, “we wanted to make it a little more kid-friendly, so we went with the s’mores.”
Families also can order add-ons such as mozzarella sticks, baked spinach artichoke dip, Wolf chicken wings, Bavarian pretzel with queso, and a snowman ice-cream dessert tied to the resort’s seasonal, limited-time menu.
Beverages include jingle juice (alcohol free), Tito's sleigh ride (Tito's vodka, orange juice, strawberry puree, club soda), Malibu Mistletoe punch (Malibu rum, Midori, blue curacao, pineapple juice, citrus sour), and spiked hot chocolate or coffee.
Each chalet session lasts 90 minutes, but families can keep the outing going with lunch or dinner at Fireside Restaurant or Timbers Table and Kitchen.
The chalet rentals cost $150, and payment is due at booking.
Chalet rentals are available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
'Something we'll continue to grow'
It’s a fitting addition for a resort in celebration mode.
In 2023, Great Wolf Lodge opened its new Mountain Tower, which added 202 guest rooms/villas and expanded water park zones, marking the latest milestone in its renovations.
Since opening 20 years ago, Great Wolf Lodge Poconos has had more than 10 million guests and employed more that 15,000 'Pack Members.Great Wolf Lodge General Manager Bill Colavito
Before Tuesday's unveiling, Wiley the Wolf, the lodge's furry mascot, and Colavito shared some fun facts.
According to Colavito, since opening 20 years ago, Great Wolf Lodge Poconos has had more than 10 million guests and employed more that 15,000 'Pack Members.
Also, 9.5 million pairs of wolf ears have been personally handed out to guests, 500,000 gallons of coffee poured and nearly 1 million splash-downs from the tipping bucket attraction in the resort's indoor water park.
With nearly 30 chalet reservations booked before Tuesday's rollout, Colavito said early buzz suggests the snow chalets may become another tradition.
"It feels like something we’ll continue to grow,” he said.
To learn more about Great Wolf or to make a reservation, visit the resort's website.
