(June 6, 2009) – Concord, NC – If you enjoy thrill rides and water fun, Great Wolf Lodge should make the short list for your Charlotte area staycation or day trip.

Located just beyond the Charlotte city limits, the lodge is a wilderness-themed, family friendly, resort with daily children’s activities, on-site dining, a full-service spa, and the area’s largest indoor water park. Families will find plenty of activities to entertain the whole family on any day of the week.

The exterior of the resort truly resembles what visitors would expect from a lodge: exposed wooden beams, towering log columns, and larger-than-life wolf replicas guarding the entry. The interior of the resort continues the rustic feel with a stone fireplace and log furnishings clustered around the lobby’s center attraction, the clock tower. Here, pajama-clad children and their families gather each evening for a special story time before bed.

Everyone will need to get a good night’s rest to be ready for a full day of activities. The indoor water park offers a variety of fun options for thrill seekers and those just wanting a little relaxation. The centerpiece of the action is Fort Mackenzie, a four-story, interactive, tree house and water fort offering 12 levels of super-soaking fun for the family. Guests love to gather at the base of the fort and scream with delight as the 1,000-gallon soaker bucket sends a huge wave splashing down the sides of Fort Mackenzie (watch the video below). Younger guests will enjoy the kid’s play area with their own mini fort, complete with age appropriate soaker bucket.

Guest who are ready for a fast-paced adventure can choose from four fabulous water slides; Alberta Falls, a 4-story tube slide; Totem Towers, twin 3-story tube slide; Mountain Edge Raceway, billed as the nations first indoor 4-story competitive mat racer; or the top pick, the Howlin Tornado, a 6-story funnel slide that will keep you guessing and screaming all the way down.

In between sliding adventures, guests can grab an inner tube to float atop the waves in the Slap Tail Pond or practice their skills in Chinook Cove recreation pool. Here you can demonstrate your obstacle course readiness at Big Foot Pass as you attempt to cross the water on moving lily pads and rope netting. One wrong move and, splash, you’re in the water. This provides hours of fun for all ages!