Great Wolf Resorts Promotes Water Safety as Summer Travel Season Kicks Off

Business Wire, May 19, 2009

Water Safety Tips Offered During National Water Safety Month

MADISON, Wis. -- With summer just around the corner, millions of Americans will seek relief from the sun and heat at local waterparks, pools, lakes, and beaches. Using the backdrop of National Water Safety Month, Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.® (NASDAQ: WOLF), North America’s largest family of indoor waterpark resorts, reminds families to stay safe in and around water this season.

“Parents are the single most important key to preventing water-related incidents,” said Franceen Gonzales, outgoing chairperson of the World Waterpark Association and vice president of aquatics for Great Wolf Resorts. “Enjoying the pool or lake with your children gives kids positive memories of the water, and it’s also good exercise and great fun for the whole family.”

National Water Safety Month serves as a reminder to balance fun and safety. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than one in four fatal drowning victims are children under the age of 14 years, and for every child who drowns, another four receive emergency care for submersion injuries.

“These statistics are troubling because the majority of water-related incidents can be prevented,” said Gonzales. Gonzales offers several tips for staying safe in and around water this summer including:

• Parents should actively participate in water activities with weak or non-swimming children. It’s best for parents to be interacting with their children while in the water.
• Make sure young children and non-swimmers wear Coast Guard-approved life jackets. Make sure the life jacket is fastened property. Inflatable rafts, swim “floaties,” and other inflatable devices are not appropriate life saving devices.
• Teach kids how to swim. Enroll children in swim lessons. These lessons teach the basics of water safety and awareness, and kids will learn a valuable life-skill while gaining confidence. Check with the local YMCA, Red Cross, parks department, or school district to see if they offer swim lessons. Some Great Wolf Lodge locations also offer swim lessons, and all the resorts offer “Junior Lifeguard” sessions through Cub ClubTM.
• Stay hydrated and be sure to take regular breaks out of the water to stay alert and avoid fatigue.
• Try to swim where there are trained lifeguards on duty. Lifeguards are trained to monitor the water and react to rescue situations. Parents still need to take responsibility for their children in the water. Lifeguards are not babysitters.

“While Great Wolf Resorts recognizes May as National Water Safety Month, we practice water safety everyday at our 12 resorts across North America,” said Gonzales. “The safety of our guests is our number one priority year-round.”

National Water Safety Month was established by the World Waterpark Association, the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals, and the National Recreation & Park Association. This national recognition helps educate the public about the importance of being “water aware.”

About Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.

Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.® (NASDAQ:WOLF), Madison, Wis., is North America’s largest family of indoor waterpark resorts, and, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, owns and operates its family resorts under the Great Wolf Lodge® and Blue Harbor Resort™ brands. Great Wolf Resorts is a fully integrated resort company with Great Wolf Lodge locations in: Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Mich.; Kansas City, Kan.; Williamsburg, Va.; the Pocono Mountains, Pa.; Niagara Falls, Ontario; Mason, Ohio; Grapevine, Texas; Grand Mound, Wash.; and Concord, N.C.; and Blue Harbor Resort & Conference Center in Sheboygan, Wis. Through Great Wolf Resorts’ environmental sustainability program, Project Green Wolf™, the company is the first and only national hotel chain to have all US properties Green Seal™ Certified – Silver.

The company’s resorts are family-oriented destination facilities that generally feature 300 – 600 rooms and a large indoor entertainment area measuring 40,000 – 100,000 square feet. The all-suite properties offer a variety of room styles, arcade/game rooms, fitness rooms, themed restaurants, spas, supervised children’s activities and other amenities. Additional information may be found on the company’s Web site at www.greatwolf.com.