Get a sneak peek of the largest Great Wolf Lodge as it prepares to open near Delaware

EDITOR'S NOTE: Great Wolf Lodge Maryland opened on June 14. Below is our story as it originally appeared last month.

Construction on Great Wolf Lodge Maryland is nearly complete, with just a few weeks to go before hard hats are traded in for swimsuits.

The largest and newest Great Wolf Lodge waterpark, is located just off I-95 at 1240 Chesapeake Overlook Parkway in Perryville, less than half an hour from Newark. The location sits adjacent to Perryville's Hollywood Casino.

Check out an updated look at the site's progress.

The fun stuff

The lodge and water park are starting to come together as the grand opening looms closer. The park now has running water in it, and the outdoor deck is fully built with a beach-entry pool and hot tub.

Stations for the lodge's "Magiquest" experience are also beginning to take shape. Described as a "video game come to life", users will use special wands provided by the lodge to save the enchanted forest that runs through the sprawling resort.

The 57,000-square-foot adventure park now has its six bowling lanes, nine-hole mini golf, overhead ropes course and arcade set up, with adjoining food and beverage stations surrounding the perimeter of the lobby.

The water park's slides are nearly complete, once the official slide testers ensure their safety. To the right of the water park are the two new rides that were advertised in the months leading up to the opening, High Paw Howler and Forest Flume. There is also the Mountain Edge Raceway, where four individuals can compete in a timed race to the bottom of the slide.

The Wolf Tail ride, one of Great Wolf Lodge's staples, is also set up. One-by-one guests climb into a capsule and painstakingly await the trap door at their feet to release and drop them around 15 feet into a 270-degree loop around the exterior of the building.

The lazy river, wave pool and children's play area are also set up.

Food, drinks and shopping

Of the food and beverage options, the lodge will include a Dunkin next to a creamery and a full-service restaurant, Barnwood Restaurant. The largest à la carte dining experience in the resort's portfolio, the Barnwood Restaurant will be able to hold 327 occupants and provide delicacies local to the area (remember it's in Maryland, so think crab).

The retail center will be finished in the next few weeks, but will occupy a floor-to-ceiling candy display and a Build-a-Bear workshop for guests.

Rooms will also be made available to rent out for birthday parties, family reunions and corporate retreats. Birthday party reservations can start being made June 16 for August 6 at the earliest. Guests don't have to stay overnight to rent out the party or conference spaces.

Bookings and pricing

The resort will be opening limited reservations starting June 14, a week before its June 29 grand opening, with a new promotion for interested guests. Families can get 40% off a single-night stay or 50% off a multinight stay when booking a trip between June 14 and March 31, 2024. Guests can use the code "EARLYOPEN" on the Great Wolf Lodge website, and must book before May 17.

Bookings for the lodge have already begun to fill up. According to Nadine Miracle, general manager of Great Wolf Lodge Maryland, the 700 rooms are going to be opened up incrementally, depending on demand and how smoothly opening weekend goes.

Amenities other than the water park including the adventure park and food and beverage options need to be either purchased separately or purchased in a pass package, all of which are listed on the resort's website. Day passes won't be made available until around mid-summer.

Prices for a standard three-day, two-night visit for a family of four average about $860, or $430 per night, without any discounts added. Finding a time during the week or in the fall when the resort is less busy may help avoid crowds and steep prices.

Contact Molly McVety at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: The largest Great Wolf Lodge near Delaware prepares to open