When most people think about Great Wolf Lodge, they picture families with kids.
But my friend and I decided to test something out.
We spent five nights at the location in Gurnee, IL with no kids and made it our mission to find out:
Is there anything for adults to enjoy?
First Impressions
Walking into the resort, the first thing we saw was a full-on dance party for kids.
I turned to my friend and said:
“This is basically Vegas for kids.”
And honestly… that description isn’t far off.
Food and Drinks
While there aren’t many adults-only spaces, there are definitely things adults can enjoy.
For example, I loved being able to mobile order coffee from Dunkin’ and pick it up just steps from my room.
The resort’s Great Wolf app also lets you mobile order food and drinks around the property.
And I’m still dreaming about the tomato soup at Barnwood.
Seriously — get it.
Renting a Cabana
One of the best upgrades for adults is renting a water park cabana.
These private spaces include:
- Couches
A TV
Towels
A fridge
A safe
You can leave and return throughout the day, which makes it a perfect home base.
Activities Adults Can Still Enjoy
Many activities are designed for kids — but adults can absolutely participate too.
My friend and I tried:
- MagiQuest, an interactive scavenger hunt
- The arcade
- The climbing wall
- The ropes course
The ropes course ended up being my favorite — and surprisingly challenging.
A Major Perk: Quiet Hours
One thing I really appreciated was the resort’s quiet hours.
From 11 PM to 7 AM, the entire property becomes much calmer.
That means even in a family-focused resort, you can still get a good night’s sleep.
Watch the Reel
Final ThoughtsGreat Wolf Lodge is absolutely built for families — but adults can still have fun there.
Between the water park, activities, food, and cabanas, it can actually be a surprisingly entertaining getaway.
Especially if you embrace your inner kid.