The International West resort concept for Garden Grove’s Harbor Boulevard took a big, wet step forward this week as Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. announced its agreement to develop a water park resort here.
The Wisconsin-based firm agreed to license and operate the resort, which will include a 600-suite hotel, an indoor water park covering 100,000 square feet and 30,000 square feet of meeting space. It will be developed in partnership with McWhinney Enterprises of Colorado, which has built several hotels in the Big Strawberry.
“The Great Wolf Lodge will be the biggest attraction to be included in the International West Resort,” said Matt Fertal, Garden Grove’s city manager. “This will be the most significant revenue generator in the city.”
The project is expected to create up to 600 construction and other jobs in Garden Grove, and perhaps $8 million per year to city coffers.
The park would be located on the west side of Harbor just north of Garden Grove Boulevard. Construction is expected to begin in 2011, with completion in 2013.
International West is seen as a West Coast rival to the huge entertainment and tourism district in Orlando, Florida, home of Disney World. The Garden Grove water resort would be built two miles from Anaheim’s Disneyland.
