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March 20, 2002Great Buffalo Lodge becomes Great Wolf-Company building $32M TC resort wants to establish national chainBy TOM CARRRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - The Great Buffalo Lodge being built on U.S. 31 is changing its name but keeping the buffalo. Great Lakes Companies Inc. is renaming the $32 million resort to Great Wolf Lodge in hopes of developing a recognizable national resort chain. The Madison, Wis.-based developer plans to announce the change at a groundbreaking at 10 a.m. today at the construction site north of the Horizon Outlet Center on U.S. 31 South, said Eric Lund, vice president of marketing. It plans to open the Traverse City resort in the spring of 2003. The company had bought 48 acres of former buffalo farm from the Oleson family, owners of Oleson's Food Stores. The family has farmed the buffalo there for generations to sell the meat in their stores. The resort will maintain a herd on a 20-acre, fenced-in pasture, to retain the local flavor and add to its tourist appeal. "For years, school groups have visited the buffalo and we want to keep that as part of the community," Lund said. "It is important to us and it was important to the Olesons." Like other Great Wolf Lodges, it will also feature a northwoods theme and decor, including mountings of northern animals. The lodge will include 281 family suites, two 150-seat casual-themed family restaurants, a confectionery, two large arcades, a therapeutic spa and a large indoor water park. Great Lakes Companies built its first Great Wolf Lodge in Madison, Wis. Then it built a Great Bear Lodge in Sandusky, Ohio, before it decided to give all of them the same name. The Ohio resort will eventually be renamed, Lund said. The Traverse City resort will be the company's third Great Wolf Lodge. Lund said the company has plans to build others in Kansas City, Kan.; Pocono, Pa.; and Niagara Falls, Ontario. |
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