Great Wolf Lodge will add rose petals and candles to the lazy river for an after-hours, adults only Valentine’s Day dinner
Great Wolf Lodge
Nothing says romance like floating down an indoor lazy river, glass of champagne in hand. And a popular chain of indoor water parks is making it happen.
Great Wolf Lodge just introduced a new after hours, adults-only Valentine’s Day experience, Romance on the River. Along the lines of White Castle’s annual (and often sold out) dinner date experience, Great Wolf Lodge is elevating and romanticizing the everyday with its first ever dedicated Valentine’s Day experience.
After the park closes to families, couples will enjoy welcome bites and five savory courses at a private poolside cabana inside the waterpark, the room heated to a precise 84 degrees Fahrenheit.
After dinner, couples can pick a tube and head into the rose pedal and floating candle adorned lazy river, enjoying a special floating dessert and champagne service, while being serenaded by a string musician.
Great Wolf Lodge in Mashantucket, CT opened in May 2025.
Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
“This Valentine’s Day we wanted to create a one-of-a-kind experience that allows parents to enjoy special evening together to celebrate the holiday after a day of family fun at our resort,” said Brian Siep, senior vice president of food and beverage at Great Wolf Lodge. “What we’ve created is truly unexpected with a five-course romantic culinary experience served in a private cabana, followed by Valentine’s desserts enjoyed while relaxing on our lazy river. We know families create incredible memories at our resort and with this experience we wanted to provide parents with the opportunity create some memories of their own.”
Great Wolf Lodge’s Valentine’s Day event lasts 90 minutes. Childcare services are not available.
What to Expect at Great Wolf Lodge’s Valentine’s Day Dine and Drift
Valentine’s Day dinner starts with small bites including a smoked salmon rose with cucumber, fresh dill cream cheese and lemon threads; king crab ceviche with lime, avocado, sweet onion, cilantro and sea salt; a caramelized onion and goat cheese tart; and aged cheddar potato dauphinoise with chive crème fraîche. A gem lettuce salad follows, filled with candied pecans, whipped burrata, carrot, radish, cucumber, champagne vinaigrette, and edible flowers. The third course is butter-poached lobster with tagliolini pasta, pancetta and green peas in parmesan chardonnay butter sauce. Course four is a pan-seared day boat scallop with brown butter, cauliflower velouté, corn and beet relish, followed by the last savory course, braised wagyu short rib with caramelized cipollini onion, potato purée, asparagus, carrots and sweet potato crisp in a port wine reduction. Red and white wine will be served with dinner.
“At Great Wolf Lodge, we love to push the envelope and create new experiences for our guests that are unexpected and allow the talents of our culinary team to shine,” said Siep.
Following the big meal, couples can meander to the lazy river for desserts including strawberries and mascarpone with basil and balsamic, citrus olive oil cake bites with raspberry and orange chantilly cream, a Valrhona chocolate tart with salted honey and poached pear, plus a “chocolate debauchery” made with chocolate sponge, hazelnut mousse, white chocolate ganache, pink peppercorn, and crème de cacao.
Great Wolf Lodge’s “Romance on the River” Valentine’s Day experience is available for one night only, Saturday, February 14, 2026, at select Great Wolf Lodge locations in Scottsdale, AZ; the Pocono Mountains, PA; and Webster, TX. The all-inclusive dining experience is priced at $299 per couple, or $399 per couple with wine pairings included.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/melissakravitz/2026/01/21/great-wolf-lodge-introduces-valentines-day-fine-dining-float/
