Misplaced Pages

#926073

36-523: Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. (formerly known as Great Wolf Lodge ) is a chain of resort hotels and indoor water parks . The company owns and operates its family resorts under the Great Wolf Lodge brand. In addition to a water park, each resort features restaurants, arcades , spas , and children's activities. Great Wolf Resorts is headquartered in Chicago , Illinois . Great Wolf Lodge began as

72-886: A commemoration of the Haymarket affair and would strengthen socialist and anarchist movements that backed the May 1 commemoration around the globe. In 1887, he publicly supported the September Labor Day holiday as a less inflammatory alternative, formally adopting the date as a United States federal holiday through a law that he signed in 1894. Since the mid-1950s, the United States has celebrated Loyalty Day and Law Day on May 1. Unlike Labor Day, neither are legal public holidays (in that government agencies and most businesses do not shut down to celebrate them) and therefore have remained relatively obscure. Loyalty Day

108-605: A day be set aside to celebrate labor. "Labor Day" was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor , which organized the first parade in New York City . In 1887, Oregon was the first state of the United States to make it an official public holiday . By the time it became an official federal holiday in 1894, thirty states in the U.S. officially celebrated Labor Day. Canada's Labour Day

144-611: A holiday for federal workers. As late as the 1930s, unions were encouraging workers to strike to make sure they got the day off. All U.S. states, the District of Columbia , and the United States territories have subsequently made Labor Day a statutory holiday. The date of May 1 (an ancient European folk holiday known as May Day ) emerged in 1886 as an alternative holiday for the celebration of labor, later becoming known as International Workers' Day . The date had its origins at

180-660: A public demonstration of organized labor's solidarity and strength, with the march followed by a picnic, to which participating local unions could sell tickets as a fundraiser. According to McGuire he suggested the first Monday in September as an ideal date for such a public celebration, owing to optimum weather and the date's place on the calendar, sitting midway between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving public holidays. Labor Day picnics and other public gatherings frequently featured speeches by prominent labor leaders. In 1909,

216-613: A rare public bidding war. After Apollo upped its offer again to $ 7.85 a share on April 20, 2012, KSL Capital Partners later announced it would not be making additional offers. The company's shares traded as low as $ 2.18 in October 2011, but climbed above $ 5 following the announcement in March 2012 and reached a 52-week high of $ 7.50 during trading in April 2012. On March 24, 2015, Centerbridge Partners reached an agreement with Apollo to acquire

252-579: A small indoor water park resort called Black Wolf Lodge which was founded in 1997 by brothers Jack and Andrew "Turk" Waterman, the original owners of Noah's Ark Water Park in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin . Black Wolf Lodge was purchased by The Great Lakes Companies Inc. in 1999. In 2000, president and founder, Craig A. Stark , and the team changed the name to Great Wolf Lodge and the company headquarters were established in Madison, Wisconsin . In 2001,

288-480: A visit to Toronto where he saw parades celebrating labor that May, had put forward the initial proposal in the spring of 1882. According to McGuire, on May 8, 1882, he made a proposition to the fledgling Central Labor Union in New York City that a day be set aside for a "general holiday for the laboring classes". According to McGuire he further recommended that the event should begin with a street parade as

324-572: Is also celebrated on the first Monday of September. More than 150 other countries celebrate International Workers' Day on May 1, the European holiday of May Day . May Day was chosen by the Second International of socialist and communist parties to commemorate the general labor strike in the United States and events leading to the Haymarket affair , which occurred in Chicago, Illinois , from May 1 – May 4, 1886. Beginning in

360-475: Is an accepted version of this page Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday of September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements in the United States . Beginning in the late 19th century, as the trade union and labor movements grew, trade unionists proposed that

396-559: Is credited for first proposing that a national Labor Day holiday subsequently be held on the first Monday of each September in the aftermath of this successful public demonstration. An alternative theory maintains that the idea of Labor Day was the brainchild of Peter J. McGuire , a vice president of the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions , which was a predecessor of the American Federation of Labor . After

SECTION 10

#1732801856927

432-481: Is formally celebrated in a few cities, while some bar associations hold Law Day events to celebrate the rule of law . Labor Day is called the "unofficial end of summer" because it marks the end of the U.S. culture's nominal summer season. Of the 7% of Americans who take two-week vacations, many take their vacations during the two weeks ending Labor Day weekend. Many fall activities, such as school and sports (particularly football ), begin about this time. In

468-479: Is still retained by many newer destination hotels. A mega-resort is a type of destination which is of an exceptionally large size, sometimes featuring large-scale attractions ( casino , golf course , theme park , multiple accommodations ). The hotels along the Las Vegas Strip are most typically thought of as mega-resorts owing to their immense size and complexity. Kirk Kerkorian is credited for building

504-602: The National Hot Rod Association hold their finals of the NHRA U.S. Nationals drag race that weekend. Labor Day is the middle point between weeks one and two of the U.S. Open tennis championships , held in Flushing Meadows , New York. In fashion, Labor Day is (or was) considered the last day when it is acceptable to wear white or seersucker . The source of the tradition lies in part with

540-539: The "Great Wolf Den," is in 350 North Orleans , in River North, in the Near North Side, Chicago . The facility, the "Great Wolf Den," began operations in 2017. Previously, the headquarters were in Madison, Wisconsin . According to the company, the headquarters move occurred so the company could be closer to various sites of business operation. Rahm Emanuel , Mayor of Chicago , attended the ribbon cutting of

576-678: The 1800s, the traditional concept full-service conference and resort hotels have been based upon a venue which is typically remote and has a natural feature as its attraction. For example, the Kviknes Hotel in Norway is a difficult to reach remote location which provides visitors access to the scenic fjord at Balestrand or The Brando Resort on Tetiaroa which is only accessible by a private plane from Tahiti . Historically there were certain built-in amenities such as gourmet cuisine , music recitals , and shoreline trails ; however,

612-554: The 1885 convention of the American Federation of Labor, which passed a resolution calling for adoption of the eight-hour day effective May 1, 1886. While negotiation was envisioned for achievement of the shortened work day, use of the strike to enforce this demand was recognized, with May 1 advocated as a date for coordinated strike action. The proximity of the date to the bloody Haymarket affair of May 4, 1886, further accentuated May First's radical reputation. There

648-467: The American Federation of Labor convention designated the Sunday preceding Labor Day as "Labor Sunday", to be dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement. This secondary date failed to gain significant traction in popular culture, although some churches continue to acknowledge it. The popularity of the event spread across the country. In 1887, Oregon became the first state of

684-578: The Great Wolf chain for $ 1.35 billion. The acquisition was finalized on May 12, 2015. In September 2019, Blackstone Group made a deal to purchase 65% controlling interest in Great Wolf Resorts from Centerbridge Partners. The two firms agreed to form a $ 2.9 billion joint venture to own the company. Great Wolf Lodge locations: Previous locations: Locations under construction: Locations under consideration: The corporate headquarters,

720-546: The United States to make Labor Day an official public holiday . By 1894, thirty U.S. states were already officially celebrating Labor Day. In that year, shortly after the Pullman Strike , the Congress passed a bill recognizing the first Monday of September as Labor Day and making it an official federal holiday . President Grover Cleveland signed the bill into law on June 28. The federal law, however, only made it

756-666: The United States, many school districts resume classes around the Labor Day holiday weekend (see First day of school ). Some begin the week before, making Labor Day weekend the first three-day weekend of the school calendar, while others return the Tuesday following Labor Day. Many districts across the Midwest are opting to begin school after Labor Day. In the U.S. state of Virginia , the amusement park industry has successfully lobbied for legislation requiring most school districts in

SECTION 20

#1732801856927

792-459: The adventure of five newly-redesigned versions of mascot characters Wiley Wolf, Violet Wolf, Oliver Raccoon, Brinley Bear and Sammy Squirrel. Resort hotel These hotels as destinations may be characterized by distinctive architecture, upscale lodgings, ballrooms, large conference facilities, restaurants, and recreation activities such as golf or skiing. They may be located in a variety of settings from major cities to remote locations. Since

828-458: The amenities of modern (post-1980) destination hotels dwarf the scale of these earlier models. Many of the Las Vegas and Caribbean resort hotels have complete shopping malls , conference centers and large entertainment halls on site; thus, the contemporary version of a destination often features large on-site capital investment in activities, although the access to a local natural feature

864-521: The company built a second location in Sandusky, Ohio, and named it Great Bear Lodge. When a third location opened in 2003, the decision was made to place all future parks under the Great Wolf Lodge banner. The name of the Ohio location was changed to Great Wolf Lodge in 2004. The chain has since added sixteen additional locations and has one under construction. On May 1, 2012, Great Wolf Resorts announced it

900-498: The company for $ 703 million. Following the announcement, an investor group filed a complaint in Delaware Chancery Court stating that the deal, in which Apollo would pay $ 5 a share, undervalued the company. On April 12, 2012, KSL Capital Partners made an unsolicited offer of $ 6.25 a share, and Apollo followed suit raising its bid to $ 6.75 a share. KSL then raised its cash offer to $ 7 a share on April 8, 2012, beginning

936-634: The facility. Great Wolf Lodge also owns MagiQuest . Great Wolf's previous CEO Kim Schaefer was featured in the U.S. version of TV's Undercover Boss , which included visits to several lodges where she worked alongside a lifeguard supervisor, front desk clerk, and restaurant waitstaff as well as participated in the children's program. Great Wolf Entertainment and 6 Point Harness produced an animated film, called The Great Wolf Pack: A Call to Adventure , which premiered at Great Wolf Resorts on Labor Day , September 5, 2022. The film, directed by former Disney animator Chris Bailey ( Runaway Brain ), follows

972-673: The first mega-resort in 1969 earning him the nickname "father of the mega-resort". Two projects in Las Vegas in 1969 and 1973 by architect Martin Stern, Jr. and entrepreneur Kirk Kerkorian , the International Hotel and the MGM Grand, set the standard for such casino resorts. The Mirage gave its size and emphasis on non-gaming entertainment options like shopping and fine dining to draw in customers. Mega-resorts use

1008-493: The holiday. According to one early history of Labor Day, the event originated in connection with a General Assembly of the Knights of Labor convened in New York City in September 1882. In connection with this clandestine Knights assembly, a public parade of various labor organizations was held on September 5 under the auspices of the Central Labor Union (CLU) of New York. Secretary of the CLU Matthew Maguire

1044-851: The holiday. One reason given for this timing was to allow time for schoolchildren to show 4-H projects at the Fair. In U.S. sports, Labor Day weekend marks the beginning of many fall sports. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) teams usually play their first games that weekend, and the National Football League (NFL) traditionally play their kickoff game the Thursday following Labor Day. The Southern 500 NASCAR auto race has been held on Labor Day weekend at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina from 1950 to 2003 and since 2015. At Indianapolis Raceway Park ,

1080-408: The late 19th century, as the trade union and labor movements grew, diverse groups of trade unionists chose a variety of days on which to celebrate labor. In the United States, a September holiday called Labor Day was first proposed in the early 1880s. Alternative accounts of the event's origin exist. Descendants of two men with similar last names claim their great-grandfather was the true father of

1116-472: The migration of wealthy 19th century New Yorkers back from their summer-home Newport Mansions and accompanying change back from summer clothes. The traditional last day to wear straw hats moved from around Labor Day (September 1) to September 15. In 1922, the Straw Hat Riot broke out due to gangs snatching the hats of men violating this rule in New York City. The unofficial beginning of summer, and

Great Wolf Resorts - Misplaced Pages Continue

1152-678: The same fantastic or mythical theme (medieval life at Excalibur , tropical at The Mirage, famous cities, etc.) throughout their properties. Many mega-resorts have a large theme park as its centerpiece . Resorts such as the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts feature multiple hotels, multiple theme parks, a shopping complex , and other features. Other mega-resorts exist with no specific centerpiece, having many features that are considered prominent, such as Atlantis Paradise Island and its upcoming sister park in Dubai . Labor Day This

1188-458: The state to have their first day of school after Labor Day, in order to give families another weekend to visit amusement parks in the state. The relevant statute has been nicknamed the " Kings Dominion law" after one such park. This law was repealed in 2019. In the U.S. state of Minnesota , the State Fair ends on Labor Day. Under state law, public schools normally do not begin until after

1224-829: The summer fashion season in the United States, is Memorial Day . In the 2020s, some people have approved of wearing white year-round. There are numerous events and activities organized in major cities. For example, New York offers the Labor Day Carnival , and fireworks over Coney Island. In Washington, one popular event is the Labor Day Concert at the U.S. Capitol featuring the National Symphony Orchestra with free attendance. To take advantage of large numbers of potential customers with time to shop, Labor Day has become an important weekend for discounts and allowances by many retailers in

1260-610: Was adding a new amenity or attraction to each of the resorts in time for the summer season. In addition, the company spent more than $ 4 million renovating the company's first two locations – Wisconsin Dells and Sandusky. In April 2017, Great Wolf Resorts relocated its corporate headquarters to Chicago, Illinois. In June 2023, Great Wolf Resorts opened its twentieth and largest resort in Perryville, Maryland . On March 13, 2012, Apollo Global Management announced an agreement to acquire

1296-399: Was disagreement among labor unions at this time about when a holiday celebrating workers should be, with some advocating for continued emphasis of the September march-and-picnic date while others sought the designation of the more politically charged date of May 1. Conservative Democratic President Grover Cleveland was one of those concerned that a labor holiday on May 1 would tend to become

#926073