The nation's largest operator of indoor water parks was given the green light last Thursday, November 29th, at the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners meeting.  Great Wolf Resorts has been in negotiations for two years to build a resort at Mary Alice Park.  While the US Army Corps of Engineers must officially sign off on the project, county and city officials believe that will happen before years end.

 

The Forsyth Board of Commissioners agreed to a variety of incentives for the Wisconsin company.  The incentives, both from the county and city of Cumming, include:

• Ten years of tax breaks, with no taxes in the first year and the tax bill going to 10 percent in the second year, 20 percent in the second year and so on until 90 percent in Year 10.
• The city has committed to make improvements to Mary Alice Park Road from Ga. 400 to the city limits. The county will cover the road improvements to Great Wolf, with $5.1 million from a proposed sales tax extension.
• The city will run, at no charge, a 12-inch water line, a sewer pump station and three 10-inch sewer lines to the Great Wolf property.
• The city has vowed to try to convince the Georgia Department of Transportation to build a full or half interchange at Ga. 400 and Mary Alice Park Road;
• The beach front, boat ramp and other amenities that will be lost by the project's development will be replaced by the city at another Corps park, known as Little Ridge. Great Wolf will give the city $1.5 million by next March to design and replace the boat ramp and beach, but will get that back in rent breaks on lease of Mary Alice Park from the city over 30 years.
• The city is waiving impact fees, permit fees and other fees normally required.

The resort will include a conference center, guests-only indoor water park and luxury hotel with between 400 and 600 rooms.  The project will reportedly cost $130 million and 18 months to build.  The resort would create 300 new jobs.  

Great Wolf Resorts is a Wisconsin based company with 10 resorts currently operating in the US and Canada.  Each resort has a rustic theme with many amenities including the indoor water park, arcade, children's craft and activity room, spa, fitness room, meeting rooms, and restaurants.