Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort is a large water resort in Lake Delton, Wisconsin. It is a combined size of , and is part of a chain of two resorts, the newer and smaller one being Wilderness at the Smokies in Tennessee. The chain also includes four small outdoor waterparks.
Timeline Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort is owned and operated by the Helland and Lucke families, and the grandsons of the original founder. Tom Lucke, co-owner of Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort; Peter Helland Jr., co-owner and vice president; Tim Lucke, co-owner and project manager; and Pat Helland, co-owner and director of development. Their late grandfather, Oliver “O.P.” Helland, was the founder of the Riverview Boat Line back in 1921. He is known as one of the first local river men to arrange boat touring for the purpose of sightseeing along the Wisconsin River.
O.P. Helland, well known during his time as a civic rights activist and entrepreneur, aided in evolving the area into what is now considered one of the premier tourist destinations of the Midwestern United States; he would prove to make history by changing the face of the local economy in The Dells.
A short time after Riverview Boat Line was founded, O.P. Helland began the process of developing a restaurant and series of retail shops using the income that he earned from tourists. He had purchased adjacent land along the river and among these bustling properties included Hotel Helland; a hotel located directly across the street from the local train station. Building a hotel in this specific location proved to be an excellent decision; the busy area proved to provide steady business as the hotel would accommodate a flurry of business travelers and vacationers.
In 1952, operations of the company were taken over by Peter Helland Sr, attorney Hans Helland, and Virginia Helland Lucke; three children of O.P Helland. They are the direct predecessors of the current owner-operators of the resort; Pat Helland and Peter Helland Jr. are the sons of Peter Sr., Tim and Tom Lucke are the sons of Virginia, and Hans is their uncle. Virginia served as the head of the retail department of the company, while her brother Peter Sr. took the greater task of overseeing daily management of the company.
At the age of 28, Tom Lucke acquired a motel property called The Riviera. This would prove to be his first descent into a local hotel industry that he would improve in regard to the combination of indoor and outdoor water park properties with quality lodging accommodations.
In 1995, the 443-unit Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort opened its doors. It is Tom Lucke’s fifth and most heavily themed resort in The Dells tourist region. Tom also developed the tropical themed Polynesian Hotel, the Atlantis, the Bahama Bay, and the Caribbean Club resorts.
In 1995, the Wilderness Hotel and Golf Resort opened for business along U.S. Highway 12 (Wisconsin Dells Parkway) with a water park named Fort Wilderness. In 1999, the hotel added its second indoor waterpark, Klondike Kavern, and an additional sixty guest rooms.
In 2002, the resort opened the Wild West region of the hotel which has 162 guest rooms. It also includes Dodge ‘Em City, a indoor play park featuring Timberland Playhouse and Lake Wilderness outdoor waterpark. In 2003, the Wild West Waterpark opened for business.
In 2003, a 108-condominium, upscale resort, called Wilderness on the Lake, opened for business. It is home to Cubby's Cove, a indoor/outdoor waterpark complete with an Infinity pool overlooking Lake Delton.
In the summer of 2005, to mark the resort's 10th anniversary, the Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort opened two thrill rides, the Hurricane and Black Hole waterslides.
In April 2006, the Wilderness opened its largest indoor waterpark yet, the Wild WaterDome. This waterpark is home to a large indoor wave pool, the Dueling Mammoths family raft ride, and a toddler play 'n spray area. The waterpark also features a FoilTec roof that is permeable to UV rays, allowing people to tan indoors. The resort also closed Fort Wilderness Waterpark, its first indoor waterpark.
In July 2006, Glacier Canyon Lodge, the Wilderness's third property, opened along with a 3.2-acre outdoor waterpark called the Lost World.
In 2008, the Wilderness unveiled Wild Rock Golf Club, a championship 18-hole course containing a difficult hole 17 called "Boneyard North" and renovated the Klondike Kavern waterpark.
In 2009, the Wilderness unveiled three indoor, 3-D, blacklight mini-golf courses, an outdoor mini-golf course, go-karts and a zip line adventure. The resort also opened Tombstone Town Haunted Hotel and Mineshaft Mirror Maze.
In 2010, the Wilderness renovated all of the Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort guest rooms.
In 2012, the Wilderness opened the Northern Lights Sky Ropes Course, located in the Wild West region of the hotel. The resort also added the Lunar Loop and Cosmic Drop Whitewater West Drop Slides at the Lost World Water Park.
In 2015, the resort would redo the Klondike Krash Water Slides would be turned in the Claim Jumper Challenge Water Slides, two dueling Whitewater West Slide boarding slides.
Today, the Wilderness Territory occupies over of land and provides guests with 1,163 lodging options among its three main properties (Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort, Wilderness on the Lake and Glacier Canyon Lodge), in addition to its freestanding Vacation Villas, Cabins and New Frontier Condominiums. The Territory is home to four indoor and four outdoor waterparks totaling nearly . The resort also features Wild Rock Golf Club, and the Wilderness Woods Par 3 Family Course. A skywalk is connected to the Glacier Canyon Lodge, and boats take guests to the Wilderness on the Lake Resort.
Wild Rock Golf Club
Resort Areas
New Frontier Area
This area is themed after Western United States forests and mountain ranges. Its buildings are painted brown with highlights of green and black.
Features
Klondike Kavern Indoor Waterpark
Opened in 1999 Klondike-themed Claim Jumper Challenge (1999), two Proslide PIPElines retrofitted with Slideboarding in 2015 Known as Klondike Krash from 1999 to 2015 Originally emptied into Bonanza Brook New fiberglass runouts made by WhiteWater were added when Slideboarding debuted Mine Shaft (1999), two high speed Proslide Twister body slides One of the slides is only for guests 150 pounds or less Bonanza Brook (1999), a lazy river Bonanza Bluff (2007), an SCS Interactive water play structure The Hurricane (2005), a 2–4 rider, multi-sensory ProSlide Tornado 60. Originally opened as an open air, outdoor slide before the funnel was capped in late 2005 Received theming upgrades in 2007 including a fake newscast of a hurricane coming off of the Great Lakes This is a separately themed ride from the rest of the waterpark, similarly to its sister ride, Black Hole. Sulfur Springs (1999), Indoor/Outdoor Spas & Pools Kodiak Kanteen, snack bar Former Attractions Gold Mine Mountain (1999), an interactive water play structure Replaced in 2007 by Bonanza Bluff due to sightline complaint issues from parents
Wild WaterDome Indoor Waterpark
Opened in 2006 Originally announced as the Wild KingDome Waterpark Transparent roof, for tanning and plant growth The Great Wave (2004), wave pool Originally opened outdoors as The Great Tsunami Wild WaterDome was built around it Mini-Mammoths Cove, a zero-depth toddler activity area The Dueling Mammoth (2006), Proslide Mammoth racing family raft rides One of the slides was removed and will be replaced with Volcano Vortex, a Proslide HIVE waterslide that will open in 2026 Survivor's Bar & Grill Wooly's Eatery, snack bar Private cabanas Margarita's Swim-Up Bar (Summer 2014) Margarita’s Swim-Up Bar
New Frontier Outdoor Waterpark
Opened in 1996 Gold Rush Tube Slide (1998), a enclosed Proslide Pipeline tube slide Gold Rush Body Slide (1998), a mostly open Pro slide Twister body slide Timber Falls Tube Slide (1996), a Proslide Pipeline tube slide that launches off a 30-foot tower. Prospector's Creek (1998), a lazy river Toddler's Cove, a zero-depth play area. Banana Slides (1996), Proslide short body slides for small children. New Frontier Springs, a large hot spa Bear Foot Island Spray ground (2013), an oasis area for children under 48" and their parents. Raccoon Saloon Former Attractions Bear Foot Island (1998), NBGS International aquatic play structure Replaced by Bear Foot Island Spray ground. The Great Tsunami (2004), Wave Pool Still in use, however the Wild WaterDome has been built around it
New Frontier Atrium Wilder woods Arcade, arcade Wildwoods Go-Kart Trail, (2014) 525 foot go-kart course Take Flight (2020), SimEx Iwerks Flyride Tommyknockers Bar Wild Canyon Cafe Fast Molly's Gift Shop Survivor's Bar and Grille Former Attractions OK Corral Lazer Tag (2004 to 2020) Powered by Lazer Runner Originally located above Klondike Kavern Waterpark, current home of the Klondike Boardwalk Moved to the former location of Fort Wilderness and later Tombstone Town near the New Frontier Lobby in 2014 Moved to former location of CyVRspace and Wild Buccaneer in 2020 with a new Lazer tag system Marshall Training Lazer Maze Vault (2014 to 2020) Tombstone Town and Mineshaft Mirror Maze (2009 to 2013) Fort Wilderness Waterpark (1995 to 2005) Upgraded in 2002, adding another deck and repositioning slides to the back of the play structure Also features a basketball pool, sauna, and hot tub
Guestroom Area Polka Dot Pots, children's pottery studio
Wild West Area This area is themed after the American West in the 1800s and its buildings are painted crimson with brown highlights.
Features
Wild West Indoor Waterpark
Opened in 2003 at a cost of $10 million Western gold mine-themed Fantastic Voyage (2003), Proslide Mammoth family raft ride The Black Hole (2005), a single-rider, multi-sensory ProSlide CannonBowl Originally opened as an open air, outdoor slide before the bowl was capped in late 2005 Originally names Cannonbowl, renamed and rethemed in 2008 as the Black Hole Separately themed from the rest of the waterpark High Plains Hot Springs, an indoor/outdoor spa Grizzly's Grill, snack bar The Swimm'n Chick'n, restaurant The Twisted Trails Dueling Tube Slides With Eye Dropped Trusclent Points The Warped Wagons Dueling Mat Slide With The Same Feature As Twisted Trails Ransack Ridge V2 Opened October 1st 2022 To The Public Yeehaw's Watering Hole A Swim Up Bar Former Attractions Wilderness Express (2003 to 2022), Proslide PIPEline tube slide Thirsty Buffalo Restaurant (2003 to 2022) Wild West Body Slides (2003 to 2022), four high-speed Proslide Twister slides Two slides on the left side, nearest the Black Hole, have not been in use in some time Last known day of operation is unknown Ransack Ridge (2003 to 2022), a NBGS International interactive water-play structure Opened as the largest aquatic play structure in the world Surge (2003 to 2009), a NBGS International interactive wave pool Wild West Bumper Boats 2009-2022 Closed For Yeehaw's Watering Hole
Lake Wilderness Outdoor Waterpark
Rafter's Rage Tube Slide (2002), a Proslide PIPEline tube slide Rafter's Rage Body Slide (2002), a Proslide Twister body slide Lil' Chutes Banana Slides (2002), two side-by-side Proslide body slides for little ones A children's wading pool with hands on water features Island Pool, a lazy lake complete with sideline play activities and built-in lounging ridge A lap pool and water basketball Lily pad obstacle walk Volleyball pool Hot spas Mackinac Tap & Snack Shack Midway Macs Outdoor Grill 9 private poolside cabanas available for rent
Wild West Area - Dodge 'Em City Northern Lights Arcade (2002) Northern Lights Ropes Course (2012) RCI Ropes Course above the Northern Lights Arcade Timberland Play Park (2002), children's play structure Structure replaced with current attraction in 2017 Wild Abyss Mini-Golf (2009), indoor, glow-in-the-dark, mini-golf course