For the last 5 years we have taken our son on a birthday trip to a different GWL location. We have been to Williamsburg, Charlotte, Sandusky, Boston, Niagra, Poconos and now LaGrange.
The way this GWL is set up is not like the others we have visited. This one is very segmented making the "fun" areas extremely crowded. Couple that with dance parties on the backside of the fireplace and you can barely walk through to get to the water park or fun areas.
We went for 3 days 2 nights after staying 1 night in the city of Atlanta.
After checking in and going to the water park our room(also MUCH smaller at this location and no microwave) was finally ready. Once we were exhausted by the water park we went to the room to get settled. My son decided he wanted to do the rock wall and the ropes course so downstairs into the crowd we went.
My son did the rock wall...no problem. My son got on the ropes course and upon completing it he came down the stairs and Jeremiah assisted in taking of his harness. In the midst of removing his harness he looks at my son and says "I have to ask you a question, are you gay?" To which my son was startled and responded "You can't ask that!" and then Jeremiah says "Didn't mean to offend we cool?"
My son was so upset by this that he told us immediately and then went to the front desk himself to report it.
My son is 12 this is beyond grossly inappropriate. We notified a manager immediately and dealt with Ricky the retail manager.
The next morning Ricky let us know that Jeremiah denied the entire incident. So now GWL is not only victimizing children but assassinating their character too?
Then our son was offered a shopping trip up to $50 in the gift shop to put a smile on his face. We were led to believe action would be taken. At NO time did the GM Keith Furnas reach out to us.
Monday night I heard from the virtual assistant, Willow, asking if GWL had exceeded our expectations...far from it! She then had a different manager and the head of security speak with my husband. They were completely unaware of our complaint. Not sure if Ricky and Jeremiah are buddies??? Cover-up?
My son was asked to write his statement of events.
I know some of you may be asking why didn't we leave? We had flown in to go to THIS GWL.
Even after my son wrote his statement on our last night we still were not contacted by the GM or anyone from corporate.
In our current world where statues are being removed for political correctness, where bathrooms are unisex, "me too," and Starbuck's is shamed for calling the police on African American men how dare Great Wolf Lodge not do a better job of vetting their employees to ensure that they are not hiring predators that victimize children. They are in the business of kids!
We got home yesterday and after taking the night to process our trip and the incident I have to say that I feel even sicker today.
My husband and I are both school employees and had to be background checked and finger printed to do our jobs. If we EVER asked a student if they were gay or how they identified you can bet it would make the news and we would be fired.
I hope this review is viewed and shared and goes viral.
While my husband was talking with security he was told there had been another incident where a lifeguard had sprayed an autistic child and the mother asked him to stop and he continued spraying the child to their discontent.
I am disgusted. I feel shame for having taken my son to GWL. I am not sure we will again.
While there we also witnessed a lifeguard Tee make another lifeguard Kaylen cry. The behavior we witnessed by the GWL employees is like nothing we have experienced before and is representative of the leadership or lack there of.
Beware if you take your child(ren) they could be victimized too!!!!!
