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Wilderness Resort | Wisconsin Dells

The Wilderness Territory in Wisconsin Dells consists of over 600 wooded acres and is home to Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort, which features 446 guest rooms, 40 two bedroom Vacation Villas, 76 three bedroom and three bedroom+den Frontier Condominiums, a total of 36 three, four, & five bedroom Golf Course Cabins & Retreats, and 8 five bedroom Treehouse Cabins. The Wilderness Territory is also home to Wilderness on the Lake which features 108 luxurious two and three bedroom condominiums and sits on the shoreline of  Lake Delton; and lastly, Glacier Canyon Lodge, which features 460 units with combinations of both upscale condominiums and guest rooms.

Combined, these three properties offer four indoor and four outdoor waterparks that total nearly 500,000 square feet – that’s over 12 football fields of extreme water fun!

The Wilderness is also home to:

Many dining options are available at Wilderness Territory, including Camp Social – a food hall with multiple dining options, Swimm’n Chick’n, Survivor’s Bar & Grill and a wide variety of grab and go options at various waterparks and coffee shops.

The Wilderness is easily accessible from Interstate 90 and 94, and located just minutes from popular attractions such as Dells Boat Tours, the Original Wisconsin Ducks, Ho-Chunk Casino and Outlets at the Dells.

Timeline of Growth

The Wilderness Resort has experienced tremendous growth since it opened its doors in June 1995.

Today, Wilderness Resort has over 30 different lodging options, each with comfort and convenience in mind. In addition to the main hotel’s 446 guest rooms, the resort has a wide Northwoods themed 2-bedroom Vacation Villas; 3-bedroom Frontier Condominiums; 3-bedroom Golf Course Cabins; 4- and 5-bedroom Media and Entertainment Cabins; and introduced 2023, we introduced eight ‘Mountain Modern’ 5-bedroom Treehouse Cabins. Wilderness on the Lake, located on the shoreline of Lake Delton, has luxurious 2- and 3-bedroom condominium units that sleep up to 16. Finally, Glacier Canyon Lodge, which connects via indoor skywalk to Wilderness Hotel, is a spacious 2-key & 3-key resort with lodging options to grow your room from a single room with 2 queen beds to a large 3-bedroom condominium.

Take a look at our impressive growth and learn how we have become America’s Largest Waterpark Resort:

1990’s
  • June 1995: Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort opens with 79 units, the Fort Wilderness indoor waterpark (which has since been replaced), two outdoor pools and a hot tub.
  • 1996: 59 guest units are added to the hotel as well as the Timber Rapids Tube Slide and two kiddie slides.
  • 1998: 84 guest units are added to the hotel, Wilderness Woods 18-hole golf course opens (this has since been replaced by Wild Rock), Gold Rush Tube Slide, Prospector’s Creek Lazy River and BearFoot Island are added (BearFoot Island area is later renovated and redesigned to be a splash pad feature in 2013).
  • 1998: Ground is broken on Phase I of the Vacation Villa development (28 units).
  • 1999: 60 additional guest units are added to the hotel and the resort’s second indoor waterpark, Klondike Kavern, a 65,000 square foot facility, opens.
  • 1999: The Field brothers break ground on Field’s at the Wilderness, a premier steakhouse, located within a short walking distance to the main Wilderness Hotel.

2000’s

  • 2000: Field’s at the Wilderness opens as well as the MotherLode, a Northwoods themed family restaurant located in the New Frontier lobby. (Motherlode was later renamed Wild Canyon Café and then it was replaced.) Phase II of our Vacation Villas is completed along with Little Links golf course (this is now Wilderland Park). Our Frontier Condominium project begins as well as construction on a new $1.5 million, 6,700-square-foot golf clubhouse.
  • 2001: The resort’s golf course clubhouse and some of the Frontier Condominiums open.
  • Summer 2002:162 additional guest rooms, a second check-in lobby called Wild West as well as Dodge ‘em City (home to Timberland Playhouse and Northern Lights Arcade) open. Lake Wilderness outdoor waterpark opens. Ground is also broken on Wilderness on the Lake, a $37 million, 108-unit premier condominium project located on Lake Delton. The last of our Frontier Condominiums are completed.
  • August 2002: Phase I of the Wilderness 4-bedroom cabins (#1-#4) are unveiled.
  • February 2003: Wild West indoor waterpark, a $10 million addition complete with its own sports bar, The Thirsty Buffalo, (now Swimm’n Chick’n) opens. Near the resort, Sarento’s at the Wilderness opens and begins serving fine Italian cuisine.
  • July 2003: Wilderness on the Lake, a 108-unit premier condominium complex, which overlooks Lake Delton opens. It offers two- and three-bedroom units in a secluded retreat with a private four-season patio and four-person Jacuzzi tub.
  • October 2003: Phase II of the Wilderness cabin project is completed. It considers of five, 5-bedroom Entertainment Cabins (units #5-9).
  • Spring 2004: The remaining 5 Bedroom Entertainment Cabins are completed (cabin# 10-14).
  • June 2004: The resort opens the Great Wave, a large outdoor wave pool, along with private poolside cabanas.
  • Summer 2004: Pistol Pete’s Ice Cream and the OK Corral Lazer Tag Arena open inside Dodge ‘Em City (OK Corral Lazer Tag Arena was later move to the New Frontier region of the hotel).
  • June: 2005:  Wilderness completes construction on sixteen 3-bedroom Golf Course Cabins and opens the Hurricane thrill slide in Klondike Kavern indoor waterpark.
  • October 2005: In honor of its 10th anniversary, Wilderness announces its largest expansion to date – a massive $150 million project which includes: the development of Glacier Canyon Lodge: An upscale 460-condo unit resort with a 25,000 sq. ft. conference and banquet center, and a massive 3.2 acre outdoor waterpark called Lost Word. The project also includes the enclosure of the Great Wave outdoor wave pool (located by the main hotel) with a state-of-the art Foil Tec roof, which allows guests to tan indoors year-round. In addition, the resort announces Monk’s Bar & Grill will be building an on-site location and they building a new Wild Rock 18-hole championship Golf Course designed world-renowned golf course architects by Hurdzan & Fry.
  • April 2006: The Wilderness opens the Wild WaterDome, its largest indoor waterpark yet, which thanks to its Foil Tec Roof allows people to tan and plants to grow indoors. The WaterDome is also home to the nation’s largest indoor wave pool the Great Wave. Survivor’s Bar and Grill also opens in the mezzanine above the Wild WaterDome.
  • July 2006: Glacier Canyon Lode and The Lost World,  a massive 3.2-acre waterpark open. The waterpark boasts 1,600 foot-long interactive adventure river system that features fast rapids, uphill currents, under bridges and through swirls and runoffs. There is also a huge pool with a lounging ridge to relax in, dinosaur-themed basketball hoops for the kids to enjoy and a kiddie play-n-spray structure complete with Stegosaurus and Pteranodon sculptures.
  • December 2006: Glacier Canyon Lodge’s 25,000 sq. ft. conference and banquet center opens.
  • January 2007: Monk’s Bar & Grill, a Wisconsin icon since 1947, opens its second location in Wisconsin Dells at the Wilderness Resort.
  • January 2007: Wilderness developers finalize plans for an events center hotel and condominium resort complex in Sevierville, TN. (See WildernessattheSmokies.com).
  • Summer 2007: Halley’s Comet Racers are unveiled at the Lost World outdoor waterpark at Glacier Canyon Lodge.
  • Fall 2007: Cabins #1 & #3 are converted from a 4-bedroom cabin to 5-bedroom Media Cabins with the addition and construction of a built-on media room to each unit.
  • Fall 2007: Wilderness Resort officials announce plans to double the size Glacier Canyon Lodge’s conference and banquet center to 55,000 square feet.
  • Fall 2007: Klondike Kavern’s children’s play feature, Gold Mine Mountain, is removed and replaced with a play structure with better sight lines making the facility more family-friendly. The Hurricane thrill ride also receives an upgrade with lights and sound effects to heighten the thrills.
  • May 2008: Wilderness opens its new championship golf course – Wild Rock designed by world-renowned golf course architects Hurdzan & Fry.
  • May 2008: Wilderness Resort officials upgrade the Cannonbowl with strobe lights, fog machines and other special effects. They re-name the ride the Black Hole. Walking trails are also unveiled around the resort.
  • June 2008: Due to extreme rainfall amounts, Lake Delton breaches its shoreline and drains into the Wisconsin River. Wilderness on the Lake property is unharmed by the freak natural occurrence.
  • Fall 2008: Wilderness Resort officials complete a 31,471 square foot addition to the Glacier Canyon Lodge Conference Center.
  • December 2008: Wilderness Resort opens the Wild Buccaneer 3-D, black light, pirate-themed mini golf course, (this attraction has been replaced by Lost Cabin Laser Tag) and the Goody Gum Drop Sweet & Wild Candy Shoppe (now Candy Cabin) in the Wild West lobby. A Fitness Center is also relocated above the Wild West lobby.
  • December 2008: Wilderness Resort is named Sauk County Development Corporation’s 2008 Large Business of the Year.
  • March 2009: Wilderness Resort opens its Wild Abyss 3-D black light, ocean themed miniature golf. The resort also renovates Klondike Kavern indoor waterpark.
  • July 2009: Wilderness Resort unveils indoor bumper boats (this attraction no longer exists) in the Wild West Waterpark. The resort also adds an outdoor Jurassic-themed mini golf course, go-karts and kiddy karts by the Lost World outdoor waterpark.
  • August 2009: The Wilderness Canyon Zip Line Tour is unveiled over the Lost Canyon between the main hotel and Glacier Canyon Lodge.
  • October 2009: Tombstone Town (a Haunted Hotel) and Mineshaft Mirror Maze open at the main hotel, and Big Fish Mini Golf opens at Wilderness on the Lake (these attractions have all been replaced by later projects).
2010’s
  • Spring 2010: All of the main hotel guest rooms with new beds, linens and flat screen televisions.
  • January 2012:  The Northern Lights Sky Ropes Course opens in the Wild West region of the hotel.
  • June 2012: Lunar Loop & Cosmic Drop extreme thrill slides are added at Lost World outdoor waterpark.
  • Summer 2013: BearFoot Island Sprayground, a fun splash pad area, opens at the New Frontier outdoor waterpark.
  • February 2014: A new 4,000 square-foot, two story, Ok Corral Lazer Arena and Marshall Training Lazer Maze open near the New Frontier lobby. (These attractions were replaced with the lobby expansion in 2019).
  • April 2014: Klondike Boardwalk, featuring Klondike Pizza Kitchen, Klondike Kate’s Libations and Yukon Yogurt opens right outside the mezzanine level of Klondike Kavern indoor waterpark.
  • May 2014: Margarita’s Swim-Up Bar opens in the Wild WaterDome. It features an outdoor setting area which expands into the New Frontier waterpark.
  • July 2014: Wildwoods Go-Kart Trail and Wilderwoods Mega Prize Arcade open inside an expanded area which had been an indoor skywalk connecting the WaterDome and New Frontier lobby. Some space is taken away from the New Frontier outdoor waterpark for this expansion.
  • August 2015: Wilderness breaks ground on a dormitory for its J-1 workers.
  • December 2015: Wilderness opens the first Slideboarding rides in the Midwest. The rides, which combine waterslides with a gaming experience, are located in Klondike Kavern. (Slideboarding was replaced in 2023 by tube slides.)
  •  February 2016: Two Room Escapes by D.O.A., The Hotel and The Basement, open at Wilderness on the Lake. (these were later replaced.)
  •  March 2017: A third Room Escape by D.O.A., The Circus,  geared towards kids 4-11 opens. (This was later replaced.)
  • May 2017: A new four-story Timberland Playhouse opens and replaces the original Timberland Playhouse which opened in 2002.
  • Fall 2017: Wilderness breaks ground on a second dormitory for its J-1 workers.
  • January 2018: Wilderness purchases Field’s at the Wilderness and Sarento’s from the Field brothers.
  • May 2018: Wilderness works with D.O.A. to replace The Hotel room escape with a Titanic room escape.
  • June 2018: Field’s at the Wilderness opens ‘The Patio.’ The area features fire pits, plush comfortable seating, tables for outdoor dining and an area for seasonal entertainment.
  • July 2018: Five cabanas are added to the Wild West indoor waterpark.
  • January 2019: Three Clip ‘N Climb Challenge Walls open in the Timberland Playhouse area.
  • Fall 2019: Wild Canyon Café closes to make room for Camp Social Food Hall. The New Frontier lobby undergoes a major renovation, the resort’s laser tag and laser maze are relocated to the Wild West portion of the resort. (The laser maze is later removed to make room for more fun and more appealing arcade games.)
  • Fall 2019: Construction begins on Take Flight Aerial Adventure, the first theater-style fly ride attraction of its kind in Wisconsin.
  • Fall 2019: D.O.A. starts construction on The Twister Room Escape at Wilderness on the Lake.
2020’s
  • Spring 2020: The Lost Cabin laser tag arena opens inside Dodge ’em City located in the Wild West region of the Hotel.
  • Summer 2020: Twister Room Escape by D.O.A. opens replacing The Basement Room Escape.
  • September 2020: Take Flight Arial Adventure, the first theater-style fly ride attraction of its kind in Wisconsin, opens.
  • Summer 2021: Tacolicious Food Truck opens in Lost World outdoor waterpark.
  • December 2021: Molly’s Shake Shoppe opens in the Wild WaterDome.
  • April 2022: Renovations begin on all of the 446  main hotel guest rooms and the Wild West indoor waterpark. It is also announced that the Thirsty Buffalo will be removed and replaced by Swimm’n Chick’n.
  • June 2022: Mama Tiger Korean BBQ opens in Lake Wilderness outdoor waterpark.
  • July 2022: Mission: MARS D.O.A. Escape Room opens replacing the Circus.
  • November 2022: The newly renovated Wild West indoor waterpark reopens with a new Ransack Ridge play structure; Twisted Trails, a new two-lane dueling tube ride; Warped Wagons, a new two-lane dueling mat racer ride; and Yeehaw’s Swim-Up Bar.
  • December 2022: RFID wristbands are unveiled allowing guests to open their guest room doors and have wristbands scanned for purchases anywhere at the resort.
  • January 2023: Bear Paw Funnel Cakes opens in the Wild West Waterpark.
  • March 2023: Wilderness announces eight, 5-bedroom Treehouse Cabins are being built and will open in August 2023. The resort also unveils a newly refurbished and expanded Op’s Market in the Wild West region.
  • June 2023: Daily Dough opens at Camp Social Food Hall.
  • August 2023: The first of eight, 5-bedroom Treehouse Cabins become available for guests.
  • September 2023: Mama Tiger Korean BBQ opens a second, year-round location in Camp Social Food Hall.