A 44-acre plot in Cecil County is just what Great Wolf Resorts was looking for to lock in its hold on the mid-Atlantic market.
Steve Jacobsen, vice president of domestic development for the company, said that Great Wolf always knew there was opportunity to add a third lodge and waterpark in the region beyond its existing locations in Williamsburg, Virginia, and the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. A veteran of the real estate industry, Jacobsen said at a county event Thursday that he knew development in the mid-Atlantic has historically been "tough," from permitting to environmental regulations and more. But when Dianna Battaglia, director of planning and zoning for the Town of Perryville, started leaving him daily messages and inviting him and others from Great Wolf to come to Cecil County and make a deal, he quickly realized the potential of the location. Great Wolf is preparing to break ground in early 2020 on the $200 million project located next to the Hollywood Casino Perryville. It will open about 19 to 20 months later, ideally before the end of 2021.