Great Wolf Lodge^® in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, went on an unusual shopping spree. Magic wands. Check. Princess and wizard apparel. Check. Runes and relics. Check. These are the accessories needed for the resort’s newest attraction, a four-story live-action adventure game called MagiQuest. Great Wolf Lodge is the only resort chain in the country to snag this high-tech attraction, and it will magically appear in Wisconsin Dells on July 1 for the enjoyment of all, including both overnight guests of the waterpark resort and other visitors to the area.

MagiQuest fuses video game technology into a three-dimensional adventure, with participants cast as the main characters seeking to gain more power and unlock higher levels of quests. The setting is a mythical world, complete with dragons, unicorns, fairies, and evildoers. The game appeals to guests across generations.

“Rarely does an attraction really hold the same draw for the grown-ups as well as the kids, but this one has proven itself as a multi-generational team sport,” explained Kim Schaefer, CEO of parent company Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.^® (NASDAQ: WOLF) and a parent of two tween-age children herself. “In fact, we often hear that parents enjoy seeing the gaming world through the eyes of their kids, and really enjoy the time spent together.”

Then there’s the sheer massiveness of the setting – 20,000 square feet spread out over four stories. Players move from one themed set to the next, with each space decked out with elaborate props and electronic wizardry. Behind the scenes, the game is built on a proprietary technology platform customized exclusively for Great Wolf Resorts. The cost for the elaborate renovation came in at around $2 million. The game occupies the area previously known as Wiley’s Woods, a children’s play area.

Perhaps the most intriguing element of all is the magic wand. Players, who are called “Magi,” are first put through magic wand training school before starting the game. The high-tech wands can be personalized with toppers and trinkets and players take the wand with them when they leave. As players solve riddles, their progress is recorded by their magic wand. Along with being the key to unlocking the mysteries, the wand also creates music, activates animatronics, and opens treasure chests.

Unlike one-time-only plays, “Magi” may return to MagiQuest at any time, either at the Wisconsin Dells property or at any of the other Great Wolf Lodge resorts around the country, and pick up where they left off.