REVISION OF PRIOR PERIOD FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Effect of Correction on Company Consolidated Financial Statements (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					4 Months Ended	5 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	May 04, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
Other current assets	$ 10,404	$ 7,504					$ 10,404			$ 6,212
Total current assets	67,991	71,448					67,991			57,070
Other assets	10,162	20,604	21,236	22,678	23,443		10,162	22,678	21,236	20,556	26,034
Total assets	876,398	(709,111)	721,549	736,444	753,572		876,398	736,444	721,549	704,874	758,623
Deferred Tax liability	17,200	11,961	11,853	11,798	11,744		17,200	11,798	11,853	11,907	11,690
Total liabilities	608,054	594,478	586,028	602,706	613,399		608,054	602,706	586,028	581,378	617,158
Accumulated deficit	(1,490)	(290,512)	(268,673)	(269,925)	(263,067)		(1,490)	(269,925)	(268,673)	(281,314)	(261,601)	(204,278)
Total Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. stockholders' equity	263,483	114,675	135,547	133,783	140,196		263,483	133,783	135,547	123,525	141,474
Total equity	268,344	114,633	135,521	133,738	140,173		268,344	133,738	135,521	123,496	141,465
Total liabilities and equity	876,398	709,111	721,549	736,444	753,572		876,398	736,444	721,549	704,874	758,623
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
Income tax expense	250	375	218	348	273	269		621	839	1,132	785	180
Equity in (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax	138	(93)	(101)	(344)	(107)	(559)	(260)	(451)	(552)	13	648	2,432
Net income from continuing operations	3,756	(9,174)	1,376	(6,947)	(8,219)	(21,473)		(15,166)	(13,790)	(26,365)	(56,823)	(30,475)
Discontinued operations, net of tax	2			(65)	(6,744)	(23)			6,704		509	27,917
Net income	3,758	(9,210)	1,271	(6,882)	(1,475)	(21,496)	(1,515)	(8,357)	(7,086)	(19,731)	(57,332)	(58,392)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax	(14)	(12)		(23)	(9)	(15)		(32)	(14)	(18)
Net income attributable to Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.	3,772	(9,198)	1,253	(6,859)	(1,466)	(21,481)		(8,325)	(7,072)	(19,713)	(57,323)
Income per share of common stock basic and diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax		$ (0.29)	$ 0.04	$ (0.22)	$ (0.27)			$ (0.49)	$ (0.45)	$ (0.84)	$ (1.83)	$ (0.99)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.22			$ 0.22	$ 0.22	$ 0.21	$ (0.02)	$ (0.91)
Basic and diluted loss per common share		$ (0.29)	$ 0.04	$ (0.22)	$ (0.05)			$ (0.27)	$ (0.23)	$ (0.63)	$ (1.85)	$ (1.90)
Consolidated Statement of Equity
Net income/(loss) attributable to Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.	3,772	(9,198)	1,253	(6,859)	(1,466)	(21,481)		(8,325)	(7,072)	(19,713)	(57,323)
Net income/(loss)	3,758	(9,210)	1,271	(6,882)	(1,475)	(21,496)	(1,515)	(8,357)	(7,086)	(19,731)	(57,332)	(58,392)
Accumulated deficit	(1,490)	(290,512)	(268,673)	(269,925)	(263,067)		(1,490)	(269,925)	(268,673)	(281,314)	(261,601)	(204,278)
Accumulated deficit	(1,490)	(290,512)	(268,673)	(269,925)	(263,067)		(1,490)	(269,925)	(268,673)	(281,314)	(261,601)	(204,278)
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow
Net income/(loss)	3,758	(9,210)	1,271	(6,882)	(1,475)	(21,496)	(1,515)	(8,357)	(7,086)	(19,731)	(57,332)	(58,392)
Net income/(loss)	3,758	(9,210)	1,271	(6,882)	(1,475)	(21,496)	(1,515)	(8,357)	(7,086)	(19,731)	(57,332)	(58,392)
Deferred tax expense		53			49	73	163	106	159	208	(94)	47
As Previously Reported [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
Other current assets		8,459								7,167
Total current assets		72,403								58,025
Other assets		25,977	29,470	30,704	31,496			30,704	29,470	26,049	38,649
Total assets		(715,439)	729,783	744,470	761,625			744,470	729,783	711,322	771,238
Deferred Tax liability		0	0	0	0			0	0	0	0
Total liabilities		582,517	574,175	590,908	601,655			590,908	574,175	569,471	605,468
Accumulated deficit		(272,223)	(248,586)	(250,101)	(243,270)			(250,101)	(248,586)	(262,959)	(237,296)	(186,287)
Total Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. stockholders' equity		132,964	155,634	153,607	159,993			153,607	155,634	141,880	165,779
Total equity		132,922	155,608	153,562	159,970			153,562	155,608	141,851	165,770
Total liabilities and equity		715,439	729,783	744,470	761,625			744,470	729,783	711,322	771,238
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
Income tax expense		441	39	134	5,002			5,136	5,175	7,086	(5,403)	220
Equity in (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax		(92)	(184)	(332)	(151)			(483)	(667)	18	576	2,435
Net income from continuing operations		(9,241)	1,638	(6,745)	(12,904)			(19,649)	(18,011)	(32,324)	(50,563)	(30,518)
Discontinued operations, net of tax				107	(6,916)						455	27,958
Net income		(9,277)	1,533	(6,852)	(5,988)			(12,840)	(11,307)	(25,690)	(51,018)	(58,476)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax		(13)		(21)	(14)			(35)	(17)	(27)
Net income attributable to Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.		(9,264)	1,515	(6,831)	(5,974)			(12,805)	(11,290)	(25,663)	(51,009)
Income per share of common stock basic and diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax		$ (0.29)	$ 0.05	$ (0.22)	$ (0.41)			$ (0.63)	$ (0.58)	$ (1.03)	$ (1.63)	$ (0.99)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.22			$ 0.22	$ 0.22	$ 0.21	$ (0.02)	$ (0.91)
Basic and diluted loss per common share		$ (0.29)	$ 0.05	$ (0.22)	$ (0.19)			$ (0.41)	$ (0.36)	$ (0.82)	$ (1.65)	$ (1.90)
Consolidated Statement of Equity
Net income/(loss) attributable to Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.		(9,264)	1,515	(6,831)	(5,974)			(12,805)	(11,290)	(25,663)	(51,009)
Net income/(loss)		(9,277)	1,533	(6,852)	(5,988)			(12,840)	(11,307)	(25,690)	(51,018)	(58,476)
Accumulated deficit		(272,223)	(248,586)	(250,101)	(243,270)			(250,101)	(248,586)	(262,959)	(237,296)	(186,287)
Accumulated deficit		(272,223)	(248,586)	(250,101)	(243,270)			(250,101)	(248,586)	(262,959)	(237,296)	(186,287)
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow
Net income/(loss)		(9,277)	1,533	(6,852)	(5,988)			(12,840)	(11,307)	(25,690)	(51,018)	(58,476)
Net income/(loss)		(9,277)	1,533	(6,852)	(5,988)			(12,840)	(11,307)	(25,690)	(51,018)	(58,476)
Deferred tax expense		120			4,562			4,589	4,380	6,167	(6,408)	131
Adjustment [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
Other current assets		(955)								(955)
Total current assets		(955)								(955)
Other assets		(5,373)	(8,234)	(8,026)	(8,053)			(8,026)	(8,234)	(5,493)	(12,615)
Total assets		6,328	(8,234)	(8,026)	(8,053)			(8,026)	(8,234)	(6,448)	(12,615)
Deferred Tax liability		11,961	11,853	11,798	11,744			11,798	11,853	11,907	11,690
Total liabilities		11,961	11,853	11,798	11,744			11,798	11,853	11,907	11,690
Accumulated deficit		(18,289)	(20,087)	(19,824)	(19,797)			(19,824)	(20,087)	(18,355)	(24,305)	(17,991)
Total Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. stockholders' equity		(18,289)	(20,087)	(19,824)	(19,797)			(19,824)	(20,087)	(18,355)	(24,305)
Total equity		(18,289)	(20,087)	(19,824)	(19,797)			(19,824)	(20,087)	(18,355)	(24,305)
Total liabilities and equity		(6,328)	(8,234)	(8,026)	(8,053)			(8,026)	(8,234)	(6,448)	(12,615)
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
Income tax expense		(66)	179	214	(4,729)			(4,515)	(4,336)	(5,954)	6,188	(40)
Equity in (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax		(1)	83	(12)	44			32	115	(5)	72	(3)
Net income from continuing operations		67	(262)	(202)	4,685			4,483	4,221	5,959	(6,260)	43
Discontinued operations, net of tax				(172)	172						54	(41)
Net income		67	(262)	(30)	4,513			4,483	4,221	5,959	(6,314)	84
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax		1		(2)	5			3	3	9
Net income attributable to Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.		66	(262)	(28)	4,508			4,480	4,218	5,950	(6,314)
Income per share of common stock basic and diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax		$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00	$ 0.14			$ 0.14	$ 0.13	$ 0.19	$ (0.20)	$ 0.00
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00			$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Basic and diluted loss per common share		$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00	$ 0.14			$ 0.14	$ 0.13	$ 0.19	$ (0.20)	$ 0.00
Consolidated Statement of Equity
Net income/(loss) attributable to Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.		66	(262)	(28)	4,508			4,480	4,218	5,950	(6,314)
Net income/(loss)		67	(262)	(30)	4,513			4,483	4,221	5,959	(6,314)	84
Accumulated deficit		(18,289)	(20,087)	(19,824)	(19,797)			(19,824)	(20,087)	(18,355)	(24,305)	(17,991)
Accumulated deficit		(18,289)	(20,087)	(19,824)	(19,797)			(19,824)	(20,087)	(18,355)	(24,305)	(17,991)
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow
Net income/(loss)		67	(262)	(30)	4,513			4,483	4,221	5,959	(6,314)	84
Net income/(loss)		67	(262)	(30)	4,513			4,483	4,221	5,959	(6,314)	84
Deferred tax expense		$ (67)			$ (4,513)			$ (4,483)	$ (4,221)	$ (5,959)	$ 6,314	$ (84)