Giant gingerbread house at Snowland

Snowland is a winter wonderland that is open to the public.

This gingerbread house at Great Wolf Lodge in Mason is one of the marquee features at the hotel's Snowland, a giant Christmas 2011 display in the lobby. The gingerbread house took 1,900 pounds of dough, 900 pounds of icing, 150 pounds of chocolate, more than 300 cookies, 500 gum drops, 200 Rice Krispy treats and an untold number of M&Ms.

Submitted This gingerbread house at Great Wolf Lodge in Mason is one of the marquee features at the hotel's Snowland, a giant Christmas 2011 display in the lobby. The gingerbread house took 1,900 pounds of dough, 900 pounds of icing, 150 pounds of chocolate, more than 300 cookies, 500 gum drops, 200 Rice Krispy treats and an untold number of M&Ms.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge in Mason has become a family tradition in its fourth year, hotel officials have said. Snowland features a couple scores of trees, Santa's throne carved out of an iceberg and carolers who sing three times a day. Snowland, which is open to the public, is open until Christmas.

Submitted Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge in Mason has become a family tradition in its fourth year, hotel officials have said. Snowland features a couple scores of trees, Santa's throne carved out of an iceberg and carolers who sing three times a day. Snowland, which is open to the public, is open until Christmas.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Michael D. Pitman, Staff Writer Updated 3:23 PM Thursday, December 8, 2011

MASON — Great Wolf Lodge is showcasing this holiday season a feat of modern baking.

And while you can eat inside the gigantic gingerbread house — which seats up to eight — don’t eat the house, said Doug McGregor, Great Wolf Lodge director of food and beverage.

The house, which has hundreds of pounds of gingerbread dough and icing, took a month and more than 1,000 hours to build.

Preparations for the house started in October, though edible at the time it was built, it isn’t for human consumption now.

The gingerbread house is a marquee attraction at Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge, which celebrates its fifth year in business on Great Wolf Drive, north of Kings Island, this holiday season.

This is the fourth year for Snowland and features a lobby that has been transformed into a winter wonderland, said McGregor.

It includes Santa’s throne carved out of an iceberg, about two scores of Christmas trees, and carolers who sing three times a day ending with “Let It Snow” as it snows actually snows during the song.

Each Great Wolf property — 11 in all — has a similar gingerbread house, though with slightly different ingredients, according to Camillia Ferrario, a company spokeswoman.

While the hotel’s indoor waterpark is only for guests, McGregor said Snowland is open to the public — and families often make a day of visiting.

“We do get a fair amount of local traffic this time of year, making it a tradition,” he said. “That’s the beautiful thing about this whole project ... families are coming together.”

Anyone who wants to eat inside the non-edible gingerbread house can do so for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The hotel takes up to three reservations per meal now through Christmas.

McGregor said there are plenty of opportunities for reservations, which has a $20 seating fee that benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The lobby is open 24 hours, but shows are at set times.

For reservations or additional information, call (513) 459-8885.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or michael.pitman@coxinc.com. Follow at twitter.com/mdpitman.

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