By Tyler H. Jones tjones@civitasmedia.com LaGRANGE — The long-awaited plan to bring an indoor water park and conference center to LaGrange has been finalized and is expected to open in 2018, LaGrange Mayor Jim Thornton said Tuesday. Great Wolf Lodge will include a 93,000 square foot water park, conference center and 456 hotel rooms, according to the resort’s website. “I am extremely pleased that Great Wolf Lodge will open a water park resort in LaGrange,” Thornton said in a statement. “Great Wolf’s investment in our city is very significant. This resort will create hundreds of jobs and attract nearly half a million visitors a year to LaGrange.” The project, slated to be near Interstate 85’s Whitesville Road exit, is expected to be a $170 million investment and attract 500,000 people every year, according to city officials. The resort is slated to include a bowling alley, arcade, ropes course and climbing wall, in addition to the water park. “With thrilling water slides, a giant tipping bucket, wave pool, lazy river and zero-depth entry water play areas for pre-swimmers, every member of your family will have an amazing time,” the company said in a statement. The adjoining conference center will be financed and owned by the city of LaGrange using a $17 million bond. The bond will be repaid through hotel-motel taxes generated at Great Wolf. Under an agreement, the city is slated to lease the conference center to Great Wolf to operate. A shopping center is also slated to be built across Whitesville Road from the Great Wolf Lodge. Read LaGrange Daily News online and in print Wednesday for more details on this project.