A $51.5 million lodge and water park, about 20 miles east of Lawrence, is expected to make a big splash before summer.

Officials with the Great Wolf Lodge, located adjacent to the Kansas Speedway in western Wyandotte County, confirmed at an open house Tuesday that the resort-like development planned to open May 25.

Eric Lund, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Wisconsin-based company, said company officials intended to begin hiring employees in mid-April. He said the project would have about 325 employees — which includes positions from waiters to managers. He said about 300 of the positions will be filled by workers from the area.

Lund declined to give specific wages, but he said they “would be above the market average” and would be full-time, year-around positions that include health, dental and 401(k) plans.

“We think we’ll provide some great job opportunities for the area,” Lund said. “We’re expecting 1,500 to 2,000 people to apply.”

At the open house, company officials also revealed other details about the project:

l The development will have 281 suites, sized to sleep six to eight people each.

Area leaders receive a peek at the development of the water park at the Great Wolf Lodge, located near the Kansas Speedway in Wyandotte County. Company officials announced Tuesday that they expected the lodge to open May 25.

Room rates, Lund said, would range from about $100 a night during off-peak times to $400 a night during the lodge’s busy season, which typically is the summer.

l The lodge will feature a 38,000-square-foot indoor water park that will include a $1 million, four-story tall waterfall, tree house and water slide apparatus.

l Other amenities at the development will include a 220-seat family restaurant with a forest theme, a 7,000-square-foot arcade, a spa and fitness center, and a 3-D theater.

Most of the lodge’s amenities will be open to the general public, but the water park primarily will be limited to customers who have rented a room at the resort. Company officials said they offer some special packages that would allow area residents, who don’t rent a room, to use the water park for a birthday party or other special events.

The Kansas City, Kan., lodge will be the fourth lodge for the development company. The others are located in Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Sandusky, Ohio; and Traverse City, Mich.