WEBSTER, Texas — Sixteen people were hospitalized Wednesday after a worker “improperly mixed” chemicals at the Great Wolf Lodge in Webster, Texas.

What You Need To Know

  • Sixteen people were hospitalized after a worker improperly mixed chemicals at the Great Wolf Lodge near Houston.

  • The chemicals were sodium hypochlorite and sulfuric acid, which could produce toxic gases when mixed

  • Officials say the incident occurred in a building separate from the resort’s main facilities

  • The incident happened on the indoor water park chain’s opening day

According to a statement posted on the City of Webster’s Facebook page, a third-party contractor improperly mixed pool chemicals on the morning of Aug. 7.

The Houston Chronicle reported the chemicals were sodium hypochlorite and sulfuric acid, which could produce toxic gases when mixed, according to the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.

Five people evacuated the building and 16 employees and contractors working in the area were sent to HCA Clear Lake Hospital and UTMB Hospital.

The resort, which houses an indoor water park, is located approximately 30 miles southeast of Houston.

Officials say the incident occurred in a building separate from the resort’s main facilities. The Webster Fire Department “isolated the tanks, monitored the area,” and confirmed that no chemicals were found in the hotel or water park.

“The situation was quickly contained and will not affect the Lodge's operations today. An environmental company is working with Great Wolf Lodge and the contractor to clean the tanks safely,” the statement from the city reads. 

The incident happened on the indoor water park chain’s opening day. Great Wolf Lodge operates 22 locations in the U.S. and is based in Chicago, Ill.