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Expansions and renovations at Virginia resorts
Virginia Business
April
2005
Boar’s Head Inn golf course
gets a makeover
The Boar’s Head Inn in Charlottesville recently
completed a renovation of its Birdwood Golf Course.
The $1.1 million project included revamping of bunkers,
approach areas around greens, drainage systems and irrigation
systems.
The improvements began last year with
the renovation of the Birdwood Grill as well as the
men’s and women’s locker facilities. The
changes were made, say Boar’s Head Inn officials,
so the course would continue to challenge golfers. Birdwood
is consistently rated among the top courses in Virginia
and called one of the top “must play” courses
in the mid-Atlantic by Washington Golf Styles.
The Homestead upgrades Internet systems,
builds shooting clubhouse
The Homestead in Hot Springs has installed a new wireless
and wired high-speed Internet access system throughout
the resort. The upgrade replaced an Internet access
system in place since 1999. Resort officials say the
change allows the resort to better serve mobile computer
users who demand more than a simple in-room Internet
connection.
The new service includes Wi-Fi wireless Internet access
in hotel common areas. In addition, The Home-stead continues
to offer T-1 speed wired service throughout its 72,000
square feet of meeting space as well as the new wired
Internet access in its 500 guest rooms.
Shooting enthusiasts should welcome another project:
the opening of a 4,200-square-foot lodge and outdoor
pavilion for shooting sports. The resort has been the
home of the Homestead Shooting Club since 1933. Shooting
sports include skeet, sport clays, five-stand and wobble
trap.
Lodge is part of renovation at Colonial
Williamsburg
The Williamsburg Lodge and Conference Center in Colonial
Wil-liamsburg is undergoing an extensive renovation.
When complete, the facility will offer 323 guest rooms
(an increase of 136 rooms), a more spacious conference
center with 45,000 square feet of meeting and banquet
space, a 12,000-square-foot grand ballroom, 7,000-square-foot
junior ballroom, 31 meeting rooms and four outdoor function
areas; along with a new restaurant featuring regional
cuisine.
The first phase of the Lodge renovation began in March
2004. The entire project should be complete by the fall
of 2006. The renovation caps more than $100 million
in improvements at Colonial Williamsburg hotels and
resort properties since 2000. In addition to the Lodge
project, a new luxury spa will be situated between the
Williamsburg Inn and the Williamsburg Lodge and Conference
Center. The spa will offer a full range of personal
care services.
Benchmark Hotel Group to build Virginia
Beach hotel
Benchmark Hotel Group plans to build an 83-room Candlewood
Suites hotel in Virginia Beach’s Town Center.
The hotel will open in December. Candlewood Suites caters
to extended-stay guests looking to stay seven or more
nights. The hotel’s suites feature full kitchens
complete with microwaves and full-sized refrigerators,
large televisions with DVD and CD players, free Internet
access and oversized executive desks with two phone
lines.
Lansdowne Resort expands recreational
offerings
Lansdowne Resort plans to open two golf courses, a clubhouse
and pool complex this summer. The new courses are 18-hole
and 9-hole layouts designed by pro golfer Greg Norman.
The new clubhouse will house a ballroom, restaurant,
bar, locker rooms and a golf shop. The pool complex
will feature two swimming pools, a waterslide and 8,000
square feet of event space. The Spa at Lansdowne is
expected to open early next year.
Massanutten Resort building a large
water park
Great Eastern Resort Corp. is building a water park
at Massanutten Resort. Construction began last April
and is expected to be complete by this summer. The water
park will feature a 42,000-square-foot indoor section
and an 88,000-square-foot outdoor area with a 45-foot,
four-lane racing slide and wave pool. An indoor/outdoor
spa is also planned.
Suffolk hotel and conference center
is nearing completion
The Hilton Garden Inn and Suffolk Conference Center
in Suffolk plans a grand opening later this month. The
$30 million project on the Nansemond River is being
financed by the city and Stormont Noble Development
of Atlanta. The hotel will have 150 guest rooms. Its
Nansemond Ball Room can seat 768 for receptions and
600 for banquets. The complex also includes the Constant’s
Wharf Grill that seats 86 indoors and another 50 to
75 on a patio overlooking the river.
Wintergreen Resort expands its spa
Construction has begun on a $3.5 million addition to
Wintergreen’s spa that will include 16 new treatment
rooms. Once the new wing opens, spa customers will have
a separate entrance, locker rooms and lounge area. The
spa will provide space for more manicure and pedicure
stations as well as a hair care salon. Work is scheduled
for completion this summer.
Windmill Point undergoing a $100
million facelift
Windmill Point at the tip of Virginia’s Northern
Neck is undergoing a $100 million renovation, which
will include a rebuilt and upgraded marina, renovated
waterfront inn, two new restaurants, conference center
and waterfront condominium homes. Phase one of the renovation
is scheduled to be complete in April.
Under the project, The Yacht Harbor Marina will have
160 slips accommodating boats up to 100 feet. The Inn
at Windmill Point will have 52 rooms, 28 with bay-front
views. The second-story Aqua Restaurant will seat 100,
while the Harborside Grille will be an outdoor eatery
overlooking the marina and pool. The Landing will be
a residential community of 17 condos adjacent to the
resort.
Theme parks add rides
Two Virginia theme parks, Paramount’s Kings Dominion
and Busch Gardens Williamsburg, will introduce new rides
this spring. Kings Dominion will add Tomb Raider: a
multisensory attraction based on adventures depicted
in the Lara Croft video games and films. Busch Gardens
will offer Curse of DarKastle, which depicts a Bavarian
castle frozen in time.
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