Peek’n Peak Planning $280 Million Expansion

By DENNIS PHILLIPS

Growing By Shops And Slopes A snapshot of the resort village Peek’n Peak has planned to build that will include shops and restaurants. Photo courtesy of Peek’n Peak Resort and Conference Center

8/17/2006 - FINDLEY LAKE — The Peek’n Peak Resort and Conference Center has seen $8 million in renovations since new ownership took over in February.

$8 million is a lot of money.

However, according to Chip Day, Peek’n Peak vice president of brand management, $8 million is a small fraction compared to what new owner Paul Kebbler is planning to spend on his new acquisition.

Day said during a county Planning and Economic Development meeting Wednesday that Kebbler, a real estate developer from Cleveland, is planning a $280 million expansion of Peek’n Peak during the next decade.

‘‘We mean business. We want this area to grow,’’ Day said.

Day said some of the money that has already been spent includes placing GPS systems in golf carts so golfers know how far they are from the hole to help club selection.

Future expansion includes a resort village filled with shops and restaurants, a $2 million state-of-the-art snow making system to go with 11 new ski slopes, new luxury club houses at both golf courses, an indoor water park, remodeling of resort rooms and conference centers, and new condos.

Day said other advancements include a new Web site and an increase in the resort’s advertising budget by $250,000 to do more promotional work in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Day said the resort will also add 1,000 employees in the years ahead.

Day said Peek’n Peak is also planning to work with other businesses and organizations to attract more tourists to the county.

‘‘Through corporation, working together, there will be benefits for us all,’’ he said.

Another main source of business for Peek’n Peak and the county is the Nationwide Tour golf tournament held the past three years. Linda Warnshuis, Peek’n Peak Classic tournament director, talked about how far the tournament has come the past few years in attracting local sponsorship for the event.

‘‘I don’t think people realize how much the tournament can help everyone,’’ she said after given an example of calling a potential local sponsor who didn’t even know the tournament existed.

Ms. Warnshuis said the tournament was started to give exposure, naturally, to Peek’n Peak, but also to the region when televised nationally on the Golf Channel. The tournament director said the resort is currently working to finalize a contract extension with the PGA for the tournament to continue through 2011

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