An indoor water park and hotel is the centerpiece of an $81 million development proposal for a site near Ellicottville in Cattaraugus County.
Amherst-based Ross Wilson & Associates Inc., through its Great Valley Resort Development LLC affiliate, is proposing the project for Great Valley, south of Ellicott-ville. In addition to the waterpark and a 300-room hotel, the proposal includes a network of equestrian and exercise trails.
Once municipal approvals are secured and financing details are in place, the project could begin construction by early 2009 and be ready to welcome guests the following year.
"This is something we have needed for a long time," said Brian McFadden, Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce executive director. "Conceptually, we love the project. It is a great plan and we have every reason to believe they'd be great neighbors."
Great Valley Resort Development and Ross Wilson officials are presenting preliminary plans for their project to a number of Cattaraugus County agencies, including the industrial development agency and Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce. The county IDA is expected to hold a public hearing on an incentive package for the project by early November. Developers are seeking an IDA inducement package that could save up to 20 percent of the project cost through sales tax exemptions. The project will be privately financed.
It is being shepherded by Kevin Greiner, a former top economic development aide to then-Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello and later an executive with Ciminelli Development Co. Greiner is the son of former University at Buffalo President William Greiner. The proposed site is a 122-acre parcel on Route 219 south of the Holiday Valley Ski Resort,
Plans show the project anchored by the hotel connected to the waterpark. Other components of the proposal are a conference center with 1,500-person seating capacity that can double as an entertainment venue; a series of restaurants; sculpture park; horseback riding trails; and, in a future phase, an outdoor amphitheater.
"There's still a lot of entitlements and steps they have to take," said Corey Wiktor, IDA associate director. "This sort of project will certainly add to our overall tourism base and will definitely help in some of the shoulder seasons. We remain cautiously optimistic, with an emphasis on cautiously."
Ross Wilson & Associates is no stranger to the Southern Tier. The company is building the upscale, 54-unit Morningside Estates townhouse project in the heart of Ellicottville.
The project continues a trend of new hospitality and entertainment-themed developments in Cattaraugus County -- particularly along the axis between Ellicottville and Salamanca. They include the opening of the Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel in Salamanca and plans by local developers to construct a Microtel hotel in that area. Meanwhile, both Holiday Valley Ski Resort and the neighboring HoliMont Ski Resort are making a series of off-season improvements to their operations.
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