Water Park In The Works

City of Salamanca Designates Developer for Water Park Resort SALAMANCA - The City of Salamanca Common Council approved a "Land Disposition and Development Agreement" last week with Ross Wilson & Associates. The City has agreed to sell approximately 54 acres of property along State Park Avenue to Ross Wilson, who will be developing a 300 room Water Park Hotel and Resort. The City purchased over 200 acres of property adjacent to Interstate 86, bordering the Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel in 2006 with the intent to encourage private development and a mix of entertainment and retail uses. The property has been marketed to a variety of private developers. Ross Wilson & Associates, a Development and Construction Management Company headquartered in Buffalo, New York, has been pursuing development of a water park hotel complex in the area, and will purchase a 54 acre portion of the property to develop a resort complex which is planned to include a 300 room hotel, an indoor and outdoor water park, a themed restaurant, a performing arts and conference center, on-site year-round recreational facilities, including nature trails, horseback riding trails, a sculpture park and landscape garden, and a possible public performance venue. For the City, the project secures an anchor development for the State Park Avenue Area Economic Development Project, and the promise of long term job creation and tax benefits. According to Mayor Jeffery Pond, "This is a win-win situation for the City and surrounding area. A project of this magnitude will certainly stimulate the local economy and nicely compliments existing tourism destinations such as the Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel, Allegany State Park and Ellicottville." Kevin Greiner, a principal with the Ross Wilson partnership formed to develop the project, echoed the Mayor's sentiments. "We've been working for nearly two years to secure the right site for the water park, and the Salamanca location turns out to be perfect for the project. The City worked hard to complete a very fair agreement which protects their interests as well as our own. We believe in Salamanca as the next great upstate tourism and recreation destination. Our research indicates the project should be a great success, fits perfectly with the City's long term plans, and will help put Salamanca squarely on the tourist destination map." Ross Wilson has been active in New York State real estate development and construction since 1994. The company has completed a wide portfolio of construction and development projects across New York State. Its most recent project is Morningside Estates - a 54 unit Town home development in Ellicottville. For more information, please contact David Paoletta, City of Salamanca Director of Planning at 716-945-1881 or Kevin Greiner of Ross Wilson & Associates, Inc. at 716-698-0211. For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: http://www.chautauqualakehomes.com/