RESORT LODGE NOT FEASIBLE AT GRAND LAKE ST. MARYS, STUDY FINDS

RESORT LODGE NOT FEASIBLE AT GRAND LAKE ST. MARYS, STUDY FINDS
Two-year study identifies areas of opportunity to improve region’s ability to host a lodge

CELINA, OH - A market feasibility study recently released has recommended against building a resort lodge at Grand Lake St. Marys State Park in Mercer and Auglaize counties, according to Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

The study, coordinated by ODNR, concluded that there is not sufficient demand to support a 100-room resort lodge, therefore making it difficult to attract a private company to construct and operate the facility.

Consultants conducting the study identified several areas of opportunity that they felt could make the region more attractive for future development of a resort lodge. These areas included:

	A more suitable land site on the water capable of accommodating a modern resort-lodge and amenities such as indoor/outdoor pools, a restaurant, an exercise room, lake-beach access, and outdoor walking and entertainment space.
	More recreation amenities or anchor attractions that entice visitors to extend their stay, such as destination restaurants, theme parks, spas, and a championship quality golf course.
	More special events and attractions to increase overnight stays and off-season visitation, which currently are lacking.

The study also evaluated several factors affecting the feasibility of a lodge, including possible local partnerships, travel and tourism data, demographics, population projections, highway access, potential customers and residential and commercial growth.

“Grand Lake St. Marys and its state park have a huge recreational and economic impact on all of western Ohio and beyond,” said Dan West, chief of Ohio State Parks. “While the study shows that development of a lodge cannot be justified at this time, that conclusion does nothing to reduce the park’s importance or its future potential. We value our partnership with the Grand Lake St. Marys community and Wright State University’s Lake Campus in conducting this study and we look forward to continued partnerships in support of this great state park.”

The Lake Development Corporation, a group that promotes economic development in the Grand Lake St. Marys region, first suggested building a resort lodge at Grand Lake St. Marys in 1999. Wright State University, a major landholder in the area, joined the initiative as a potential partner in the development and operation of a lodge.

The feasibility study was funded by $150,000 in state appropriations and $30,000 from Wright State University, Lake Campus. For nearly two years, the state and local team members from the Grand Lake St. Marys community worked to create a study model that could be used to test the viability of a resort lodge at any state park, including Grand Lake St. Marys

While consultants from The Collaborative Inc. of Toledo guided the development of the study model, Leon Younger & Pros of Indianapolis, Indiana conducted the final phase of the study at Grand Lake St. Marys.

Complete text of the Grand Lake St. Marys market feasibility study is available online at www.wright.edu/lake

Ohio has nine state park resorts, including Maumee Bay, Punderson, Mohican, Salt Fork, Burr Oak, Shawnee, Hueston Woods, Deer Creek, and the newest addition, Geneva, which opened last May.

Grand Lake St. Marys was built in 1837 as a reservoir to maintain water depth in the Miami & Erie Canal. The 13,500-acre lake became part of the state park system in 1949. Today, nearly 700,000 outdoor enthusiasts visit Grand Lake St. Marys State Park each year.