From the ground up

By Dan Ehl - Managing editor

December 06, 2007 10:25 am

— “This is still a state park,” says Terry Montgomery of the Honey Creek Resort State Park, “not a gated resort. That’s the big message.”
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) project administrator for the resort stressed that though the 105-room lodge would be catering to visitors from throughout the Midwest, the numerous activities and park facilities will be tailored to draw from surrounding communities as well.
Montgomery added that the park will also look to be partnering with area businesses and groups to offer programs and services not provided by the state.
Construction on the resort continues, with framing now beginning on the bottom floor of resort rooms that face Rathbun Lake.
Ryan Ferris, Hansen Construction project manager, says subcontractor crews are working two shifts, six days a week. Five to seven subcontractors with more than 50 employees are at the site at any one time.
Michelle Wilson, an IDNR executive officer from the central office in Des Moines, works with state park interpreters from all over the state. She says that they plan to have numerous programs geared for both lodge guests and area residents .
Aimed at families, they hope to create events at the park that will act as “gateway” experiences for youth that will draw them further into outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, birding and shooting sports.
An initial shooting sport, says Montgomery, will be archery, with that expanding in time.
Planned is a roofed, fenced structure on the dock where families can fish. In the center will be a circular opening to the lake surrounded by chairs. He said that with the shade provided by the dock, as well as the creation of an underwater environment, fish will be drawn to the site. Fishing can also be done from the sides of the “fishing house.”
Fishing lessons will also be given to first-timers.
On the paths will be raised platforms to better view migrating birds on the lake and other wildlife. Blinds will also dot the trails that will allow visitors to have close encounters with animals such as deer.
Wilson says that they also hope to partner with surrounding county conservation departments so that their personnel can hold programs at the park.
Other area outdoor enthusiasts such as birders will be asked to give programs.
Interpretive signs with both graphics and texts will allow hikers to learn about the outdoors even without guides.
Some people, especially those from urban areas, says Wilson, are hesitant at trying such things as fishing. The park’s goal is that after having such experiences at the park, guests will go home wanting to do such activities on their own. After viewing all the birds a the park she gives as another example, the visitors will want to put up bird feeders in their own back yard or hike in their own nearby parks.
Many urban residents have never really clearly seen the stars or sat around a camp fire at night roasting marshmallows and telling ghost stories. Near the lodge will be a large fire pit where visitors can have such experiences, says Montgomery.
Wilson noted that some parks have natural Fourth of July fireworks where visitors unused to the outdoors can watch fire flies. Activities such as these, admitted Wilson, might seem “kind of weird” to rural residents.
The park will also offer a a bird cleaning facility in the lodge’s maintenance building for turkey hunters.
Both Montgomery and Wilson stressed that the park will offer economic development opportunities for area residents.
The park can’t provide all the services that will be wanted by visitors and that is where the state wants to partner with local enterprenuers. Case in point will be the need for locker space for deer hunters, said Montgomery.
Arnie Sohn, who for a number of years has been the Iowa Department of Natural Resources project manager for the resort, says that extends to an equestrian provider. A stable was first planned for the park, but it was dropped when it was decided there wasn’t enough room on the 800-acre site.
Sohn said they are hoping the private sector will provide a nearby stable that would offer trail rides and riding instructions. That also goes for boats that could offer fishing trips around the lake.
Designed as a “destination park,” the goal is to attract families for more than just a weekend visit - with some staying at the lodge, cabins and RV parks for up to a week. With the right kind of marketing, says Wilson, area communities will be able to draw these visitors for “day trips” - shopping and other events and attractions. They hope more local activities such as “Summer Splash” and Centerville’s wine fest will occur to draw park visitors. This could include such things as music and folk art festivals.
The docks at the resort will offer 50 boats slips that can handle watercraft from 14 to 54 feet in length.
Montgomery says he envisions visitors from all over the lake docking during the day to eat at the lodge’s restaurant. He added the water park and golf course will also be open to area residents, not just lodge guests.
The opening of the park is scheduled for the summer of 2008 - with it more likely to be closer to Labor Day. Montgomery he’s been asked if the golf course will be opened to the public earlier - which it won’t. The grand opening will occur when all the first phase of the park is completed - that includes the trails, docks, lodge.
Because of funding limitations, the cabins aren’t expected to be completed until 2009.
Montgomery said the management firm for the lodge will probably begin looking for employees in March and will utilize the Iowa Work Force Development offices. He said the resort is expected to require up to 125 employees, with that dropping to 100 during the off season.
Montgomery concluded his update on the resort by noting the construction site has been experiencing a number of sightseers - which creates potential safety problems. He said that they would be holding Sunday open houses for the public when work wasn’t under way and asked that local residents wait until then to visit the site.

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