Miscellaneous resort projects
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After having just finished a decade of unparalleled growth, The Dollywood Company is embarking on an ambitious investment strategy that will see the Smoky Mountain vacation destination invest more than half-a-billion dollars over the next 10 years across its properties. Announced today, one of the first projects in the campaign is the 302-room Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort.

The new HeartSong Lodge, located adjacent to the much-heralded Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, serves as the next element in the company’s thriving lodging business.

This reimagined Smoky Mountain lodge features four-story, lantern-inspired windows in the resort’s welcoming atrium, epic indoor and outdoor pools that provide guests a refreshing escape in all seasons, and a picture-perfect outdoor cove with family gathering spaces, communal fire pit and screened-in porch. With 26,000 sq. ft. of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space, the property can accommodate gatherings for several hundred guests. From the two-story HeartSong Event Center to spacious outdoor meeting spaces and event lawn, the resort offers numerous options to provide a unique and inspiring setting for groups.

Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort is set to open to guests in 2023.

Source: https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2021/06/03/dollywood-announces-dollywoods-heartsong-lodge-and-resort/

Aerial view of West side of Swan Reserve. Pool seems almost complete. Much activity nearby.

Source: https://twitter.com/bioreconstruct/status/1398431616574316547 & https://twitter.com/bioreconstruct/status/1398428101424582658

Officials at the OWA entertainment complex, Gravity Island, in Foley, Alabama, USA are excited with the progress being made on its new indoor waterpark attraction and other amenities that will be a part of it.

“In addition to the indoor waterpark, we’ll have the outdoor wave pool that will have the surf simulator within it, there will be an outdoor tiki bar and a large stage where we can hold concerts and dive-in movies as well as a lot of other interactive entertainment,” Director of Marketing and PR at OWA Kristin Hellmich said. “Within the indoor waterpark we’ll have multiple slides that will come off the slide tower. One of those slides is actually going to drop down through our basement and we’ll be sharing more on that very soon. We’ll have a kiddie play area, food and beverage location, tiki bars and really the full experience.”

“Our goal is the spring of 2022,” Hellmich said. “We have not released an exact date yet but as we continue with construction progress, we are well on our way. But as we continue with that, we are certainly going to start releasing those dates and dialing it in. But we do expect to be open by this time next year.”

Source: https://www.obawebsite.com/owa-making-strides-on-waterpark-gravity-island-new-attraction-this-summer

Cabana Resort is all about living the good life now. News about the planning, range and variety of attractions devoted to Cabana’s entertainment possibilities has become like sweet music to the ears of fun and excitement starved locals, visitors and seasonal residents alike. Its developers want to springboard from the Platinum Coast’s world class sun and sand reputation, to introduce round-the-clock and seasons, 21st Century resort and entertainment experiences that the whole family - and community - can enjoy.

The wide entrance to the 25-acre development is at its east end, defined by vibrant views of its 7-acre Waterpark enclosed within a meandering Lazy River that features multiple water play, lounge, relaxation and shaded areas. A ‘surfable’ triple Flow Rider, waterslide, splash pad and separate children’s pool and play area are planned for the Waterpark. A koi pond will define the Waterpark and Grand Food Hall’s east entrance and a neighborhood park and butterfly garden at the Vanderbilt Drive end of the property will be open to the public.

Ground breaking is projected to begin next month, with a 14-month build out of its 7-story, 110-unit condominium structure. During that time, the existing Bonita Village buildings and common elements will be resurfaced to blend into Cabana’s contemporary style and presented as part of the Cabana Resort package.

Spanning the width of Cabana’s broad Bonita Beach Road frontage from Meadowlark Lane to Vanderbilt Drive, the Grand Food Hall’s soaring see-through structures will introduce the new face of Southwest Florida’s only condominium and entertainment megaplex.

Source: https://eu.naplesnews.com/story/money/real-estate/2021/05/22/cabana-resort-tops-60-pre-construction-sales/5144799001/

The first Great Wolf Lodge in the UK is getting closer to being realised.

The planning inspector has approved an appeal made by American company Great Wolf Resorts (GWR) to build Great Wolf Lodge in Chesterton, near Bicester.

A spokesperson for GWR said: “Today we learned that our goal of developing our first Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park resort in the UK was approved.

"We are looking forward to becoming part of the local community and are committed to working with the local residents and businesses to help ensure this resort brings economic, recreational and community benefits to Chesterton and the wider Bicester area.

"The development of this resort represents a £200 million investment into the local community – creating 1,000 jobs during construction and approximately 600 jobs to operate the resort.”

Source: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19295075.oxfordshire-water-park-resort-great-wolf-lodge-given-green-light-inspector

Another new opening date for Manteca's Great Wolf Lodge

After almost a year of delays due to the pandemic, Manteca’s new water park resort Great Wolf Lodge has announced its opening date.

The massive water park, hotel and family entertainment center off Highway 120 in Manteca will open June 29. Construction on the complex was completed last summer, but Great Wolf Resorts, the parent company of the national chain of indoor water resorts, had not set an opening date because of uncertainties with COVID-19 outbreak and accompanying safety restrictions in the state.

Source: https://www.modbee.com/news/business/article251238574.html

Omni Hotels & Resorts is beginning work on its Omni PGA Frisco Resort. The 501-room hotel, conference center and resort is being built as part of the half-billion-dollar PGA of America mixed-use development under construction south of U.S. Highway 380.

Construction is already underway on two golf courses that will anchor the sprawling project. And work recently started on the PGA headquarters building.

Now Dallas-based Omni Hotels is starting what will be its most elaborate destination property in North Texas. “This is our first resort we are building from scratch,” said Omni president Peter Strebel. “The whole resort is going to be themed around Texas and golf.

“This is a major destination resort,” Strebel said. “People are going to want to come here from around the world.”

“We are going to have several swimming pools,” Strebel said. “There is a rooftop adults-only pool that is going to have an infinity edge on the sixth floor overlooking the golf courses.

“There is a pool for spa guests and a tiered family pool overlooking the golf courses.” Golfers will have use of a 10-hole “executive golf course” and a 2-acre putting green. “There is going to be a lounge by Top Golf,” Strebel said. “We are going to have five different culinary outlets ranging from a casual coffee shop up to a destination dining experience.”

The Frisco resort will also include seven 2,200-square-foot, four-bedroom “golf villas.” “Those are going to overlook the golf course,” Strebel said. “They are really like beautiful homes. “They are going to be great VIP housing.”

Source: https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2021/04/29/omni-pga-frisco-resort-tees-up-for-construction-start/

Today, Jeff Vahle, President of Walt Disney World Resort, took to social media to share a lovely view of the new Moana-inspired rooms. Cast Members can be seen walking around the Resort receiving a behind-the-scenes look, or as Disney calls it, an “open mouse”, to new and upcoming Polynesian renovations.

Source: https://insidethemagic.net/2021/04/polynesian-resort-jp1/

The shuttered Harrah’s Tunica Resort is slated to undergo a $140 million transformation into a massive complex housing hotels, a 200-space RV park, a golf course, a youth sports complex and more.

Co-developers Tunica Hospitality & Entertainment, LLC and Milwaukee-based Summit Smith Development unveiled the plans Wednesday morning. The new resort in Tunica County could employ up to 650 people when completed.

The project will include the construction of a 20-acre water park and the youth sports complex. Two hotels on the property will be renovated and will have more than 1,100 rooms between them. An 18,000-square-foot spa and salon, a 50,000-square-foot convention center and "family fun center" with an arcade will also be added to the sprawling property.

"Water park plans were recently finalized to include a Lazy River; a DownUnder drop capsule slides; a concessions area; two swim-up bars with tables and benches; restrooms and locker rooms; raft bowl slide; shallow sunning area with spray features; kids slides; floatable walk area; water volleyball area; water basketball area; flow rider area with bleachers; and more features and attractions added at later date," according to a press release from the developers.

Source: https://eu.commercialappeal.com/story/money/business/development/2021/03/31/tunica-development-harrahs-resort-water-park/4823175001/

Construction progress update from the new Ritz-Carlton in Turks & Caicos