Resort to Get Massive Makeover

by John F. Bonfatti
News Staff Reporter

The new owner of Peek 'n Peak golf and ski resort in Chautauqua County plans to spend $280 million over the next 10 years on an expansion that will add at least 1,000 employees, a resort official said Monday.
Ohio real estate developer Paul Kiebler IV, whose company bought the resort in February, "fell in love with the area" around Findley Lake and is eager to develop the resort, according to Chip Day, Peek 'n Peak vice president for brand management.

"This is a labor of love for him," said Day, who first outlined Kiebler's plans at a county planning and economic development meeting last week.

Kiebler's plans, some of which require regulatory approval, include a resort village at the foot of the ski slopes, an indoor water park, new golf clubhouses and a new conference center.

"He has developments all over the country, and this is his first time at a four-season resort," Day said of Kiebler. "He really thinks the people in Cleveland and northeast Ohio need a place to go, and this is it."

Peek 'n Peak opened as a ski resort in 1964 and has grown since, opening two golf courses, one of which hosts a stop on the PGA nationwide tour for developing professionals.

Since purchasing the resort from Eugene and Norbert Cross, Kiebler already has invested $8 million in renovations, Day said.

The money has been spent on rebuilding infrastructure and technology, 150 new electric golf carts, complete renovations of 60 of the resort's 150 rooms and the blazing of 11 new downhill ski trails.

Four new lifts are planned, but Day said they await government approval.

"This winter, a $2 million state-of-the-art snowmaking system will be added," Day said. Two new terrain parks will be built, and a significant amount of money was spent on a machine that will cut a halfpipe for snowboarders.

The slope-side village will contain eight to 10 shops, Day said, including boutiques and restaurants. There are plans to build a full-service day spa.

A new clubhouse for the upper course, which hosts the PGA stop, is one of the first additions planned.

"As we continue to grow, we want to add a new clubhouse on the lower course," Day said. "As we grow and have more customers, there will be more demand for real estate, so we'll be continuously adding condominiums."

Right now, Peek 'n Peak has about 400 to 500 employees year-round, Day said. That work force roughly doubles in the winter. When the expansion is done, Peek 'n Peak expects to add another 1,000 full-time employees, he said.

The resort's advertising budget also has been increased, Day said.

Kiebler owns Kiebler Properties, a real estate development and management company in Chardon, Ohio, about 25 miles northeast of Cleveland.

The company has developed more than 2,000 apartments, condominiums and townhouses in Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and South Carolina.

On its Web site, the company said says it has completed more than $250 million of worth of development over the past 10 years and has in excess of $350 million of in development in various stages of completion.

e-mail: jbonfatti@buffnews.com