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The new owners of Elk Ridge Resort say they are ready to crack open the doors next month after the COVID-19 lockdown in the spring put the hotel and golf course temporarily out of business.
Saskatchewan group, Routes2SK took ownership of the northern Saskatchewan landmark near Waskesiu in October after rescuing the business from receivership.
“We just can’t wait to get the place back open. I really believe people are going to look for some outdoor activity and reconnect with family up there,” managing partner Ryan Danberg told 650 CKOM’s Brent Loucks on Wednesday.
“That was the goal of our group is to work as hard as we can to have something going for not only the holiday season but to enjoy the winter.”
The resort will begin taking bookings on November 24th. Accommodations in the cabins and townhouses will be available starting December 4th with the renovated Walleyes restaurant opening a week later.
Danberg said visitors will be able to enjoy a full slate of outdoor activities including cross country skiing, crokicurl, the toboggan hill, skating, hiking, and snowshoeing.
“Our grounds crew guys are working very hard right now to get everything ready. As early as this weekend we’ll have some ski trails open as well as some outdoor activity ready.”
They were also given the approval from health officials to reopen the indoor pool with COVID-19 rules in place.
The financial challenges and struggles the hotel and golf course have faced in recent years are not lost on the new owners and Danberg said they have a strong plan in place to make it work.
“I believe we do. The strength of our group is really eight individuals. I can’t say enough about Arnie Peterson and what his family did to build the place. Arnie took it on by himself and (our) group of eight are going to come in and leverage our connections across Western Canada to the greatest ability that we can and really try to reignite the place.”
Elk Ridge is located approximately 200 kilometres north of Saskatoon.
