Clear Fork Resort, located in Butler, will continue to maintain operations despite a foreclosure filing in Richland Common Pleas Court, said Kelly Donaldson, CFR General Operations Manager.
The suit was filed June 9 by Cache Private Capital Diversified Fund LLC, naming Slater Run Land Development LLC, Resorts Incorporated, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, and Richland County Treasurer as defendants, according to the Richland Common Pleas Court website. An initial foreclosure scheduling conference is scheduled for Sept. 22. Cache’s claim in the suit was that over $2.45 million was due in full on Jan. 25, 2014.
Cache, the creditor, also filed a separate lawsuit May 23 against the seven individual owners of the resort property, claiming they had signed a guarantee agreement for the loan. The next event in that case will be heard on Sept. 3.
Although Donaldson was unable to disclose financial information due to the pending court case, she noted that the resort plans to continue expanding services for guests and has several improvements planned.
The resort was founded in 1963 by Resorts Inc., which was owned by Joe & Edie (Black) Humphrey, but was closed at the end of the 2004-2005 ski season, noted Donaldson. The property was later reopened when the partners of Slater Run Land Development entered into a land contract agreement with Resorts Inc. in January of 2011.
In 2013, a “formal purchase” was made to fulfill Slater Run Land Development’s obligation to Resorts Inc, with funding assistance from Cache.
Donaldson referred to a list of improvements necessary for the resort to “fulfill the original vision of becoming a year-round destination resort in the ‘heart of it all’ and re-establish itself as a viable business within the local and surrounding communities.” The list included: updating snow-making equipment, including a new pump system; refurbishing lifts; upgrading the tubing park’s tow rope with a conveyor ride; water and sewer connections to the Village of Butler, as well as a lift station; refurbishing of the lodge interior; acquisition of new rental equipment; and the purchase of land, as well as maintenance and repair of existing equipment.
Some items from the list have been completed, Donaldson added, while others are part of future plans.
“This has literally been a work in progress and we hope to keep improving as we strive to move forward and implement the critical initiatives required to achieve our vision,” said Donaldson.
That vision included a “stay and play” initiative, in which onsite lodging would be built, including condos and resort suites. Ground breaking was slated for the spring of this year, but was temporarily suspended due to the Village of Butler’s water system’s inability to supply the necessary volume of water. “Eventually, our goal is to have onsite lodging, we are just scaling back substantially from the original plans,” said Donaldson.
The resort is open almost year-round, with April and November the only months the resort is closed to the public. Ski season at Clear Fork runs December through March, as far as weather and snow conditions safely allow, said Donaldson.
“We have 30 state-of-the-art T-40 TechnoAlpin tower snow guns and eight mobile T-40s. These incredible snow making machines are the largest investment we have made in the property,” she said.
“This past June we hosted a ‘Clash of the Titans’ mud run and the AHRMA vintage motocross events,” said Donaldson. “These were very exciting and well-received events. We have done everything possible to bring travelers to our area and offer a variety of unique events.”
On August 2, the resort will host “The Muddy Cheer Challenge.” Donaldson described the event as an obstacle course similar to Tough Mudder but less extreme. The event is a fundraiser for several Ohio cheerleading squads.
ATV trails open the first weekend in May and remain open until the end of October, but the future for the Clear Fork Resort may be heard before the first snow falls.
