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| FishTails |
President's Message
[August 25, 2004]
Seems I was just writing April's president's message and looking forward to the start of tournament season. It's
hard to believe we are well into July and even harder to believe the very poor fishing we have experienced. Hopefully
angling success will improve as we get into the late summer and early fall patterns.
On a positive note I was fortunate enough to spend a May afternoon bass fishing on Stonewall Jackson Lake with
Governor Wise. The Governor caught a very respectable largemouth on a Senko. I was most impressed with how hard
Governor Wise fished; he never stopped for a moment all afternoon.
On May 14, 2004 I met with Rudy Henley of McCabe Henley (developer located in Morgantown) and Greg Parsons of Benchmark
Hospitality (general manager of Stonewall Resort) regarding the increased entrance fees to Stonewall Jackson Lake
State Park. Effective April 1, 2004 the $2 entrance fee increased to $3 and a boat-launching fee of $6 (which includes
the $3 entrance fee) was implemented. Plain and simple the cost of launching your boat at the park tripled from
$2 to $6.
Without getting into great detail I think it's important to understand how Benchmark Hospitality became the manager
of Stonewall Jackson Resort/Park. The State of West Virginia was indebted to the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers for
approximately 34 million dollars for original construction costs at the lake and apparently no means to pay the
debt. McCabe Henley became involved to further develop the Resort/Park with the lodge, golf course, cabins, etc.
and take advantage of Federal matching funds. I was told the total cost of the project was approximately $300 million
of which the State's share was approximately $60 million of which $10 million was paid with State Lottery funds
leaving approximately $50 million which was raised with a bond issue.
To get out from under the debt and facilitate the bond issue the State of West Virginia entered into a contract
with McCabe Henley which in turn contracted with Benchmark Hospitality to manage the Resort/Park and assume responsibility
for seeing that bond payments are made. The State of West Virginia apparently does not have any say in the management
of the Resort/Park and will not until the bonds are repaid. The bonds have 30 to 35 year maturities and therefore
the management of the Stonewall Jackson Resort/Park will not revert back to the State for 30 to 35 years. It's
my understanding the State does hold title to the property without any liens as only the Resort/Park's revenues
secure the bonds.
Much of my discussion with Rudy Henley and Greg Parsons revolved around generating sufficient revenues to repay
bondholders and charging market rates for accommodations and services provided by the Resort/Park. Supply and demand
was mentioned several times as well as comparable rates at similar resorts. The fact that the parking lot at the
launch ramp was staying just as full as before the fee increase seem to be evidence enough that the fee was fair.
In short Benchmark is managing the Resort/Park as a business and in all fairness that's their expertise and is
why they were contracted. Also, the Resort/Park employees approximately 200 full time equivalent employees and
there are excellent facilities and accommodations to attract tourist from near and far. They say everything has
a price and this may be a prime example.
You can buy a season pass for $20 which allows entrance into the Resort/Park and boat launching. Also, there are
other launch sites on the lake which have free launching. I did ask Greg Parsons if he saw additional fee increases
in the near future and he replied that all fees, rates and charges at the Resort/Park would be looked at on an
annual basis.
Also, in all fairness to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, I know for a fact they were not in favor
of the fee increase. I have a copy of a letter the Director wrote to Benchmark asking they reconsider the fee increase.
I also spoke with other DNR officials that conveyed their disapproval of the fee increase particularly a tripling
of the fee all at once.
It seems to me there should have been a way for the State of West Virginia to satisfy the debt to the Federal government
without giving up control of Stonewall Jackson Resort/Park for the next 30 to 35 years. Maybe there wasn't and
still have the development of the lodge, golf course, cabins, etc. Like I said earlier this may just be part of
the price we have to pay to have a Resort like Stonewall Jackson in West Virginia. Until next time-good fishing
and God Bless.
-John |
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