Treetops Resort in Gaylord has secured a $4.5-million USDA loan that will be used to renovate The Inn, a hotel that offers 98 rooms, and The Lodge, which has 91 large rooms that accommodate multiple guests. The work has commenced and is scheduled to be completed in May.
The resort, which opened in 1956, offers 81 holes of golf, 23 ski runs, a spa, a salon, restaurant and beverage offerings, a licensed daycare center, large meeting rooms for corporate activities, and more.
“For The Inn and The Lodge, we are redoing the roofs, adding new exterior treatments, and improving the heating and cooling equipment,” says Barry Owens general manager of Treetops Resort, which opened in 1956 as a skiing destination. The first golf course was added in 1987.
Owens says all of the hotel rooms will receive new furnishings and floor coverings, while the common areas in The Inn will receive new lighting treatments, entryways, hallways, and improved IT services to enhance the use of mobile devices.
“The other thing we’re doing is reconfiguring the guest welcome area,” Owens says. “All of the check-in will be at The Lodge, and we will add food and beverage service there and a gift shop. We also will improve our licensed daycare center, and our spa and salon will get new floor coverings, finishes, and fixtures.”
Overall, Owens says the resort is on track to record its best year ever in terms of revenue. “Our business was up in all areas (in 2016), from the rooms to golf to food and beverage,” Owens says. “I would also add the renovations we are doing will have very little impact on our guests, as we will close different sections down to make the updates.”
The project is first of three planned renovation phases for the resort. Owens says the future upgrades will be announced at a later time. The resort has 180 full-time equivalent employees, and it issues 500 annual W2 forms.
North Avenue Capital and Centennial Bank partnered to fund the $4.5-million USDA loan. The renovation team includes Dave Drew of Land Design Collaborative Solutions in Gaylord, JLK Engineering in Gaylord, and Houtteman Interiors in Glen Arbor.
