SUNDRE - The former Mountain Aire Lodge is poised to have new life breathed into it as a year-round destination resort, provided the new proprietor’s plans pan out.
Jordan Hindbo said he and his brother Joseph, a major partner in the endeavour, want to restore the property as a campground resort. Theirs was the successful bid to purchase the property during an auction on Feb. 15.
“We are creating a team to bring this thing together,” said Hindbo, adding he saw plenty of potential for the site as an appealing destination that could cater to a variety of interests.
Still very early on in the business development planning process, Hindbo -- who also runs a mechanical contracting company in Red Deer and is a farmer from Dickson -- said efforts are underway to determine what steps will be needed to get the site up and running.
His initial vision involves creating an opportunity to host a gamut of events from weddings and family reunions to tour-guided hunting trips, camping excursions, and maybe even company staff retreats.
“Just a real nice resort that people can come to,” he said, musing about the possibility of at some point adding a convenience store.
“We want to see its potential be used.”
Depending on how things turn out, Hindbo would also like to one day perhaps build a new lodge, and was mulling over the idea of bringing back the name Mountain Aire Lodge with a minor change such as Mountain Aire Resort Inc.
“It’s not going to be a dry-out centre,” he said.
Having heard about the auction through word of mouth, Hindbo sought more details about the sale and subsequently decided to attend.
“It has potential if you put the right people into place.”
With a wealth of career experience in home construction and renovation, Hindbo expressed confidence in being able to breathe new life into the property once he and his brother have assembled a management team.
“We’re not scared. I have the resources and the project management experience,” he said.
The development process will also involve opening the lines of communication with other stakeholders, he said.
“We want to work together with the neighbours,” he said, adding that located nearby are the Lodge at Panther River, the Ya Ha Tinda Ranch and Mukwah Rafting Tours.
“Our intent is to work together with the communities and the neighbours.”
Hindbo also wants to include Alberta Recreation and Parks Association as well as the forestry industry in coming discussions.
“I wouldn’t mind getting an emergency response station set up,” he said.
Hindbo welcomes inquiries, and said anyone who is so inclined can reach him by email at [email protected], or by phone at 403-588-0405.
“We are booking serviced camp spots for the season.”
About 60 people attended the Feb. 15 live auction sale at the site, located nearly an hour west of Sundre by travelling on Highway 584 and then turning south on Rge. Rd. 63, more commonly known as the Coal Camp Road, before eventually crossing over the Red Deer River on the Forestry Trunk Road.
Melanie Asplund, a realtor with Century 21 Westcountry Realty Ltd., said the property was valued at approximately $1.26 million following the last appraisal that was conducted in May 2013. The riverside site nestled in the mountains boasts a lengthy list of amenities and features including but not limited to: a motel with 12 double rooms and 24 double beds; a washhouse building; a concrete basement foundation for a new lodge; a storage Quonset; as well as a building comprised of four offices, a restaurant and commercial kitchen.
The Century 21 poster promoting the auction said the former owner, The Mustard Seed, had phased out its programs at this location and offered it for sale by public auction. The starting bid was set at $250,000, with auctioneer Dwight Boychuck providing his services. The sale, said Asplund, who was glad to get her first live auction under her belt, had to be unconditional.
“Once the gavel comes down, it’s sold,” she said.
Hindbo's winning bid was for $830,000.
The property had previously been leased by Addiction Recovery Network for a private addiction treatment facility that was shut down by Alberta Health Services last fall following a litany of litigious business practices.
“The investigation is ongoing and no decisions will be made until it is complete. There is no specific deadline for this important work,” Tom McMillan, a spokesperson for Alberta Health, confirmed by email on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
“All such investigations are completed as soon as possible. We cannot speculate on potential actions while the investigation is underway,” McMillan wrote.
The Mustard Seed could not be reached for comment.
