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November 25, 2006

Garrett man hoping to make a splash

Sarah Moses
Cumberland Times-News

— MCHENRY - For those driving along U.S. Route 219 near Deep Creek Lake, the change in the hillside near the fairgrounds is distinct as Jonathan "Smiley" Kessler lays the groundwork for what he hopes will one day be an indoor waterpark resort hotel. "It provides excellent jobs, millions of dollars in payrolls and a very unique addition to the community," Kessler said on the potential park.

Kessler also emphasized that plans for this park are simply plans at this stage.

Though they are plans, Kessler is already preparing the 14 acres he purchased near the fairgrounds on the opposite side of the road from Smiley's Fun Zone and Pine Lodge Steakhouse, which he also owns. Currently, crews are regrading the area and providing necessary infrastructure such as roadways, water and sewer.

Smiley said that when he looked at the land and its potential uses, he realized that he could have put 14 one-acre lots on the spot, using it simply for housing, but he didn't believe this was the best use for the property.

"I was looking at what possible kind of development was out there to make a good business for the county," Kessler said.

For some time, Kessler had been looking into indoor waterpark hotels, saying that he was inspired by the success of those in the Wisconsin Dells area, which had become destinations unto themselves once indoor waterparks were incorporated into the hotels. Kessler said that with these parks indoors, there were now four seasons' worth of tourism available for a relatively cold climate.

Kessler said he is doing studies and research on his own and looking for financial backers or partners in the project, adding that this is one of the main hurdles he is facing.

Action last week by the Garrett County commissioners also will help project planning. Officials passed an amendment to the Deep Creek Watershed Zoning, allowing buildings in commercial resort areas, where the 14 acres are located, to stand at six stories or 60 feet in height as long as approved a special exception by the zoning board.

"He was certainly advocating the passage of that amendment," John Nelson, county director of planning and zoning said, "but it was not suggested by him. It was suggested in the (Environmental Resources Management) report two years ago."

Because it will require a special exception, Nelson said Kessler will have to be aware of residential zoning behind him and Nelson added that Kessler has discussed placing the hotel below the ridge line, which would not obstruct the view of the lake for the homes behind the property. For Kessler, he hopes that such a park would attract new people to the area, rather than siphoning off visitors or customers from other businesses and that he wants to make the hotel affordable. "I want to make it affordable for the group of people in the Deep Creek Lake area that have sort of gotten left behind," Kessler said, mentioning not only locals but people in surrounding areas that visited during the lake's early days. "It's gotten expensive for those people to come to Deep Creek Lake." Kessler added that the hotel, which would also have cabins available for rental surrounding the hotel structure, would offer the park as something inclusive in the cost of rooms and would accommodate 800 guests in the 225 rooms available in the hotel and cabin lodging. There are also hopes to have room in the park for an additional 50 to 75 day passes for non-guests, so that a guest does not necessarily need to stay in the hotel to use the waterpark, though preference for park access will go to guests. For now, Kessler will continue to get the land ready for development, hoping that by providing a nearready site, he will be able to get the financial backing to enter this new business venture.

Sarah Moses can be reached at smoses@times-news.com. Copyright © 1999-2006 cnhi, inc.

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