Prepare to Player in Cranbrook

The Calgary Sun
by Myke Thomas, Editor

For the most part, the East Kootenay region of BC has lagged behind the booming tourist and resort markets to the west in the Okanagan and north in the Columbia Valley.

Lately, however, a number of new developments announced for the area promise to provide the tourism industry with a major boost.

And one of those is Wildstone, from Havaday Developments.

Wildstone is an ambitious undertaking – a 900-acre, four season recreational and residential community on the northwest side of Cranbrook.

Joel Savage, president of Havaday Developments, says $900 million will be spent building the community.

“It is a very exciting project, which we started work on a year and a half ago,” says Savage.

“We will have about 3,000 units constructed during the 15-year build-out period, including a wide range of different units to appeal to a wide range of buyer.”

At the heart of the development are two golf courses, to be designed by the legendary Gary player, one of golf’s big three, alongside Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.

Player was in Cranbrook late last month to unveil the project.

“When we started working on this project we looked at different course designers and, after due diligence, we chose Gary Player, hands down,” says Savage.

“His level of professionalism has been next to none and he is such a dynamic man, not just in golf, but also his humanitarian efforts.

“He’s very uplifting and inspiring – it was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up.”

Player’s team will be designing two golf courses, the first targeted for play in 2008.

“Both courses will be 18-hole championship layouts – the first under the Black Knight brand will play about 7,300 yards and the second, the Signature, will play about 7,500 yards,” says Savage.

“Of course, we will have multiple tee boxes on each hole to shorten the course to appeal to every level of golfer.”

Savage says the hope is to have the first phase of housing ready for a late 2007 move-in, with the first course ready to play in 2008.

With major ski areas in nearby Kimberley, and Fernie, Wildstone will be a year-round recreational area, says Savage.

“Our goal with Wildstone is to create a ski-village atmosphere multiplied by four seasons,” he says.

“This is a world-class setting and with Gary Player’s announcement of his partnership with us, the stars have truly aligned to put Cranbrook on the international map.”

Cranbrook has been in an accelerated growth mode for a number of years.

“Work on the Cranbrook Airport, soon to be renamed the Canadian Rockies International Airport, is on schedule, with the air terminal building to be completed in June next year and charter flights planned for the 2007-2008 ski season,” says Savage.

“Plus $32 million has just been spent on a new hospital, making Cranbrook the regional medical centre.

“This region is being discovered as a very attractive place for people looking for a lifestyle change.”