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April 1, 2003GT Resort's sale official; liquor license is pendingPrice between $45M and $85MByRecord-Eagle staff writer PESHAWBESTOWN - The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians completed the purchase of the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa Monday but will have to operate for a while without a liquor license. The band bought the resort, the largest in the Midwest, from KSL Recreation Inc. of La Quinta, Calif.
The state Liquor Control Commission received the liquor license transfer application March 3. The process usually takes several months, according to lawyers familiar with commission procedures. That means no sale of alcoholic beverages in the resort's restaurants and bars at least until the state Liquor Control Commission meets Wednesday. At that time, the liquor commission will consider a stop-gap deal to allow KSL, using the resort's license, to sell alcoholic beverages at the resort as a concessionaire while the commission considers the final transfer of the license to the band's Economic Development Corp., a commission spokeswoman Monday. Despite the liquor license glitch, tribal leaders said they were excited about their purchase. "Our EDC board and management worked diligently over the course of more than a year to bring this moment to reality," said John Concannon, tribal EDC chairman. "Now our real work begins in finding ways to maximize this investment and other properties in our portfolio." Ultimately, that will mean a blending of the resort and the band's Turtle Creek Casino, a mile-and-a-half down M-72 from the resort, said Jeff Livingston, chief executive officer of lodging and casino operations. "This is the crown jewel for us," Livingston said at a recent speech before the Economic Club of Traverse City. "We will take it, evaluate it well and look at what works best for us and the community. A casino at the resort? We won't do that unless it makes sense. Take the Leelanau Sands and Turtle Creek and move it all there? We don't know. It's always going to be an option." Tribal chairman Bob Kewaygoshkum said, "I am thankful, proud and enthused about the future. As one of the first tribes in the United States to open a casino back in 1984, we are again breaking new ground in Native American business with the acquisition of this world-class property." The resort needs some immediate attention, he said, and improvements will include new health club equipment, tower suite renovations, golf course and grounds upgrades, new computer systems and all-new laundry equipment. Management is also planning changes to the Trillium Restaurant, as well as facelifts to several areas of the resort complex. All of that will cost at least $1.5 million, and most of the work will be completed before the summer season, leaders said. Planning continues for additional facility improvements in 2004. The band owns the Leelanau Sands Casino in Peshawbestown and Turtle Creek Casino in Williamsburg. It also owns and operates one small hotel, several restaurants, a conference center and a convenience store.
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