Sale of Elkhorn
confirmed; future use
uncertain
By PETER
BOLTZ
Express Staff Writer
It’s
true.
Elkhorn
Resorts, which includes the hotel and the golf course, has been purchased
by a Maryland hotel chain.
It’s been
sold since Dec. 11 to the Chesapeake Hotel Group, which is based in
Annapolis and owned by John W. Cullen IV.
Howard
Stoll of Chesapeake confirmed the sale Friday from "the executive
office" of the resort in Elkhorn.
He spoke to
the Express because the new manager, John Martin, was not in town.
Stoll, who
said he was "house-sitting" while Martin was gone, said Martin
would be back at Elkhorn on Jan. 3.
Tina
Carnes, who owns the Treathaus at Elkhorn, said she had heard the new
owners were going to turn the hotel into condominiums, but Stoll said he
knew nothing about this.
"We
have no immediate plans," he said. "So, there are many
possibilities."
Carnes’
husband, Jeff, is the Sun Valley Fire Department Chief.
He said he
had talked to Martin because he was concerned that a convention of Idaho
Fire Chiefs, about 135 people, might be canceled by the new owners.
Carnes was
told the convention, to be held in April, could still be at the resort.
At the
beginning of October, the resort’s former sales and marketing director
at the time, Hollie Hunter, said she didn’t "want to jump the
gun" on the sale and give out any information.
"The
Chesapeake Hotel Group is looking at us seriously, but to our knowledge no
closing date has been set," Hunter said.
"They
are going through due diligence, but until that is finished and an offer
has been made, there is no sale."
"Right
now it’s business as usual," she added. "We’re excited about
the possibility and we hope it comes to fruition."
On Friday,
Stoll said the resort would continue operating as it has been, for the
time being.
The resort
is 25 years old this winter, but he said no special celebrations have been
planned.