Friday, November 13, 2009

Coach secures courts at Copper Ranch

YMCA passes on offer to buy fitness facility

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By TONY EVANS
Express Staff Writer

Tennis coach Chris Gripkey will manage the Copper Ranch tennis courts this winter Photo by David N. Seelig

Times are uncertain for real estate developers in Hailey, including Jeff Smith, from Beverly Hills, Calif. Smith was recently granted a 180-day building permit extension to finish a health and fitness facility at Copper Ranch.

Smith is trying to sell the facility, which includes three indoor tennis courts. Until recently, he was uncertain if the courts would remain open. They needed about $5,000 of work to meet fire code requirements.

"Every effort was made to keep this club open for the community," Smith said.

Smith recently had Wood River YMCA board members David Hennessy and Benjamin Wood tour the partially finished Copper Ranch health and fitness club in Hailey, in hopes that they might buy it. This month, he said, he is hoping Gold's Gym might make an offer.

Meanwhile, former Community School tennis coach Chris Gripkey is making sure the three indoor tennis courts at Copper Ranch don't go unused.

"The Wood River High School and the Community School rely on these courts for half of their season," said Gripkey, who has a month-to-month lease with Smith to operate the courts this winter.

Gripkey will also offer tennis clinics and private lessons at the club, which was called Ironwood when it was built 18 years ago.

Membership fees at the Copper Ranch courts are $35 per month, with a $30-per-hour court fee.

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The Copper Ranch courts will be open from Nov. 16 until April 30. For more information, call Chris Gripkey at 720- 8814.

Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com