Eastern Shore of Virginia Destination Resort and Conference Center

GOALS/OBJECTIVES:
One of six projects undertaken by the Regional Partnership is to bring global name recognition to the Eastern Shore of Virginia, by facilitating the development of a set of waterfront resort/conference centers that would become centerpieces of a new image of our region as a destination for fun and learning. The original goal was to build one large facility in an historic seaside community. However, infrastructure constraints necessitated a change in plans to build three smaller facilities over a larger area. The first resort/conference center will be located in Wachapreague on the seaside in Accomack County. Plans for two subsequent facilities on the bayside include one in Accomack and one in Northampton County.

BENEFITS TO ED:
Like the Tides Inn and the Homestead are to their regions, these resorts will be a major economic engine employing more than 200 residents and contributing more than $100,000 to the local tax base. In addition, spin-off companies providing recreation and adventure services to patrons, fresh local vegetables and seafood to the restaurants, support services such as laundry, plumbing, and electrical, and extra rooms for overflow events, would evolve and prosper.

TARGET AUDIENCE:
Envisioned customers for these facilities include businesses from Hampton Roads holding employee and management training; time-challenged, regional baby-boomers who would take weekend vacations; retirees who would enjoy week-long packages including tours of the Eastern Shore's world-class natural, historical, and cultural amenities; and international tourists attracted to our region by close proximity to international airports in Norfolk, Baltimore/Washington, Philadelphia and New York.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS/SUCCESSES:
Request for Proposals were prepared and advertised, maps and data for site search assembly were finalized, and a consulting team contract and report were issued. Preferred sites were identified and a Preliminary Engineering Report for public infrastructure was completed. The next steps involve identifying and recruiting preferred developers and procuring funds for infrastructure improvements in Wachapreague.

PARTNERSHIPS/GROUPS DEVELOPED IN PROCESS:
This project represents new levels of cooperation in local government relationships between Accomack County, Northampton County, and Chincoteague Town. In addition, the Cape Charles town manager and the mayor of Onancock, as well as the Chair of the Industrial Development Authority of Northampton County and Towns, serve on the "Destination Resort Task Force."

TASK FORCE:

• Shirley Zamora
• Bruce McMaster
• Dick Work
• Denard Spady
• Rick Hubbard
• David Parker
• Willie C. Randall
• Carol Evans
• T.N. Richardson, Jr.
• Janet Stahl
• Ann Haywood Walker
• Wyllie Thornton
• Greg Manter
• Jack White
• Dick Schreiber
• Cela Burge
• Rose Rulon
  

FUNDING SOURCES:
The Regional Partnership has budgeted $126,000 over five years for development and marketing of the resort/conference centers.

PICTURES/DISPLAYS: Artist's rendering on disk.

Contact Paul Berge, Chair, Destination Resort Task Force: anpdcpfb@esva.net

"Three Inns" Destination Resort Project

The Eastern Shore of Virginia lacks a high-end destination resort. Although tourists have come to the Eastern Shore of Virginia since the early 1900s, we do not currently have a signature resort that serves as a landmark for the region.

Hotels on Chincoteague serve families on summer vacation, motels on Route 13 serve through travelers, and bed & breakfasts serve the middle-class weekend visitor. But the upper end of the tourist market is untapped.

A destination resort would help promote our region as a select tourist destination, generate name-recognition for the region, directly create new employment, and indirectly generate more sales at our restaurants and shops.

The Eastern Shore of Virginia Regional Partnership has selected the "destination resort" project as one of six to sponsor. The Partnership has hired the managing director of the renowned Cayuga Hospitality consulting group to lead the development of the project.

The Regional Partnership's destination resort task force is responsible for the project. Estimated total cost for the project is $4 million, with nearly all of the funds coming from a private developer. The cost for any public sector involvement has not yet been determined. No environmental impact is anticipated.

Strategy

The consultant has reviewed potential sites in our area and potential development concepts to fit those sites. In concert with the project task force, a multi-site inn concept was selected.

Three country inns will be developed in the central area of our region. All three of the inns will be under the same ownership and management, and the three will be promoted as a group.

Two of the inns will be developed at historic home sites on creeks leading to the Chesapeake Bay. The historic homes will be preserved to serve as lobby and meeting space. Guest rooms will be contained in out-buildings on the properties.

The third inn will be a recreation of the historic Wachapreague Inn, which attracted tourists from 1902 until it burned in 1978. This inn will overlook the waterfront in the town of Wachapreague. The view will include the seaside marsh and the barrier islands. The consultant is in the process of recruiting a private developer for the project. Funding is needed for infrastructure development for each of the three inns.