The Lodge & Conference Center at Geneva State Park

In August 2001, the Ashtabula County Commissioners began investigating alternatives to address revenue shortfalls within the County and engaged PriceWaterhouse (PW) to conduct a feasibility study of constructing a Lodge & Conference Center at Geneva State Park, Ohio. The community of Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio (just 2 miles east of the Lodge site) provided funding towards the PW study, as the need for a full service lodge and conference center was a significant gap for visitors coming to GOTL for summertime activities. In February 2002, a unique cooperative effort was announced by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the Ashtabula County commissioners which lead to development of a full-service resort lodge and conference center at Geneva State Park, located on Lake Erie in western Ashtabula County.

ODNR Director Sam Speck and the Ashtabula County commissioners signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the commissioners' plan to develop a lodge on land to be leased from ODNR at the state park. The Lodge & Conference Center at Geneva State Park is Ohio's ninth state park lodge and the first developed and owned by an entity other than ODNR. The commissioners sought to contract with a private hospitality firm to operate the lodge under contract; Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts was selected as the property management firm.

"This partnership - the first of its kind in Ohio - brings together state, county and private interests in an innovative fashion designed to spur new economic development and increased tourism for Ashtabula County and all of northeast Ohio," Speck said. Ashtabula County Commissioner Bob Boggs said, "We would not be at this point - so close to making the dream of a Geneva State Park Lodge a reality - without the help of ODNR, Director Speck and Ohio State Parks Chief Dan West. We cannot thank them enough for their support and enthusiasm."

The memorandum of understanding was the result of years of study and analysis by both ODNR and Ashtabula County regarding the feasibility of building and operating a lodge at the park. Under the agreement, the county assumes responsibility for constructing, maintaining and operating the new facility on park land leased from the state. A formal land-lease agreement was developed and preceded construction.

Ashtabula County agreed to build the new lodge according to ODNR standards, with agency officials providing input at each phase of the planning and construction process.

ODNR assisted the county in obtaining private and public funding to underwrite project costs and it is marketing the new facility as part of the Ohio State Parks system.

Tom Chema, President of Gateway Consulting Group was hired by the county to investigate additional funding sources for the Lodge project as well as to develop job scopes and administer the selection process for the design/architectural team, project management team, construction team and management company.

"The new Geneva State Park Lodge offers visitors the high-quality ambiance and amenities they have come to expect from Ohio's premier state park resorts," Speck said. "We are confident that Ashtabula County will meet or exceed these standards of excellence in design and customer service, and we are confident of Delaware North's capabilities to provide a memorable guest experience." Perched on a tree-lined bluff with a commanding view of Lake Erie, the 109-room resort lodge features lake view and premium rooms, a full-service restaurant and lounge, wine tasting room, meeting space for groups as large as 350, fitness center and an indoor swimming pool/sauna to complement the park’s 300 yards of sandy beach. The new facility offers a level of service and amenities similar to those found at Ohio’s eight existing state park lodges. Funding for its construction has come entirely from local sources, bond financing issued by Ashtabula County commissioners. The county built, owns and operates the lodge (via a management agreement with DNC Parks & Resorts at Geneva State Park, LLC).

"Over the past 40 years, Ohio's existing state park lodges have been financed entirely with state funds, an approach that's unlikely to be repeated in the future due to tighter state budgets and competing priorities," said Sam Speck, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), which operates Ohio's state park system. "This partnership provides an innovative new way to address these issues."

Speck said that several Ohio communities have approached ODNR in recent years about the possible development of lodges, conference centers and other developments at nearby state parks. "Our successful partnership with Ashtabula County gives other communities an excellent model to follow, an example of what might be possible in their own situations to connect state and local resources for the benefit of all Ohioans," he said.

"The new county-owned lodge at Geneva will be marketed by ODNR as an integral part of our state park lodge system and will be operated with the same standards of quality and service that are hallmarks of our other lodges," Speck said. "It will spur economic development in the region, attract more visitors to Ashtabula County, and provide additional recreational opportunities for all Ohioans."
The Lodge project is the culmination of more than six years of cooperative effort on the part of state and local officials to develop a lodge and conference center at the park. Governor Taft, Speck and the Ashtabula County Commissioners signed a formal land-lease agreement under which the county will construct and operate the new lodge on 20 acres in the park's Chestnut Grove area. State officials provided input at each phase of the construction process to assure the highest quality standards are met. The lease runs until January 2040, when the facility will revert to state ownership.

DNC Parks and Resorts hospitality management oversees day-to-day operations at the new lodge as well as the function of selling/booking room reservation and group functions at the Lodge. Delaware North provided pre-construction recommendations on room mix, dimensions for guest room and meeting room space, and developed specifications for all lodge FF&E, window coverings, carpeting, wall covering, food & beverage and kitchen equipment. In addition to our hospitality management services, Delaware North also coordinated all of the publicity events leading up to and including the grand opening in May 2004.