The Prairie Village, Kan., property filed for bankruptcy in 2014, but new owner Dennis Hulsing, who owns two racquet clubs in North Carolina, purchased the property in November and is planning to renovate the clubhouse, expand and modernize the fitness facilities, build a permanent enclosure for the tennis courts, and beautify the outdoor pool area.
Homestead Country Club in Prairie Village, Kan., filed for bankruptcy in 2014 and struggled to stay afloat, even selling off part of its property to a residential developer. But now the property appears poised for a new lease on life, the Kansas City Star reported.
Dennis Hulsing, who owns two racquet clubs in North Carolina, has just bought Homestead and aims for that same success here. His goal is to build back the remaining membership into a vibrant family-oriented tennis, fitness and swim club, with a completely renovated clubhouse for dining and socializing, the Star reported.
“Our motto is where family and friends meet,” Hulsing said. “I’m asking for people to give us a chance and rejoin, because we’re going to resurrect this and it’s going to be something that the community will be proud of.”
Hulsing has concept drawings that he hopes to take to the Prairie Village City Council for approval in December. If all goes as planned, the entire revitalization should be done by the end of 2018, the Star reported.
It would save Prairie Village’s first country club, which was donated by J.C. Nichols in 1952. The clubhouse opened in 1954 and membership was available to any resident of a J.C. Nichols Company development. For decades it was a recreational institution in town, a safe place for young people to hang out, the Star reported.
But these types of family members-owned clubs have faced tremendous competition from other restaurants and fitness centers. “It’s hard for these middle-bracket clubs that don’t have a golf course to survive, and many have not,” said Carol Harringon, avid tennis player and Homestead member since 1966.
A dedicated group of members kept the club alive, Harringon said, but needed someone like Hulsing to sustain it for the long haul. Hulsing brings a solid background for this type of project. After years as a hospitality executive with the Marriott and Omni hotel chains, he started purchasing his own hotels, including the Four Points by Sheraton hotels at Kansas City’s airport and sports complex, the Star reported.
Earlier this year, a friend connected Hulsing with a group of 13 Homestead investors who had pooled financial resources and worked valiantly for about five years to preserve the club. They had sold off about six acres of the property but wanted the club to survive on the remaining 8.5 acres, the Star reported.
“They invested the money to keep it alive, but it’s going to take a substantial amount of money to take it to the next level,” said Hulsing, who reached an agreement with the investors and board members a few months ago. He would not disclose how much he will spend, but he’s not asking for incentives, the Star reported.
Hulsing purchased the property in November and said he’ll invest what it takes to renovate the clubhouse, expand and modernize the fitness facilities and classes, build a new permanent enclosure for the indoor tennis courts (replacing an “eyesore” bubble), and beautify the outdoor Olympic pool area. The facility also has outdoor tennis courts, plus courts for platform tennis and pickleball, which are increasingly popular, the Star reported.
“He’s got the experience, track record and knows how to run a hospitality-type operation,” said Kent Snodgrass, one of the investors and former Homestead board members who worked to save the club.
Homestead Communications Manager Becky Ludovissie would not disclose Homestead’s membership rates but said they won’t increase despite the planned improvements. Hulsing said the membership rates will cover childcare, fitness classes etc. so members don’t feel they are being nickled and dimed. He he hopes to grow the membership substantially but cap it at under 1,000, so people won’t be tripping over each other. He will keep the existing staff, the Star reported.
“If I have the location and a good base of employees, I can fix the rest,” he said.
Homestead Tennis Director Rod Zerni, who came to Homestead early this year from Woodside Health & Tennis Club in Westwood, said he’s excited. “I think it’s going to be a game changer in the tennis factor in this part of the city,” he said. “I think it’s all positive and a good thing for this entire location.”
Chuck Wittig, 94, a longtime Homestead member who until recently played tennis almost every day, said it’s all positive and members from young people to seniors are excited. “This is my second home,” he said. “My car comes here automatically every day.”
Hulsing plans to have his own offices at the club. He says he loves the atmosphere at a revitalized family recreation club. “I love the energy,” he said. “80 to 90 year olds happy to be here, all the way down to the little kids. You can’t beat the environment.”
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