Calgary Herald: Calgarians on prowl at Predator Ridge

Predator Ridge in B.C. has new project and golf course.

By Barb Livingstone, Calgary Herald July 17, 2010
 
The heads peeking through the windows and the knocks on the door come in the middle of my visit to the new Osprey Green townhome at Predator Ridge.

The people attached to the heads and the knocks are looking for my guide, Howard Kruschke. They want the senior director of real estate sales at Predator to let them in to view the luxurious show home that borders the 7th hole of the Predator golf course.

I ask where they are from. No surprise -- all four have driven down from Calgary.

Predator Ridge has been a popular second home destination for Albertans since it first launched as a resort in 1992.

Now, with the opening of its second golf course, The Ridge, on Canada Day and its offering of a new fractional ownership project -- along with new estate lots and condo units -- the 480-hectare Predator resort continues to attract buyers from this province.

Of the current 475 homeowners, the split is about 50/50 between B.C.'s lower mainland and Alberta, says Kruschke.

Interest in the new The Tips fractional ownership project, to date, has come almost exclusively from people from Calgary and the Edmonton area.

Kruschke says the company's research showed there was an appetite for a fractional product that, along with real estate title ownership of 1/12 of a unit, comes with all the bells and whistles of living at Predator.

The first phase of this fractional ownership project has four units, each at 1,600 square feet.
The 1/12 fractional ownership starts at $58,900 and includes two weeks in summer/ golf season and two in winter/wine season.

The residential units are of Mountain Craftsman architecture and are designed with two master suites in each home.

They are fully equipped from furniture and wine fridge to five different types of wine glasses, and have outdoor living in mind with a deck and patio equipped with private hot tub and barbecue.

The project overlooks the new Ridge golf course and includes unlimited golf and a golf club membership for the two weeks in summer, along with use of a private golf cart.

A saltwater pool is to be built for exclusive use of owners in this project.

Predator is also offering a unique homeowner upgrade program that allows you to put the original price of your fractional ownership at The Tips toward a new, bigger home at Predator Ridge within a five-year period.
What are the bells and whistles that attract Albertans to the resort?

With the opening of the new $10-million golf course, Predator now has 36 holes of rolling green links (between the award-winning first Predator course and The Ridge) that play through parkland and meadows.

Its location near Vernon is a 25-minute drive from the Kelowna airport and a six-hour drive from Calgary.

The real estate in the nine current neighbourhoods at the resort overlooks golf greens, mountain trails, the Monashee Mountains and water -- including Birdie Lake and Lake Okanagan.

Plus, the resort has established amenities that have been expanded.

Beyond the golf courses, there is a 10,000-square-foot fitness centre complete with 25-metre lap pool, with smaller outdoor pools located around the project.

There's also a spa, two restaurants and more than 12 kilometres of walking, hiking and biking trails.
Last year, the owners of the project, Wesbild Holdings, invested $10.5 million in infrastructure spending that included the new golf course, along with a trail expansion to allow 365-day use of the resort with cross-country ski trails.

"Unfortunately, last year we didn't have any snow after Christmas," says Kruschke, laughing. Future plans call for a conference centre adjacent to the main restaurant.

It also doesn't hurt that visitors to the new $122-million Sparkling Hill resort -- recently built by the patriarch of the Austrian Swarovski crystal empire and heavily marketed to the European public -- drive through Predator Ridge to get to the exquisite new spa.

Kruschke says despite the recent economic downturn, properties at Predator Ridge have retained their value. "We lowered the price on lots at Vista Crest but, otherwise, everything sold for list."

He says last year was a great year for the resort, as it hit aggressive targets.

"We were spending money (on infrastructure) while others were not," he says.

"Buyers are also asking more questions -- about the builder, about capitalization, etc. And that's a good thing."

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Some facts about Predator Ridge:

• Number of neighbourhoods: Nine.
• Total number of homes upon completion: 2,120.
• Total built to date: About 500.
• Total number of single-family homes to be built: 1,512.
• Total number of townhomes: 608.
• Total number of fractional units: 96 in The Tips; 36 in Falcon Point.
• Amenities: Two championship golf courses; 10,000-square-foot fitness centre with 25-metre lap pool; outdoor pools; two restaurants and one lounge; spa; tennis court; more than 12 kilometres of walking, biking and hiking trails.

Information: www.predatorridge.com,or call 1-888-578-6688 or 1-250-542-3436.

EXPLORE NATURE

Some facts about Vernon:

• The B.C. city has a population of 35,944 (Greater Vernon's is 55,418)
• Nature remains Vernon's biggest asset.
• Silver Star Mountain Resort, just 22 kilometres from downtown, attracts skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers and snowmobilers.
• In summer, myriad hiking and cycling trails explore every area from the historic Grey Canal within the city to the nearby provincial parks and the rugged Monashee Mountain Range. Mountain biking is also a big draw at Silver Star.
• Okanagan, Kalamalka and Swan lakes provide a backdrop for summer activities including camping, canoeing, kayaking, water-skiing, scuba and fishing.
• Four golf courses in the area lay out a range of challenges with easy walks right through to the PGA Championship tees of Predator Ridge.

For more information, visit www.vernon.ca or www.hellobc.com/en-CA/RegionsCities/Vernon.htm

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