Owner: Sunriver Resort

Architect: Collaboration between DKA Architecture & Design and WHPacific

General Contractor: R&H Construction Co., Bend

Contact: 541-593-1000

Construction on Sunriver Resort’s new pool area is underway in hopes of revamping the core of the resort.

The goal is to bring the lodge village pool, which was built in 1996, back to life, said Steve Runner, vice president of development and planning for Sunriver Resort.

Runner said the vision is to play off of the Central Oregon environment that surrounds the resort by incorporating natural themes such as boulders, earth formations and a water slide that mimics the Paulina Plunge adventure tour.

“Certainly it’s upgrading the quality of our facilities that we have and maintaining our standards as a four-diamond resort in the Pacific Northwest,” Runner said.

Construction on the 75,000-square-foot project, called The Cove, began Sept. 2, said Duane Francis, project manager with R&H Construction Co. Plans call for a 3,200 square-foot pool, a hot tub, fire pits, two cabanas, a shade structure, a restaurant and bar, water features and two children’s play areas. The remodel also includes a pond, positioned to reflect Mount Bachelor, which is intended to create a habitat for the endangered spotted frog.

“We’ve removed the existing pools and we have dug the new pool location,” Francis said Friday. “We are currently digging about a half-acre pond, which will be a freshwater pond … and we are building Slide Mountain, which will be a launching point for getting into the water slide.”

Francis said the $3 million project is expected to be completed by Memorial Day weekend. The pool will be accessible only to Sunriver Resort guests.

“The challenge with building resorts … is you have to build them in the winter in their slow season,” he said. “(Resorts) want to utilize the facilities they have until Labor Day and it’s full tilt until spring.”

Runner said the pool project is part of a major capital improvement program that began couple of years ago. In 2011, the resort started guest room remodels. And in 2015, he said the plan is to remodel the food and beverage facilities.

“It’s part of Sunriver Resort revitalizing and improving facilities for our guests,” he said.

— Rachael Rees,

The Bulletin