From Deseret News archives:
Luxury resort is coming to Kane
"And soon Kane County will be added to that."
Those words from Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. heralded Tuesday's announcement that an investor group will build its second U.S. resort a $125 million investment including a hotel, spa and villas just west of Lake Powell. Singapore-based Amanresorts is the hotel management partner for the project, expected to be ready in about two years.
The project will be called Amangiri. Most Amanresorts complexes begin with "Aman," and "giri" in Sanskrit means "rock formations," common in the Lake Powell area.
On one side of the buildings will be 400-foot-high rock walls. The other side will feature sand dunes. Investors are hoping tourists about 135,000 loyal guests are called "Amanjunkies" will be attracted by the opportunities for water sports, boating, fishing, rafting, golf, heliskiing, helicopter tours, a spa, sports, hiking and mountaineering.
"The most important thing is they come into the destination and they learn and understand that destination first before they put pen to paper," said Guy Heywood, country manager for Amanresorts Americas.
The investors have been acquiring land along the Arizona border for four years and will have about 670 acres in the first phase of Amangiri. The total includes 320 acres purchased from the federal government.
"You start with one thing, it works well, then you keep investing," Henkel said. While the Phase One investment is about $125 million, "from there it will go north. It will be substantially more in the future, but keeping within the spirit of 'small is beautiful,' " he said.
Henkel said great landscapes often lack a "fantastic place to stay." While many European friends of his are "perfectly happy" driving around great landscapes in their RVs, Henkel thought "we could do something else."
"Only Aman is capable of bringing the kind of name and brand recognition to attract that kind of audience that we're looking for, to afford staying in the hotel," Henkel said.
Heywood said Amanresorts' "vision and philosophy" are unique.
Comments
- Johnson, Young rally Titans 6:35 p.m.
- Thrashers beat Blues in SO 6:28 p.m.
- Chanticleer never sounded better 6:21 p.m.
- Lostroh wins first PBR world title 6:13 p.m.
- NASCAR: Kurt Busch wins at Texas 6:10 p.m.
- Westbrook out against Cowboys 6:09 p.m.
- Chargers stun Giants, 21-20 6:05 p.m.
- Transactions 6:02 p.m.
- Suns slow to shine in daytime 5:55 p.m.
- Ching's goal lifts Dynamo 5:53 p.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
214 - Dirk does dirty work in Dallas
190 - House passes health care bill
189 - Lobo suspended
173 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
148 - Speed has never been BYU's game
136 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
118 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Thousands protest health bill
102 - Provo company innovating engines
98
Way to go WARRIORS. What a great bunch of girls, coaching staff, parents and...
'Til the cows come home. 'Til the fat lady sings. 'Til pigs fly. To...
I read the "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand earlier this year. A friend, who has...
BOB? He's an INCUMBENT. He's a REPUBLICAN. He votes against AMERICA...
What's so funny is the fact that BYU fans are so jealous and obsessed with...
Tcu 31 Utah 10 and Utah only gets 10 cause the defense puts them in scoring...
When is the last time anyone has hailed an OC? No matter who is calling the...
There are only two non-AQ teams in the Top 10: TCU and Boise State ...
Like most Ute fans, you tend to forget the history of Utah football prior to...
way to go eagles! now lets take it to Rich



You can be the first to comment on this story.