Resort to reopen doors

The future of Atwood Lake looked dim when doors closed in October 2010. On Friday, things took a brighter turn.

It may have taken four years for the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District to find a new owner of the Atwood Lake Resort, but on Friday, it was finally successful.

"That has been the direction of our board -- to find a new owner, new operator for the facility and we're just so pleased that Carroll County was agreeable to do such," said John Hoopingarner, executive director of the MWCD.

County commissioners as well as many other officials from the valley were at the resort's conference center for the passing of the keys and the final signatures. This change of ownership will allow the resort to open back up, possibly as early as late spring. Some are calling it the biggest thing to happen to the county.

"It's really going to help our economy and the money is going to go more directly to the people instead of being diverted, going to county level and then going back. So it was very fortunate to have this day come," Carroll County Commissioner Thomas Wheaton said.

Wheaton said the MWCD is also giving them the oil and gas rights to the property, which he said is key to the resorts success.

"With the gift we received from the MWCD is very generous, that we are getting the oil and gas rights. Without the oil and gas rights, Carroll County would not be able to afford taking this over," said Wheaton.

Carroll County residents who were at the ceremony were all excited about the reopening. Some even said they are already making plans to be there on opening day.

"We are very excited about the transaction and we have high expectations and we know they will come through," Carrollton resident Peggy Baxter said.

The next step for the commissioners is to find businesses to operate the resort for them. They said they already have at least 14 parties who are interested.