Ozark Living

Mike made no bones about it, the once classic midwestern lakefront resort was in sad shape and had all but been abandon. en, a man with vision stepped up. "When Eddy Gibbs purchased the property in 2010, his idea was to rebuild the golf courses and the club house," Mike detailed. "ere were two 18-hole courses. One was completely closed when Eddy Gibbs purchased it. In fact, they were baling hay on it. Playing on the other was like playing golf on a paved parking lot. His goal was to rebuild those courses, which he did. en build a new club house and restaurant, which he did." Moving forward Time passed and there was more interest from individuals and groups who had been to Shangri- La during its glory days. Many wanted to come back and enjoy the newly renovated golf courses on the lake. Mr. Gibbs decided to complete the resort with a new hotel and high-end destination amenities. "ose opened on June 1, 2017," Mike said. "It now offers 119 guest rooms, 8,000 square feet of convention and meeting space and three restaurants. One restaurant is in the hotel. One in is the club house. e one at the marina is an outdoor seasonal operation. e hotel has a magnificent outdoor resort pool with splash pad and fire pits. It's quite the draw for the area. ere's nothing quite like it in the United States." e resort also offers an indoor pool and fitness center, which operates in conjunction with the new medical spa. While Shangri-La is perfect for overnight or extended stay vacationers, the new incarnation of Shangri-La offers more permanent options for those looking for a spot to retire, a weekend getaway or a vibrant resort community for a full- time residence. "We have two residential developments under construction," he said. "e gallery at Shangri- La is directly across from the club house. It's 15 homes and it's a luxury upscale community. e Ridge is under development and it will be a 38- home development overlooking the lake." Mike told me he and the team at Shangri- La are excited at the reception the resort has received. Since opening more than a year ago, the resort is enjoying a 90-percent guest return rate. It does, he added, offer a unique opportunity for a wide variety of travelers including professional and leisure groups, singles, couples and families alike. "ey can come here and spend a couple of days," he said. "ey can enjoy incredible accommodations, casual indoor and outdoor dining, and fine dining at e Summit Restaurant. ey can play all 27 holes at the golf courses, or just relax by the lake or pool. It just makes for a great trip. Once people have done it one time, they always come back." Visitors and guests at Shangri-La resort can also get an up-close-and-personal view of the speedboat owned by the late President John F. Kennedy! e 1961 Century Resorter, a 17-foot mahogany beauty, is the centerpiece of the spacious lobby at Shangri-La Resort Hotel. Top honors Midwest Golfing Magazine name Shangri-La "Best New Resort in America" in 2017. e Oklahoma Tourism Industry Association awarded Shangri-La its RedBud Award for "Best Lodging in Oklahoma" in 2018. Midwest Golfing Magazine named Shangri-La "No. 1 Golf Destination in Oklahoma" in 2018. OZARK LIVING • FEBRUARY 2019 • 31

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