D’Monaco owner adding hotel, villas

Ten years after opening, D’Monaco Luxury Resort is moving forward with its second phase.

The Table Rock Lake resort that opened in 2007 is expanding with a 40-suite “villa” complex, and owner Tim Freund is developing a separate $42 million, six-story hotel across state Highway 86 with 170 rooms and a conference area.

The building additions will be erected on the west end of the Long Creek Bridge.

“We’ve got the hotel resort on the north side of the highway and we also have Phase II on the south side of the road,” Freund said.

At 4125 State Highway 86 in Ridgedale, the current, 25,000-square-foot D’Monaco property comprises six rental suites.

Phase II to the west is targeted to be complete by mid-2019, said Andy Coleman of Miller Engineering PC, the structural engineer for the project. He said excavation for footings and concrete foundation walls have been completed in a vacant lot between D’Monaco’s parking lot and a residential area.

Freund said he is waiting on construction bids for the Phase II project.

On the north side of the highway, a steel structure hotel property would overlook the lake. It’s slated for completion in early 2020.

“It’s bigger in scope than the one on the south side, but it’s a similar project,” Coleman said.

“We’re getting ready to start construction real soon.”

Amenities planned for the hotel include a tennis court or sand volleyball area, a full-service spa, indoor theater, two exterior pools, boat docks, playgrounds, hot tubs and fire pits.

“We studied trends and markets for about four years. That showed us it’s the right time,” Freund said.

Freund’s TA Freund Developments LLC is general contractor for the projects. Ross Williams Architects designed both buildings, and Great River Engineering Inc. is the civil engineer.

At 4134 State Highway 86, the site previously was home to Twin Island Resort, said Scott Starrett, the administrator for Taney County’s Planning Department. Twin Island Resort was demolished about two years ago, he said.

Some blasting work has been completed, Coleman said, and an elevator shaft has been erected.

Engineers say structural issues weren’t a concern for the properties.

“Beach erosion isn’t really an issue down at Table Rock,” Coleman said. “Flooding can be, but where he’s located he’s above the wake line. It’s all solid limestone bedrock.”

Coleman said designers did have to get creative for the villas development to the west of D’Monaco.

“It was a tight sight, and it presented some design challenges,” Coleman said, noting much of the additional parking is designed underneath the resort.

Freund said D’Monaco, the gated luxury resort where nightly rates range from $596 to $894, would remain open during both construction projects.

He said the upcoming D’Monaco villas are structured for vacation ownership and nightly rentals.

According to a report by HotelBusiness.com, Freund signed an agreement in 2017 with Interval International to manage timeshares for the D’Monaco Private Residence Club. D’Monaco’s website says the club offers an ownership plan to members and allows access to 3,000 resorts worldwide.

TA Freund Developments served as general contractor for the original D’Monaco in 2007. Freund self-financed the $6 million project after buying the partially developed property out of bankruptcy, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.

Freund said another project completed by TA Freund Developments was Phase I of the Oak Marr golf course in Fairfax County, Virginia, that involved log cabins.

Table Rock Regional Partnership President and CEO Sheila Thomas likened Freund’s D’Monaco expansion plans to that of recent development at Big Cedar Lodge and Top of the Rock.

“There have been many major renovations to lodging properties at Table Rock Lake in the past couple of years, but I am not aware of any recent development of this size on the lake, except for the Big Cedar Lodge and Top of the Rock area,” Thomas said.