Hollister developers plan $255M resort, event center

As principal of Hollister Interchange Development Co., Gage plans to develop 112 acres off of Birch Street, south of Taney County Ambulance District in Hollister. Hollister City Council on Oct. 18 approved HIDC – also led by Gage’s brother, James, and Jerry Crumpler of Agoura Hills, Calif. – as the developer of record for the land.

Justin Gage said his inspiration for the 100,000-square-foot indoor water park came from a trip to the Wisconsin Dells. The water park, which will be open year-round, will have a wave pool, tornado thrill ride, family raft ride, body slides and an indoor/outdoor hot spa.

A 236-unit furnished condominium resort will surround the perimeter of the park. It also will connect to the adjacent event center via a skywalk. Gage said vertical construction will begin in spring and is expected to be complete by mid-2009. Gage has a $155 million construction loan financed through BB Syndication Services Inc.

The event center is a public/private partnership between HDIC and the city of Hollister. Gage said that HDIC has purchased the land and will cover infrastructure expenses.

According to Rick Ziegenfuss, Hollister’s city administrator, the event center will be funded through bonds or other sources not yet established. The 5,500-seat center will be a multipurpose facility, hosting 130 to 140 events a year, including ice hockey games, rodeos and concerts. Ziegenfuss said the facility would not compete with the new Branson Convention Center.

“We’re trying to find regional (activities) that are not presently in our area,” he said.

The city plans to contract with an event center operating company to book the entertainment.

Sixty-two acres of the development are located in a $28 million tax increment-financing district approved by the city of Hollister in 2005. Ziegenfuss said the original intent of the TIF was to attract retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target and Kohl’s, each of which instead chose the north side of Branson.

“We tried several retail routes,” he said. “What we are creating now is an entertainment district.”

Ziegenfuss said the TIF district includes the proposed event center, a Cody’s Convenience Store and a six-acre parcel for a hotel and two fast-food restaurants. The proposed water park and a Walgreens fall outside of the TIF. He said each of the businesses in the district would have to go before Hollister’s city council to be approved for TIF funding.

When completed, the water park and resort should generate an estimated $700,000 in annual sales tax for the city, officials said. The entire HDIC development and Walgreens should bring an additional $1.43 million in sales tax annually to the city, according to Ziegenfuss.

Who's Coming to Hollister

Several corporate representatives were on hand at a press conference Oct. 19 to announce commitments to open new businesses in conjunction with the Hollister Interchange Development Co. A few entities could not make specific brand announcements until they closed on their properties, according to Hollister City Administrator Rick Ziegenfuss.

Walgreens – Tam Allen, managing partner with Village Development Cos. of Lincoln, Neb., announced the construction of a 14,550-square-foot store. It is expected to open in fall 2008 at the northwest corner of Birch Street and Industrial Park Drive. Allen said the $5 million project would create about 30 new jobs. This is the only business that was named with plans to build outside HIDC’s development.

Cold Stone Creamery – Mark Still, principal of Branson’s SF Group Inc., announced his company will build a free-standing 10,000 square-foot-retail space for food venues, including a Cold Stone Creamery ice cream store.

Cody’s Convenience Store – Curtis Jared, chief operating officer of Springfield-based Cody’s Convenience Stores, said his company would bring a second Cody’s to Hollister. It will include an adjacent full-service car wash.

Hotel – Benjamin Bailey, co-director of Cotter, Ark.-based Lipsky-Bailey Hospitality, said his company would build a $7 million hotel. The 90-room hotel will create 20 jobs. Lipsky-Bailey has developed Holiday Inn Express and Hampton Inn in several Arkansas cities.

Restaurants – Bruce Bolzle, principal of Tulsa, Okla.-based KMO Development Group, has committed to three restaurant sites to be announced at a groundbreaking in November. KMO, who represents about 20 restaurant brands, said the sites would represent a combination of quick service and casual dining.[[In-content Ad]]