Amelia Island Plantation

Last updated
Omni Amelia Island Resort
Company typeSubsidiary
Industry Hospitality and Real estate development
Founded1971
Headquarters Amelia Island, Florida
Key people
Theo Schofield, Managing Director
Number of employees
825 [1]
Parent Omni Hotels & Resorts
Website www.omnihotels.com/hotels/amelia-island

Omni Amelia Island Resort is a luxury resort community located on Amelia Island, Florida, the westernmost barrier island on the Atlantic Ocean in the U.S. The resort's tennis facility hosted the Bausch & Lomb Championships, a major Women's Tennis Association tournament, for 20 years. [2] The 402-room hotel on the property is now part of Omni Hotels & Resorts.

Contents

Resort

The 1,350 acre community includes a 402-room resort, nine restaurants, 46 holes of championship golf, 7 pickleball courts and 23 Har-Tru clay tennis courts. The development has a total value of $1.95 billion when the 1,150 condominiums, 800 homes and unbuilt lots are counted. [1]

History

Development of Amelia Island Resort began in 1971 by the Hilton Head Island's Sea Pines Company. Under Fraser’s Vice President, landscape architect Arthur Foster, and his design staff, the master plan for Amelia Island was prepared. A variety of consultants advised Foster in the master planning of Amelia Island. The emphasis of Foster’s team was To balance the development with the natural environment. The master plan became part of the deed covenants that protected the tidal marshes, dunes, savannas and wildlife that existed there.

The original owners filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1976. [3] The resort was purchased in 1978 by a group of investors headed by Richard Cooper. The new owners took the name, Amelia Island Company (AIC), but the resort and company are synonymous. Over the next 30 years, the property was further developed and enhanced as a prestigious location. The hotel's name was changed from Amelia Island Plantation Hotel to Amelia Inn & Beach Club to its current "Omni Amelia Island Resort" once Omni Hotels & Resorts purchased the real estate in 2010. It is a four-diamond AAA resort, which offers 80,000 sq ft (7,400 m2) of flexible space to accommodate meetings and conventions of up to 1,600 participants. [4] AIP was host of a woman's professional tennis tournament beginning in 1980 which became the Bausch & Lomb Championships from 1987 to 2008. Many other events are hosted by the resort each year including a wine festival, golf tournaments and a jazz festival. The facility features 20 swimming pools, a full-service spa, kids' club and stocked fishing lake, situated between 3½ miles of white sand beaches and the Intracoastal Waterway, convenient for those with boats. [5] Although longtime company president Richard Cooper died in 2008, the Cooper family retained ownership. [1]

Economic downturn

The Late-2000s recession affected real estate and resorts significantly and AIP “suffered a substantial negative cash flow”, forcing the company to cut wages and layoff 25% of their workforce. [1]

In January, 2009, Atlanta developer Redquartz Development announced an agreement to become majority owner of Amelia Island Resort for $60 million, but by May, the deal was abandoned when Redquartz couldn't raise the cash. [6] The company also contemplated the sale of the hotel and a couple of golf courses to Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, but a deal could not be reached. [1]

The Amelia Island Company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 13, 2009 [3] to buy time with its creditors while it completed a reorganization plan. The Plasencia Group served as investment advisor to the debtor.

AIC filed a reorganization plan in May, 2010 in which the Noble Investment Group would acquire AIC and invest $45.9 million to pay off debts and provide the capital needed to emerge from bankruptcy. [7] Under the acquisition agreement, the Cooper family interests would receive up to $5 million, and homeowners would be able to buy ownership of one of the resort golf courses and of the clubhouse they currently use exclusively.[ citation needed ] On August 23, 2010, TRT Holdings, parent company of Omni Hotels, emerged as the successful bidder with a $67.1 million bid in an auction conducted in federal bankruptcy court. [8] The transaction closed in early September 2012. [7]

Golf

One of the biggest attractions at Omni Amelia Island Resort are the golf courses. The resort boasts two championship courses. The Oak Marsh course, was Pete Dye's design, and winds through salt marshes and heritage oaks draped with spanish moss. The challenging Long Point course, designed by Tom Fazio, includes eight water hazards that must be crossed. [9]

Amelia River Golf Club

Starting in 2005, the Amelia Island Company leased the Royal Amelia Golf Course and it was renamed Amelia River Golf Club in 2007. [10] The property was owned by the city of Fernandina Beach, and was created by Tom Jackson. It is a traditional course with wide manicured fairways, large smooth greens and groups of trees at strategic points. When AIC filed for bankruptcy in 2009, the lease was terminated and possession was returned to the owner.

Tennis

Tennis is another big attraction at the resort. Omni Amelia Island Resort is home to 23 Har-Tru clay courts shaded by tall southern live oak trees during the day and fully lit at night. The facility offers the Cliff Drysdale tennis instruction program and has been rated the 16th best tennis resort in the United States by Tennis Resorts Online [11] and a Top 50 Tennis Resort by Tennis Magazine. [12]

Fitness

Omni Amelia Island Resort is also home to a high quality stand alone fitness center, including free and machine weight rooms; yoga and body tone classes, and aqua fit classes in the 20 yard heated indoor lap pool. There is also a smaller fitness center located in the Omni Amelia Island Resort building.

Related Research Articles

The Amelia Island Championships was a women's tennis tournament held in Amelia Island Plantation and later Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, United States. The Women's Tennis Association event was an International series tournament played on outdoor green clay courts from 1980 to 2010.

The 2008 Bausch & Lomb Championships was the 29th edition of that tennis tournament and was played on outdoor clay courts. It was classified as a Tier II event on the 2008 WTA Tour. The event took place at the Racquet Park at the Amelia Island Plantation in Amelia Island, Florida, U.S. from April 7 through April 13, 2008. The tournament offered total prize money of US$600,000. First-seeded Maria Sharapova won the singles title and earned $95,500 first-prize money.

The 2007 Bausch & Lomb Championships was the 28th edition of that tennis tournament and was played on outdoor clay courts. The tournament was classified as a Tier II event on the 2007 WTA Tour. The event took place at the Racquet Park at the Amelia Island Plantation, in Amelia Island, Florida, U.S. from April 2 through April 8, 2007. Tatiana Golovin won the singles title.

The 2001 Bausch & Lomb Championships was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Amelia Island Plantation on Amelia Island, Florida in the United States and was part of Tier II of the 2001 WTA Tour. The tournament ran from April 9 through April 15, 2001. Sixth-seeded Amélie Mauresmo won the singles title.

The 1996 Bausch & Lomb Championships was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Amelia Island Plantation on Amelia Island, Florida in the United States that was part of Tier II of the 1996 WTA Tour. It was the 17th edition of the tournament and was held from April 8 through April 14, 1996. Eighth-seeded Irina Spîrlea won the singles title.

The 1997 Bausch & Lomb Championships was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Amelia Island Plantation on Amelia Island, Florida in the United States that was part of Tier II of the 1997 WTA Tour. It was the 18th edition of the tournament and was held from April 7 through April 13, 1997.

The 1988 Bausch & Lomb Championships was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Amelia Island Plantation on Amelia Island, Florida in the United States and was part of the Category 5 tier of the 1988 WTA Tour. The tournament ran from April 11 through April 17, 1988. second-seeded Martina Navratilova won the singles title.

The 1995 Bausch & Lomb Championships was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Amelia Island Plantation on Amelia Island, Florida in the United States that was part of Tier II of the 1995 WTA Tour. It was the 16th edition of the tournament and was held from April 3 through April 9, 1995. First-seeded Conchita Martínez won the singles title.

The 1994 Bausch & Lomb Championships was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Amelia Island Plantation on Amelia Island, Florida in the United States that was part of Tier II of the 1994 WTA Tour. It was the 15th edition of the tournament and was held from April 4 through April 10, 1994. Arantxa Sánchez Vicario won the singles title.

The 1989 Bausch & Lomb Championships was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Amelia Island Plantation on Amelia Island, Florida in the United States that was part of the Category 5 tier of the 1989 WTA Tour. The tournament was held from April 10 through April 16, 1989. Third-seeded Gabriela Sabatini won the singles title.

The 1998 Bausch & Lomb Championships was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Amelia Island Plantation on Amelia Island, Florida in the United States that was part of Tier II of the 1998 WTA Tour. The tournament was held from April 6 through April 12, 1998.

The 1999 Bausch & Lomb Championships was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Amelia Island Plantation on Amelia Island, Florida in the United States that was part of Tier II of the 1999 WTA Tour. It was the 20th edition of the tournament and was held from April 5 through April 11, 1999. Monica Seles won the singles title.

Omni Hotels & Resorts is an American privately held, international hotel company based in Dallas, Texas. The company was founded in 1958 as Dunfey Hotels, and operates 50 properties in the United States, Canada, and formerly had a property in Mexico, totaling over 20,010 rooms and employing more than 23,000 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea Pines Company</span> Real estate development group

The Sea Pines Company was a real estate development group founded by General Joseph Bacon Fraser, Charles E. Fraser, and Joseph B. Fraser, Jr. In 1956. It developed Sea Pines Plantation, Amelia Island Plantation, Brandermill (Virginia), Kiawah Island, Palmas Del Mar, Hilton Head Plantation, Wintergreen Resort and more. It was successful in the 1960s but hit hard by 1972-1974 recession. It was sold in 1983.

The 2006 Bausch & Lomb Championships was the 27th edition of that women's tennis tournament and was played on outdoor clay courts. The tournament was classified as a Tier II event on the 2006 WTA Tour. The event took place at the Racquet Park at the Amelia Island Plantation, in Amelia Island, Florida, U.S. from April 3 through April 9, 2006. Nadia Petrova won the singles title.

The 2004 Bausch & Lomb Championships was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Racquet Park at the Amelia Island Plantation in Amelia Island, Florida, United States. It was classified as a Tier II event on the 2004 WTA Tour. It was the 25th edition of the event and took place from April 5 to 11, 2004. Lindsay Davenport won the singles title.

The 1992 Bausch & Lomb Championships was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Amelia Island Plantation on Amelia Island, Florida in the United States that was part of Tier II of the 1992 WTA Tour. It was the 13th edition of the tournament and was held from April 6 through April 12, 1992. Gabriela Sabatini won the singles title.

The 1991 Bausch & Lomb Championships was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Amelia Island Plantation on Amelia Island, Florida in the United States that was part of Tier II of the 1991 WTA Tour. It was the 12th edition of the tournament and was held from April 8 through April 14, 1991. Gabriela Sabatini won the singles title.

The 2000 Bausch & Lomb Championships was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Amelia Island Plantation on Amelia Island, Florida in the United States that was part of Tier II of the 2000 WTA Tour. It was the 21st edition of the tournament and was held from April 10 through April 16, 2000. Monica Seles won the singles title.

The 2003 Bausch & Lomb Championships was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Amelia Island Plantation on Amelia Island, Florida in the United States that was part of Tier II of the 2003 WTA Tour. It was the 24th edition of the tournament and was held from April 14 through April 20, 2003. Elena Dementieva won the singles title, her first at WTA level, and earned $93,000 first-prize money.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Basch, Mark (November 17, 2009). "Amelia Island Plantation owner files for bankruptcy". Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  2. ↑ "History" Archived 2010-04-15 at the Wayback Machine MPS Group Championships website
  3. 1 2 Basch, Mark. "Amelia Island Plantation owner files for bankruptcy". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  4. ↑ Amelia Island Resort website, Conferences
  5. ↑ Expedia website, Amelia Island Resort
  6. ↑ "Amelia Island Resort deal is dead". Jacksonville Business Journal. May 20, 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  7. 1 2 Basch, Mark. "Bidder for Amelia Island Plantation expects success". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  8. ↑ Basch, Mark. "Omni making its mark on the Amelia Island Plantation". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  9. ↑ "Championship Golf" Amelia Island Resort website
  10. ↑ Turner, Kevin (November 17, 2007). "Royal Amelia course is now Amelia River course". Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  11. ↑ Cox, Roger. "Top 100 Tennis Resorts & Camps". May 1, 2013. Tennis Resorts Online. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  12. ↑ "Tennis at Amelia Island Resort". Villas of Amelia Island. Retrieved 13 June 2013.

30°33′22″N81°26′59″W / 30.55611°N 81.44972°W / 30.55611; -81.44972

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