SWEEET SPRINGS, W.V. (LOOTPRESS) – Monroe County’s historic Sweet Springs Resort hopes to highlight its community at this weekend’s Second Annual Fling at the Springs fundraiser, as well as with the resort’s future plans for renovations.
Designed by Thomas Jefferson, visited by presidents and graced by famous ladies and gentlemen from all over the world, the Sweet Springs Resort is enveloped by history. For more than 50 years, the facility served as an institution but in the last two decades, the building has sat, neglected and deteriorating. Recently, the historic hotel and some of its surrounding structures have been turned into a public park managed by The Sweet Springs Resort Park Foundation but Arietta Dupre, administrative assistant and activities coordinator for the Sweet Springs Resort, says there is more work to be done.
Dupre explained how the Fling at the Springs event was established in 2019 as a fundraiser for the resort.
According to Dupre, the resort is planning renovations in excess of $18 million. Projects include:
- Turning an old portion of the hotel into a Jamestown-era bed and breakfast,
- Turning a wing into long term apartments,
- Converting a portion of the resort into a medical center and doctors’ offices,
- Installing a computer lab for students and others in the community without internet,
- Building a youth center to give teenagers something to do,
- Installing campsites for 4H, Girl Scout and Boy Scout retreats,
- Restoring the warm water pool,
- Restoring some of the resort’s sister houses to create additional lodging, and
- Creating a museum on the property
As a 501 non-profit, the resort relies only on grants, donations and fundraisers to complete all of its projects.
The resort had managed to raise $1.5 million and complete several needed renovations when COVID put all fundraising efforts to a halt.
“It hurt us a lot,” Dupre said. “You wouldn’t think that one year would hurt you that much, but the bills just kept coming. It affected us a lot and brought all of our work to a standstill.”
With all but one fundraiser canceled last year, Dupre says the resort is thrilled to host the Fling at the Springs event once again, both to raise money for future projects and to give the community a fun time.
“It feels really great to do this again. It’s ultimately about getting the community together and involved.”
Despite losing an incredible amount of funding last year, Sweet Springs Resort wanted to ensure that everyone could attend the event.
Dupre spoke with the event’s co-host, Chad Nickell & The Loose Change, and together they decided to make the event as affordable as possible.
The event- which will feature live music, food and unique activities- is being held on Friday, July 30, and Saturday, July 31, on the grounds of the Sweet Springs Resort. Those who attend on Friday and pay $25 per carload will receive free admission into the event on Saturday. The resort is also allowing people to rustic tent camp on the grounds overnight for no charge.
“Everyone was impacted by COVID, not just us,” Dupre said. “We decided we wanted to make it something that everyone, no matter what their status, could afford this year.”
The resort hopes to see 1,000 visitors over the course of the weekend.
Dupre believes it is important for guests to have a good time, but she says the event will also be the perfect opportunity for the community to see recently completed projects, as well as get more information on projects to come.
“It is important for people to see the projects we have done and want to do because of the place’s history. It gives them something to be proud of, and it is something that is theirs as well as ours.”
On its Facebook page, the resort states that the restoration is “a rare opportunity to merge economics, history and culture in a venture that holds the potential to go far beyond the local area and the state area.”
As Dupre listed off the resort’s future projects, it was obvious that a majority of them were community focused.
“It is very, very important to us that this benefits the community because this resort is part of the community,” she said. “The community was built around this hotel and the ones here before it. This community was built around this water. The community was made around this, so we want to restore this to include the community.”
When the restorations are completed, Dupre says Sweet Springs can expect more than 200 new jobs.
“That’s jobs in a rural area where they are desperately needed. The community is what this is all about. It’s about making this a better place for them.”
As the Sweet Springs Resort begins to pick up renovations again, Dupre says the community’s help and involvement are always appreciated.
“We just want to say ‘thank you’ to anybody and everybody that has helped us in any way. We hope they come spend some time with us this weekend and then continue to come back.”