I will be honest, I think the most likely scenario for a first hotel is SEAS buying one that's already built in Orlando and making some modifications. I don't see them building one ground up until they have completely proven the concept.
On-Site Resort Hotel for Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Thread starter mc14
- Start date
Or some type of branding. Like Seaworld Hotel by Marriott.
That would be great if they had a hotel specific for BGW even if it meant taking a shuttle. We used to like to stay at Colonial Williamsburg's hotels but they shut down the Governor's Inn and jacked up the price at the Woodlands (actually all the hotels are ridiculously priced at CW). Even a campground like at KD would be nice. We've stayed at hotels onsite at Cedar Point, Disney and Asterix Park and it certainly enhances the visit (Asterix was the best - great dinner buffet and wine selection and it backed up to a national forest).
I do think that if they were to make the hotel over in the Scotland/Bavaria lots, I’d advise against using the trams for shuttle… they already have a hard enough keeping one side running, imagine having to run both sides because of a hotel. I’d imagine they could do a bus of sorts from there, which would also run to WCUSA. Trams would still run over there, because some people want to park hop, and the lot would still technically be an overflow lot.
They could just run one tram in that side for the people wanting to park hop and for those that don’t want to ride the bus because they don’t want to. Make the Scotland/Bavaria trams stop a transport hub for BGW. Heck, even Williamsburg city buses could stop there (the Grey (1) line that runs to Lee Hall and the train station.)
They could just run one tram in that side for the people wanting to park hop and for those that don’t want to ride the bus because they don’t want to. Make the Scotland/Bavaria trams stop a transport hub for BGW. Heck, even Williamsburg city buses could stop there (the Grey (1) line that runs to Lee Hall and the train station.)
Or we could just get one of those Elon Musk tunnels. It could pop up into Castle O'Sullivan, as a secret entrance.
You could build a walkway over 60. When they use those parking lots you usually have police on 60 at the intersection so I don't think using trams would be a good long term solution. Buses and shuttles would work. It's too bad SEAS didn't pick up that lot that opened up next to the Scotland/Bavaria parking.
The England lot really is the best place for a hotel. Private entrance into the park is right there with the bridge.
That may work, but would that mean they'd be more likely to have to use the Scotland/Bavaria lots since they'd be taking away preferred/VIP/bus parking spaces?
Also, just looking at Google Maps there's at least 2 resorts within 3 miles of the park plus a plethora of existing hotels.
I think their best chance of pulling this off at BGW would be to buy out the Parkside resort and figuring out transportation to both BGW and WCUSA as well as negotiating access to the Williamsburg Golf Club course next door.
Also, just looking at Google Maps there's at least 2 resorts within 3 miles of the park plus a plethora of existing hotels.
I think their best chance of pulling this off at BGW would be to buy out the Parkside resort and figuring out transportation to both BGW and WCUSA as well as negotiating access to the Williamsburg Golf Club course next door.
Private club. Won’t happen. Last time I stayed at Kingsmill they still offered discounted passes. The issue with the two major golf resorts in Williamsburg (Kingsmill and Golden Horseshoe) is they are both multi-course facilities (36/54 at Kingsmill and I think 54 at Golden Horseshoe). They look at themselves as the destination with BGW being the side thing to do.
They would be best partnering up with Kiskiak up the road. Fully public, low rounds, good facility. They could use the influx of cash it would bring. Downside is it’s not right by the course.
There’s always the option to buy a course, but I would advise against it for SEAS. Golf courses are prohibitively expensive to run (talking $5-20mil in operating costs) and often breaking even is seen as a good year. What they could do is go to the ownership of Kiskiak and offer to buy a partnership stake in the course. So they would own less than 50% of the business. The upside is the course would get a massive influx of cash, like $10+ mil potentially. And SEAS could do it as an agreement that the money goes to certain capital improvements. And if they were smart they could put in an option to buy out the remainder of the course. That way if it’s profitable they can just take it over completely.
Another option that I have seen done a few times would be to partner with a couple of the courses in the area and offer a package that would be good at a few different places.
Kevin sounded very bullish regarding the possibility of a resort for Williamsburg in the future. Seems like the question internally is less if than when at the moment.
Adding a third gate and resort hotel at the same time makes sense too.
I’m honestly shocked neither of our VA parks don’t already have any sort of onsite resort. They’re both huge parks. KD has an abandoned hotel on site at least I guess.
Kingsmill was the official resort up until BEC was sold off.
KD doesn't own the hotel property and from what I understand the hotel is actually in pretty bad shape. It is supposed to have water intrustion and mold issues. Which is why the people that own it have been having a really hard time unloading it and it's sat empty for so long.
As for Williamsburg I kinda have mux feelings about the concept. I see it as good from a park perspective but I question if it would be good for the area in general. Williamsburg currently has a hotel room surplus to the point that 4 or 5 properties have been converted to apartments in recent years. I question if adding one at BGW would only isolate the park and guests more and might actually hurt the local economy.
My understanding is that to certain political leaders, BGW/WCUSA and the actual brewery are the local economy, so at least from a governmental approvals viewpoint it's unlikely there's going to be any major challenges with exception to any RPA changes (likely none) or the usual structure height rules if they want it to be taller than 60' (paint that section blue?).
I think the larger questions that we've kicked around over time are what sort of scale will the resort be/what will be the featured amenities if it's going to be year-round competing with Great Wolf Lodge just up the road, and where on the property will it be located?
That is certainly true to a point but as a JCC resident I can tell you that there are other groups with large pull notable the restaurant association and hotel association that are usually in lock step with BGW that might not be on a resort project it's entirely possible that BGW will get this but I think the larger local picture makes it a harder fight and not a slam dunk.
On another note I wonder if any such project would include new employee housing since BGW is currently paying out a ton to rent hotel blocks to house their internationals.