Scheduled to reopen ”“ at least partially ”“ by the end of 2010, the Bear Mountain Inn in Harriman State Park is still under construction.
The stately stone building, crafted in 1915 and on the state”™s Historic Register, has been undergoing renovations for more than two years. In May 2010, HV Biz spoke with Executive Director Jim Hall who said the Palisades Interstate Park Commission was working with Guest Services of Virginia to finish the inn”™s main floor and begin work on the main dining areas and rooms above.
At the time, Hall said $2.9 million in funding from the state was in place and the inn”™s renovated first floor would be open to the public by the end of 2010. So far, it”™s still closed. Hall said at the time he expected the entire facility to reopen by May 2011.
Hall said last week the delay stemmed from the lack of bids for the work that needed to be done.
“We had to be as competitive as possible, so we waited until we had a bigger pool to choose from; then, compounding the delay in the bidding process, some of the contractors had difficulty getting bonding. But I”™m glad to say they are busy working inside, and we hope the first floor will be open by spring, 2011 and the entire building be completed by late summer.”
Guest Services of Virginia committed $1.5 million to the renovation of the inn, as well as an additional $1.5 for the Overlook to win the 20-year contract to provide services.
Although the park”™s skating rink is open and busy, no one”™s able to enjoy the inn, which has been a popular destination, both for visitors and overnight guests, since it first opened.
“I really miss it,” said 16-year-old Courtney Martin, a town of Chester resident. “My family”™s been coming to skate here for years, but the inn was a great place to visit and to eat at when we were done…now there”™s nothing here but the skating rink and nothing to do once you”™re off the ice. I hope it opens soon.”
