The once world-class Aerie Resort is reopening under new owners who are buying the Malahat property to complement their Vancouver Island Motorsport Resort under construction in the Cowichan Valley.
Closed since November 2009, the 35-room luxury hotel with three Mediterranean-style buildings on about 85 acres is being modernized and upgraded prior to opening in spring 2016. That will dovetail with the opening of the new track for high-performance vehicles.
The hotel is being acquired by a group affiliated with GAIN Vancouver Island’s Premier Auto Group, said spokesman Peter Trzewik. GAIN owners are also behind the Motorsport Resort, which is costing more than $20 million.
Local GAIN dealerships include Audi Autohaus, Three Point Motors, Porsche Centre Victoria, Volkswagen Victoria, BMW Victoria and MINI Victoria.
A hotel is needed to serve club members. The Aerie fit the bill because it’s not only a high-end full -service facility, including a 75-seat restaurant and spa, but centrally located, Trzewik said. It is convenient travelling distance to the motorsport track, downtown Victoria and Bear Mountain for guests wanting to golf.
Visitors to the Aerie are treated to spectacular views. “The impression the Aerie makes is very special,” Trzewik said.
The hotel will be open for motorsport club members as well as members of the public.
Lauded internationally, the award-winning Aerie opened in the early 1990s and was expanded in subsequent years before finally closing in the wake a a challenging tourism climate. It went into receivership and Victoria businessman and philanthropist Allen Vandekerkhove, famous for his Payless Gas brand, bought the Aerie in late 2011.
The sale closes Oct. 23. The price was not released.
Trzewik praised the extent and quality of improvements and maintenance, including a new colour scheme on the exterior, completed by Vandekerkhove.
Next on the agenda is completing interior updates and improvements. A new kitchen will be installed. “All of the rooms will be renovated,” Trzewik said, estimating the cost of interior work at about $2 million. Amy McGeachy is the project’s interior designer.
Hotel consultant Peter Dutton is advising the new owners and developing a business plan. Interviews have been taking place for the hotel’s new general manager, Trzewik said.
In the future, there’s the possibility of adding another 20 or more rooms, he said, adding that the hotel would work closely with local government.
Construction of the motorsport facility at 4063 Cowichan Valley Highway is proceeding as planned on parcels purchased from two owners, Trzewik said.
One chunk was bought from the District of North Cowichan, which planned for future commercial development on the site, he said. The other piece had been owned by Island Timberlands, which had used it as a logging parcel.
Motorsport memberships are not yet for sale and the fee has not been announced. Interest has already come from hundreds of motorists who are local as well as from Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, California, Asia and Europe, Trzewik said.
The facility includes a 15,000-square foot clubhouse, where walls are up on the first level and crews are now working on the second level, Trzewik said.
Tilke Engineers and Architects, global leaders in track design, have designed the track, which has been graded. Concrete curbs are in place and paving will start Oct. 26, weather permitting.
The track is being built in two phases, which will eventually be 4.21 kilometres in length. Features in the first phase will include 19 corners, five configurations and inclines of up to 12 per cent.
Members will be able to store their cars on site. The Aerie has a helipad and a helipad will be installed at the track.
