Most of the plans for a new resort park in southern Iowa took a step forward Thursday. The Iowa Natural Resources Commission approved the 19.3 million dollar bid for construction of the 105 room lodge at Honey Creek Park on Lake Rathbun.
Terry Montgomery, the Honey Creek Project Administrator, says the move assures the lodge will open next summer, along with a conference center, restaurant, an indoor aquatic center, and 18 hole golf course. However, the commission rejected the low bid for construction of 28 family cabins.
"We wanted to take a little bit of time to ensure that we are able to fully open the cabins to the level that everybody wants," Montgomery says, "so we’re going to do some additional fundraising." Montgomery says the cabins may not open until the fall of 2009 or early 2010.