CORNER BROOK - John Fox says a fresh start for Humber Valley Resort involves a change in how some locals perceive the chalet owners who are still solidly behind the facility.
The resident of Westmeath, Ireland bought his chalet at Humber Valley in 2004 and has found himself unable to resist the lure of returning for a visit every two or three months.
In that time, he, his family and every friend he has ever brought over to visit with him has fallen in love with western Newfoundland's scenery and people.
Like all the other owners, Fox was disappointed with the resort's bankruptcy in late 2008.
But, he pointed out, those owners are still here and willing to do whatever it takes to make the resort a viable venture once again.
The owners have grouped together to form their own association and have taken it upon themselves to work out contracts for essentials services such as snowclearing, garbage collection and security. While they're at it, Fox said the owners would also love to debunk the myth that local people are not welcome at the resort.
Even though a security presence is maintained at the front gate to protect assets during the bankruptcy, chalets are available for rent just as they were before the bankruptcy.
Fox, for instance, is in a rental pool of 10 chalets, while other owners have also banded together in groups of varying sizes to try and market their properties to local and international clientele.
"We absolutely love coming here, but we also want the local, Corner Brooker to love coming to the resort," said Fox. "For years I've been coming here and I hear people say how they would love to come up to the resort, but they don't think they'd be welcome here.
"As far as the owners are concerned, we don't come here for an Irish experience or an English experience. We come for a Newfoundland experience. We want to eat the local food and have local fun and sing a few local songs or whatever is going on."
Fox realizes creating that integrated atmosphere is a little harder to do right now, since the bankruptcy process has forced the shutdown of amenities such as The Eagle's Perch clubhouse and The Beachhouse restaurant.
He hopes a new owner will eventually take over those services and that desired mixing of the cultures can be sparked up again.
"That is something very strong in the (chalet) owners' hearts and viewpoint that the resort is made available to locals," he said. "There's no sense in having a closed shop for English and Irish people. We enjoy being here with (local people), but we need you guys to join us. It's not an exclusive club we have up here."
One of the main goals of the chalet owners is to ensure the resort's golf course not only is re-opened for play this summer, but that it is opened once again to local golfers. Limiting play to resort property owners was one of the measures announced when the resort's financial downturn began picking up momentum last fall, but it doesn't make any sense to Fox and his fellow chalet owners.
He noted the local business community has been a joy to deal with. He also gets a kick out of the personal greetings he gets from people who have met him before as he walks down West Street in Corner Brook. That may sound trivial to some, but Fox said those are the kinds of experiences he and other chalet owners do not take for granted and would like to continue to foster.
"Not to toot our own horn, but we have invested quite heavily in western Newfoundland and we need to keep working hand-in-hand with the locals to make the resort work," said Fox.
"It really bothers us that people think we want to have an exclusive club at the resort. Humber Valley Resort may have given that impression, but as owners we never wanted that. Having a Newfoundland experience means mixing with the locals - that's what we come here for."
