Former TH Elks Lodge comes in for a Landing

Renovated facility opens for business

By Howard Greninger

TERRE HAUTE — The Landing at Fort Harrison is now open after a total renovation of its public facility – the former Terre Haute Elks Lodge – at 3350 N. Fourth St.

The entire smoke-free facility has been completely remodeled down to the studs, with new tile floors, 15 large-screen TVs, all new kitchen, new electrical work and new bar and restaurant area.

Despite some minor work to finish over the next two weeks, the facility opened Monday and will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

A rebuilt pool house and pool opened in July and a newly seeded and equipped 10-hole golf course also opened this summer.

Now, the remodeled building provides space with an emphasis on receptions, weddings, conferences and meetings, said General Manager Jim Jenkins, a former mayor of Terre Haute, former county sheriff and former restaurant owner.

The Victory Hall banquet room can accommodate 125 people, while the Wabash Hall banquet room holds 175. Each space comes complete with projection TVs, screens, sound system, and computer capability, plus Internet access, both wireless and cable. The two rooms, separated by a dividing wall, can be combined to provide seating for 304 people, Jenkins said.

“We want to encourage weddings, wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, wedding banquets, small trade shows, conferences, meetings of any size up to 304 people,” he said.

The facility also has a presidential room, also with TV and computer capability, that can accommodate 40 people, plus a new golfer’s lounge for 25 people. The lounge has two new large windows to look out onto the golf course.

The kitchen was entirely replaced with all new ceilings, floors, “new equipment, paint, all new hood system. All state-of-the-art, clean and neat,” Jenkins said. “It was a substantial investment. We came in on time and under budget,” he said.

A large copper fireplace hood at the entrance has been polished and has a new coating. Around the east hallway, the Oasis, a restaurant and bar has a family side, separated from the adult side. The family side can seat 90. The entire restaurant is open for lunch and dinner.

“We tried to keep some of the feel of the old Elks Club, but update it. The stone walls were original to the building, but instead of a lodge feel, you now have a more modern, upscale feel and appearance. The walls are washed in LED [light-emitting diode] lights now so that the stone stands out,” Jenkins said.

“The bar was completely rebuilt with translucent blue panels backlit with LED lights, plus 50-inch plasma TVs throughout the facility,” Jenkins said.

The same translucent panels are used to provide separation from the hallway to the bar area. The facility also offers a completely remodeled eight-lane bowling alley.

Jenkins said the facility plans to open a spa by the end of January, and tennis courts will be redone in 2009. In addition, nearby gazebos, built in 1912 for the Centennial of the War of 1812, are to be redone with the help of the Historic Landmarks Foundation, with plans to be ready for the 2012 bicentennial celebration.

The Landing at Fort Harrison was purchased by the Vigo County Hospitality Group, made up of a businessman — Kal Patel — and eight doctors — Venkat Reddy, Dipen Shah, Ravi Koduru, Koshy Oommen, Ajit Singh, Sridhar Bolla, Srin Vallapuri and Narsing Damera.

“This is a public facility,” Jenkins said. “The Vigo Hospitality Group wanted to invest in the community and wanted to do that in a way that would encourage families to recreate and do so in a way that would provide something to the community, and I think they have done a marvelous job of that.”

The facility offers a full-season pass for all activities, as well as season passes for swimming, golf and bowling. The phone number for The Landings at Fort Harrison is (812) 460-4000.

Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com