SURFSIDE With the new WorldMark by Wyndham Long Beach Resort thriving at near-full occupancy, the time-share company is turning to major renovations of its older facility in Surfside.

Work has already begun at Surfside Inn and the expected re-opening date will be Labor Day Weekend 2012 after it was closed following this summers Labor Day weekend. The remodeling project is permitted by Pacific County for $1,142,000.

The two Peninsula resorts are among 70 resorts shared between 270,000 owners, according to a company website.

Surfside Inn manager Alisha Wiest said, There are currently 47 units at Surfside Inn and 25 are owned by Wyndham and 22 are private condominiums.

Planned work

Surfside Inns siding, windows and decks will be redone. Contractors will also improve the pool building and add a ventilation system. The present entry will be expanded 15 feet on both sides and landscaping improvements will also be made according to a proposal approved Aug. 27 by the Surfside Homeowners Association (SHOA). The SHOA Architectural Committee had reviewed the plans to remodel Surfside Inn and the SHOA board voted 9-0 to accept the plans.

Interior upgrades are also planned, but those are not subject to approval of the SHOA Architectural Committee.

Jim Flood of the SHOA board discussed that since commercial properties have low water rates, maybe WorldMark would allow those who live in Surfside to use the Surfside Inn pool. That motion also passed 9-0 during a 20-minute meeting.

Local impacts

Surfside Golf Course and Great Day Café remain open. However, not having the inn open for a year will take some of their business. After the remodel, it is expected that businesses in the Surfside and Ocean Park areas will likely benefit due to an expected higher occupancy rate. 

According to the website www.worldmarktheclub.com/construction: The extensive interior and exterior improvements will require complete closure of the resort during this timeframe. But for those desiring a similar beach vacation experience, the nearby WorldMark Long Beach in southwest Washington offers you a beautiful beachfront alternative during this time.

WorldMark Surfside has long been a favorite destination for WorldMark owners, said Sam Buckingham, vice president of Resort Renovation & Design. Like other coastal resort properties, regular maintenance and eventually major renovations must be planned and scheduled and now is the time for Surfside. While its difficult to shut down for any length of time, the improvements are something we are excited about and ones we know our owners will be quite proud of.

Among the major exterior improvements will be all new siding, windows and doors, new exterior lighting, new clam cleaning stations at each end of the building and a new vestibule, which will prevent the wind from occasionally opening the lobby doors.

While the outside changes will be very noticeable, I think our owners will really enjoy and make use of a brand new owners lounge with fireplace on the main floor, a new computer area and the new pool building interior with added exercise room and sun area. A new check-in desk and small garden area on the first floor will also greet our owners upon their return.

Other interior renovations will include a new three-floor elevator, a new vending area next to the  lounge, new stairs and handrails, new corridors and unit decks, a new gas hot water boiler system (replacing the current electric system) and a new commercial resort laundry area.

We remain committed to delivering best-in-class resorts and service to ensure you and your family superb vacation experiences for a lifetime. We appreciate your patience during the renovation process and feel confident that youll be extremely pleased with the result, Buckingham concluded.