By Stephen Smoot
Although The Highlands at Fisher Mountain has been in existence for a generation, the new owners from The Waterfront Group are excited to be a part of what comes next at the golf club in Deer Run.
“We want to be more country than club,” said Brooke Dolan, who works in sales out of Waterfront’s North Carolina office. She went on to explain that the facility is meant to be more than golf, to attract a broader range of patrons to a more expansive concept of recreation.
The grand re-opening served as kind of a coming out party for the vision of the new ownership led by Will Adkins, who grew up in Wayne County. To the event came a number of area people, including avid golfers, community, non-profit, business leaders, and families who brought their children for the Easter egg hunt, petting zoo, and more.
Butch Robinson, also from Waterfront Group, said that progress “is going amazing. We’re really kicking off this year. Trout Fest is our first big event.”
Robinson also grew up in the Wayne County city of Ceredo, only 15 minutes from Huntington.
Laura Brown, who recently joined the Waterfront Group team, served as a master of ceremonies of sorts. She welcomed guests, announced when the food was ready, and choreographed the massive egg hunt on the back lawn beneath the back deck.
Meanwhile, guests enjoyed classic hits played on the back deck by Mike Eye and Justin Demers.
At about 1:30 p.m., children waited anxiously for Brown to release them in their search for plastic eggs. The youngest went first, then successively older ages. “Look up into the trees! There’s lots of eggs!” she implored.
Finally, Brown gave the 11 and up age group permission to hunt, adding that “even if you’re 40, you can go get eggs!”
Children of all ages also enjoyed a petting zoo, as well as face painting.
For lunch, attendees could eat from a buffet of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, cole slaw, and a number of sweet treats. Since interest far exceeded the planned attendance, Brandywine Fox’s was pressed into emergency service to provide 15 large pizzas to feed everyone.
Robinson praised the community’s reception of the changes at Fisher Mountain. “From what I’ve seen,” he stated, “it’s been nothing but open arms.” Thrilled with the turnout, he added, “It’s nice to be able to let people see what we’ve been doing.”
The clubhouse area was opened up by removing the large stone fireplace that once sat in the middle of the clubhouse. Four big screen televisions grace the bar and seating areas where the interior décor was refreshed and updated.
Additionally, Robinson explained that “we’ve got a top tracer range coming in” which should create more opportunities for “family friendly” fun. The virtual range offers a variety of play options, especially for a “really avid golfer who can get stats.”
It also helps Pendleton County High School’s varsity golf team’s players to have different ways in which to practice their game year round, rain or shine.
Although golf serves as the centerpiece, Dolan said, “We want it to not just be for the golfer.” She went on to say that they want the families of those who come to golf to have fun activities to do as well, including trails on which to ride all-terrain vehicles.
The facility will include high end houses on lots ranging from one to seven acres, the construction of some visible through the trees on the hillside. Robinson explained that many will sell as second or vacation homes. “We want to show them (potential buyers from outside the area) what West Virginia is all about, show them some Mid-South hospitality,” he said.
