Mountain Village at The Homestead Resort in Glen Arbor will feature a new restaurant, community spaces and a “grocerant.” The area is on track to be fully open by mid-October.
Mountain Village was founded on the idea of multi-generational family vacationers. “We wanted to create a space where grandparents, parents, the kids and their kids could all be together, but each have something that appeals to their individual interests,” says Bob Kuras, president of The Homestead. Along with three unique restaurants, there will be a shaded area with lounge chairs, a fireplace, fire pits, play areas, a splash pad and a curved banquet table that seats up to 40 guests.
The newest dining option, Sparks Fire and Grill, specializes in locally sourced cuisine where diners can watch the chef preparing their food on a massive Grillworks grill. Next to Sparks, guests will find a totally updated Cavanaugh’s, which is now a causal “grocerant.” Cavanaugh’s will carry groceries, wine, ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat meals, along with a salad bar, fast-fire, custom-built pizza station and an ice cream bar. Nonna’s, a staple at The Homestead, is also a part of the new Mountain Village area, serving upscale Italian food to group guests in the summer season and social guests in the winter season. (Try these recipes from Chef John Piombo at home.)
“We started with an open mind and a blank sheet of paper,” Kuras says. “There were at least 15 different iterations of the master plan before we started construction. We wanted to do something that had never been done before.”
To make this new area truly unique, Kuras consulted with architects from across the globe who have worked on a multitude of large-scale projects, including Disney World. “We even brought in a lighting designer with experience ranging from the Detroit Metro Airport Light Tunnel to the new recreational facilities at Lambeau Field, to massive convention and cultural centers in the Middle East. We wanted a team that could make this space appeal to all five senses to be really special,” Kuras says.
In planning, The Homestead team was careful not to disturb the natural beauty but rather enhance it by creating keyhole views into other landscapes. Mountain Village’s buildings organically flow into open outdoor spaces. Guests can gather, eat, relax and be entertained while surrounded by features like play areas, streams and ponds, winding paths and lush vegetation.
“We believe Mountain Village will create memorable new experiences for our guests and for our friends and neighbors in Glen Arbor. We look forward to enjoying it with them,” Kuras says.
Explore Glen Arbor in the Leelanau Vacation Guide.
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