The revamp of holiday chalets, caravan park and gym will also be completed soon.
For the man behind this stylish development, Frik Labuschagne, it is the realisation of his dreams for creating a family entertainment and lifestyle resort. He believes that this will fill a tourism niche, offering affordable accommodation at the caravan park, whilst at the same time becoming George’s one-stop entertainment area.
"The restaurant faces onto a patio centred around a fountain and ancient fig tree. Landscaping forms an integral part of the development. We have planted 500 indigenous trees and we hope to landscape the area right up to the Rooi River wetlands and offer a picnic area, and possibly a wildlife sanctuary as well one day. We really want to offer a tourist attraction that will entice people to stay longer."
Brimming with enthusiasm, this Bloemfontein business man who settled here four years ago, told the George Herald he would be adding many more exciting features at the resort which is situated on the former George Tourism Resort where the old rondavels are almost the only relic of the former resort.
A drive-through KFC, supermarket, stationery shop, and mini beer brewery are all on the cards and form part of his plans for the second phase.
The design of his offices and restaurant/tenpin bowling complex was done by Bloemfontein architect Ettienne de Beer. The style is modern classic with light face-bricks and pitched tile roofs.
The tenpin bowling alley with its eight bowling lanes will be launched with a national championship on 1 September. A deal has been clinched with Let’s Go Bowling, a national tenpin bowling ope-rator. Adjacent to the alley will be video games and pool tables.
Who is Frik Labuschagne?
This former Bloemfontein businessman has several successful developments behind his name including Bloemgate, Dolpin View in Boland Park, Mar-Ané Park in Hersham and a development in Mossel Bay which all took place under the development company Thaba Development.
He hopes to add 10 apartment blocks comprising 400 flats at Mountain View Resort, to his list and possibly a four-star hotel. He is no stranger to controversy and battled for years to get approval for the resort’s latest facilities which took a turn in the high court. It may not be the last we see of him in that regard as he plans to forge ahead with the apartments and he is already facing certain obstacles in the approval process.
Article and photos: Pauline Lourens
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A view of the restaurant dominated by the old fig tree which will be the welcoming sight at Mountview Resort and Lifestyle Village next month in York Street.
