Cataloochee Wilderness Resort Announces Plans to Move Forward in Western North Carolina

JONATHAN VALLEY, N.C., Sept. 8, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cataloochee Wilderness Resort, a 4,500-acre upscale development to be located immediately off Interstate 40's Exit 20, on Highway 276, in the picturesque Jonathan Valley is moving forward with plans to invest in the community it will soon serve. This high-end lifestyle resort project, adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Pisgah National Forest, is a development spearheaded by new ownership, the Cataloochee Holdings LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of EquiTrust, USA. The resort was slated to commence before the economic downturn under previous ownership. It has now been resurrected as the demand for housing, amenities and services in this region of Western North Carolina is growing steadily, especially in the Asheville, NC area, which is 30 miles southeast of this future development.

"Cataloochee Wilderness Resort, a master-planned community, will offer a wide range of amenities for visitors, meeting planners, outdoor enthusiasts and future residences," states Jerry Pospisil, the president of Cataloochee Holdings, LLC, who is an expert in the arena of planned resorts having worked for Disney for 31 years. "The Securities and Exchange Commission must approve the project before investment capital can be solicited so this ambitious endeavor can begin, which we anticipate to happen in the fall of 2015."

This expansive resort area will have two lakes, an extensive hiking, mountain bike and equestrian trail system, as well as an ice skating ring. The first phase Village Commons will offer 1.16 million square-feet of retail space for shopping opportunities. The major anchor here will be a 450,000 square-foot, three story facility dedicated to home furnishings and accessories. There will also be restaurants and 294 condominium units. Adjacent Outdoor World will have retail outlets and a 50,000 square-foot museum showcasing the history of the area, with artifacts from the region. The Village Plaza, also part of phase one, is bringing boutiques, galleries, a luxury hotel, a 300-seat amphitheater and 310 condominiums to the project.

For overnight guests visiting Cataloochee Wilderness Resort, there are plans for all types of accommodations, from campgrounds to an epic scale 375-room Wilderness lodge, complete with a full-service 16,000 square-foot spa, and a 120-seat restaurant with a 47-seat lounge. A future ski area and an equestrian center are also on the drawing board beyond phase one, along with three signature golf courses —Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Arnold Palmer.

For the meetings market that frequent this region for its outstanding scenery and activities, Cataloochee will have a state-of-the-art 35,000 square-foot conference center in phase one. Additional hotels and a luxury inn are also planned as the resort expands to meet demands.

"Another benefit to the area with this master plan development in phases is the amount of jobs we will bring to the community," affirms Jerry Pospisil. "We estimate that we will need an operating staff of 3,755 employees, which does not take into account the construction hiring that will be required to build out each phase."

Cataloochee Holdings, LLC is based in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information please visit www.cataloocheewildernessresort.com and www.equitrustusa.com. To contact President Jerry Pospisil by email, jbp@cataloocheeresort.com.