Amelia Island Plantation facts for kids
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Hospitality and Real estate development |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Headquarters | Amelia Island, Florida |
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Key people
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Theo Schofield, Managing Director |
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Number of employees
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825 |
| Parent | Omni Hotels & Resorts |
The Omni Amelia Island Resort is a fancy place to stay on Amelia Island, Florida. This island is the westernmost barrier island on the Atlantic Ocean in the United States. For 20 years, the resort's tennis courts hosted a big tournament called the Bausch & Lomb Championships. This was a major event for the Women's Tennis Association. Today, the resort's 402-room hotel is part of Omni Hotels & Resorts.
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What is the Omni Amelia Island Resort?
This huge resort covers 1,350 acres, which is like 1,000 football fields! It has a 402-room hotel and nine different restaurants. If you love golf, there are 46 holes of championship golf courses. For tennis fans, there are 23 special Har-Tru clay tennis courts and 7 pickleball courts. The whole area also includes 1,150 condos and 800 homes.
How the Resort Started
The idea for Amelia Island Resort began in 1971. It was started by the Sea Pines Company, known for developing Hilton Head Island. Arthur Foster, a landscape architect, helped plan the resort. His team worked hard to make sure the buildings fit in with nature. They wanted to protect the marshes, sand dunes, and wildlife. This plan became a promise, ensuring the natural beauty would be saved.
Changes Over Time
The first owners faced some money problems in 1976. Then, in 1978, a new group of investors bought the resort. They called themselves the Amelia Island Company (AIC). For the next 30 years, they made the resort even better and more famous. The hotel's name changed a few times. It went from Amelia Island Plantation Hotel to Amelia Inn & Beach Club. Finally, it became the Omni Amelia Island Resort when Omni Hotels & Resorts bought it in 2010.
The resort is highly rated, earning a four-diamond award from the AAA. It has a huge space, about 80,000 square feet, for meetings and events. Up to 1,600 people can attend these gatherings. From 1980 to 2008, the resort hosted a big women's tennis tournament. This event was known as the Bausch & Lomb Championships for many years. The resort also hosts other fun events like a wine festival, golf tournaments, and a jazz festival. You can find 20 swimming pools, a spa, a kids' club, and a fishing lake here. All of this is located between 3½ miles of white sand beaches and the Intracoastal Waterway.
Tough Times and New Owners
Around 2008, many resorts faced financial challenges. The Amelia Island Company also had a tough time. They had to cut some jobs and reduce wages. In 2009, a company called Redquartz Development wanted to buy the resort. However, the deal didn't work out. The Amelia Island Company then had to reorganize its business to manage its debts.
In 2010, the Noble Investment Group planned to take over and invest money to help the resort. But then, TRT Holdings, the company that owns Omni Hotels, made a better offer. In August 2010, TRT Holdings won the bid to buy the resort for $67.1 million. The sale was completed in September 2012.
Golf Courses at the Resort
Golf is a huge draw at Omni Amelia Island Resort. It has two amazing championship golf courses. The Oak Marsh course was designed by Pete Dye. It winds through salty marshes and old oak trees covered in spanish moss. The Long Point course is also challenging. It was designed by Tom Fazio and has eight water hazards you need to get past!
Amelia River Golf Club
From 2005, the Amelia Island Company leased a golf course called Royal Amelia Golf Course. In 2007, it was renamed Amelia River Golf Club. This course was owned by the city of Fernandina Beach and designed by Tom Jackson. When the Amelia Island Company had financial issues in 2009, the lease ended. The golf course then went back to the city.
Tennis Fun
Tennis is another popular activity at the resort. Omni Amelia Island Resort has 23 Har-Tru clay courts. These courts are shaded by tall southern live oak trees during the day. They are also lit up at night so you can play anytime! The resort offers tennis lessons through the Cliff Drysdale program. It has been ranked as one of the best tennis resorts in the United States.
Stay Fit at the Resort
The Omni Amelia Island Resort has a great fitness center. It has rooms with free weights and exercise machines. You can also take yoga, body toning, and aqua fit classes in the 20-yard heated indoor lap pool. There is also a smaller fitness center inside the main Omni Amelia Island Resort building.
