Steamboat Pilot & Today

A family-owned Branson, Mo., company has purchased the Alpiner Lodge in downtown Steamboat Springs for $2.2 million.

John and Maria Latek sold the Lincoln Avenue motel to VPG Partners II LLC. Adam Joyce, a member of the family that leads VPG Partners, said the plan is to undertake a major remodeling of the motel this spring.

The Joyce family owns and operates two established resorts on Table Rock Lake, minutes from the country music theaters in Branson. They own the Cabins at Green Mountain, which is marketed to families, and the more upscale Cedar Resort, which offers 20 cottages and duplexes.

The Joyce Family is in the midst of developing Stormy Point Village in conjunction with the Festiva Resorts timeshare group. The new resort, which is styled to resemble a Cape Cod fishing village, has won architectural awards, Joyce said.

Stormy Point is on 50 acres along Table Rock Lake. When built out, it will comprise 350 freestanding cottages. During 2005, 14 two- and three-bedroom cottages were scheduled to be built. Construction is under way on a 12,000-square-foot clubhouse at a cost of $3 million. It will be notable for its 60-foot lighthouse.

Table Rock Lake has 850 miles of shoreline and is popular for boating and fishing.

Joyce said his family has a home in Steamboat and has "fallen in love with the area."

The Alpiner has been marketed as economy lodging in the Steamboat market.

The Alpiner Lodge is the third major downtown hotel redevelopment project announced in the past 18 months. The Nites Rest Motel and the Harbor Hotel also are slated for redevelopment.

-- To reach Tom Ross call 871-4205 or e-mail tross@steamboatpilot.com