The news of various golf resort communities halting development or going through foreclosure reminds people that we are not completely out of the economic recession—not yet, anyway. But there are those success stories out there that inspire others to take chances and risks and that give people hope and optimism during these times. Whiskey Jack Resort in Sparwood is one great success story. Phase 1 is complete, with 115 out of 119 lots sold and 31 homes currently being built.

Stuart Koch and Joe Valentine, the two principals of Whiskey Jack, partly attribute their success to their own $9-million investment into this 675-acre project. Koch also said that the resort’s ideal location has contributed greatly to Whiskey Jack’s success.

“The Elk Valley is a jewel in North America,” said Koch, “because of the mine and its expansion. We felt the recession but people here didn’t really feel it. They forged through the hard times but they didn’t struggle half as much as the rest of the world.”

Koch and Valentine both got their start in real estate in California. Valentine specializes in flipping homes and foreclosures. Koch got into real estate when he was in his 20s in San Francisco. He started out locating land for commercial businesses and figured out how this land could be used effectively and efficiently.

“I brought the land to its highest and best use,” said Koch. “I had three different commercial builders and we would . . . partner up and build shopping centres. I was 23 years old at this point and I worked from sun-up to sundown.”

The duo works in Sparwood for 320 days of the year and they spend their free time in the United States with their families.

Koch said that Sparwood’s willingness to embrace growth has contributed to Whiskey Jack’s success as well.

“We are so healthy,” said Koch. “We have a co-operative town. They see that they need to grow and that this is an opportunity to bring another industry in and nice (second) homes in Sparwood.”

For the remainder of 2010, Koch said, there are 31 homes under construction; they are working hard to have 35 homes under construction by the end of the season. With four company builders, Golden Eagle Custom Homes and New Dawn Developments Ltd. in Cranbrook, Parastone Developments Ltd. in Fernie and Rinke Homes in Pincher Creek Alberta—Koch has grand plans for Whiskey Jack Resort.

“We will have a hotel,” said Koch, “and some sort of spa facility. We will have parks down by the creek, trails to and from it, and a bridge going over the creek that gets you to the Crown land, which will lead to snowmobiling, hiking and biking trails. We will have two restaurants—a pub-style restaurant and an upper-mid-scale-style restaurant. Then we will have a banquet facility for corporate functions and we will have a concert, arts and wine venue . . . We are catering to demand.”