A new ownership group has purchased a place of prominence in Prince Edward County with visions to return it to its spectacular splendour.

West Lake Beach Incorporated, a division under the Mehan Group, has bought the Isaiah Tubbs Resort and Conference Centre overlooking West Lake from original owners Fred and Bonnie Weeks.

The Weeks family built and developed the world class resort and iconic Restaurant on the Knoll in the mid 1980’s and Isaiah Tubbs was one of the first upscale accommodation offerings in Prince Edward County.

Sunil Mehan, President of the Mehan Group, told the Gazette the resort would be retaining its original names and West Lake Inc is developing a “vision in progress” for Isaiah Tubbs.

“Our plan is to make this a four season resort with renovated rooms and facilities including an indoor swimming pool, loads of fun activities for guests and perhaps the addition of more suites to meet the growing demand for accommodations in The County,” Mehan said “We look forward to engaging with guests, residents and businesses and we are looking forward to being a part of this wonderful community.”

Mehan came to Prince Edward County in 2018 looking at some commercial properties and happened to find himself enjoying lunch at the Restaurant on the Knoll. With the high summer sun shimmering off West Lake and the golden sand dunes rising out of the western skyline across the water, the natural vista that entices so many visitors soon had Mehan and his family hooked. “l looked around and said ‘Why don’t I buy this place?’,” Mehan said with a laugh.

Rosa MacLeod and Libby Crombie. (Submitted Photo)

Enlisting the assistance of Elizabeth Crombie of Royal LePage ProAlliance and Rosa MacLeod of Royal LePage Signature, Mehan remained engaged to see his Prince Edward County dream through to its completion over the next four years should the resort come on the market. Eventually, the persistence of his team paid off.

“We know this is an iconic place and you can’t get a more unique location such as this anywhere else in the world with the sand dunes looking at you from across the lake,” Mehan said. “Prince Edward County is so beautiful and new to the visitors from Toronto. They are exploring new places and there’s a great opportunity here.”

Through an agreement with the Weeks family, Sunil and his wife Rani started making infrastructure investments prior to the close of the real estate agreement to ensure the 2022 summer season is successful. Vital upgrades included new roofs on a pair of lodgings as well as fresh paint in a number of accommodations.

Mehan added protective landscaping surrounding the beach area to halt erosion is another project that’s slated to happen soon. Special events and weddings have been a crucial part of the Resort and Conference Centre’s offering in the past and Mehan hopes to increase the four-season aspect of that business.

Sunil and Rani Mehan. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)

Existing staff has been retained and the resort will continue to run under the watchful eye and expert direction of General Manager Tanya Clarke. Typically, the resort employs 56 and that number swells to 80 to 90 when the accommodations are fully booked.

West Lake Beach is also examining the County of Prince Edward’s new staff bunkhouse accommodation bylaw and my soon offer employee spaces at newly constructed on site staff accommodations.

In terms of recapturing an elite dining experience, Mehan is adding more chefs to the Restaurant on the Knoll as well as developing a secondary restaurant that will bring authentic Indian cuisine to Prince Edward County. When speaking of the short and long term goals that will help Isaiah Tubbs regain its former glory and propel the resort to new heights, Mehan joked he had “bought Rani and myself jobs.”

“Sunil and Rani are incredibly industrious, they work hard at everything they take on and we know they will be successful with Isaiah Tubbs,” MacLeod said.

“It was so important to see the resort transition to good people who we know are going to take careful consideration and make the necessary improvements and upgrades to this iconic Prince Edward County landmark,” Crombie added. “We know Isaiah Tubbs is in good hands.”

To that end, Mehan said it was important to continue the tradition of Isaiah Tubbs hosting the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary’s Festival of Trees fundraiser each fall.

“Having a good, well supported hospital here is so important and something the community values,” he said “We look forward to seeing the Auxiliary in the fall to kick off the holiday season.” In the meantime, the Restaurant and Resort remain open for dining, accommodations and special events.

Visit them at isaiahtubbs.com or call 613-393-2090 .