May 5, 2010--HILL AIR FORCE BASE -- A world-class retreat facility for Hill Air Force Base and other local service members might soon be on the way.

On Tuesday, the Air Force selected The Canyons Ski Resort in Summit County as the future location of a commercial hospitality development.

The development is a public-private venture involving the state of Utah and the Wadman Corporation, the development company set to build the project.

A related commercial development also is planned, with tax money generated there helping to finance the retreat facility. In addition, the facility would be open to the general public, who would not receive the discounted rates available to military personnel.

The project was developed after the Air Force agreed to transfer the Hill Haus Recreation Lodge to local communities to provide facilities for the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Also on Tuesday, the Military Installation Development Authority announced a Memorandum of Understanding for the development with Park City and Summit County, which the two entities are expected to consider Thursday.

Officials from the Air Force want to build a hotel at The Canyons, which is approximately 40 miles southeast of Hill Air Force Base, that can be used by local military members in a retreat fashion.

MIDA is looking at 112 acres in the area that would carry a purchase price of $70,000 per acre.

At a Tuesday MIDA meeting, Sen. Jerry Stevenson, RLayton, said rooms at the privately funded hotel would be given to military members at a discounted rate and could be used as a retreat-style facility after service deployments.

The Air Force operates similar hotels in Orlando, Fla., Hawaii, Virginia, Germany and Korea.

Robert M. Moore, Air Force Real Property Agency director, approved the selection after discussions with local community representatives on the location of the proposed hotel.

With an approximate location now selected, the Air Force can begin working out project specifics with Wadman Corporation.

Wadman is also the developer for the Falcon Hill project on Hill's west side.

Stevenson said the hotel has no tie-in to the Falcon Hill project, other than the same developer and the MIDA board overseeing both projects.

Maj. Gen. Andrew E. Busch, Ogden Air Logistics Center commander, said the hotel facility would provide nearby leisure options to active-duty members at Hill.

"With the Air Force's selection of The Canyons resort area for a privately funded Air Force recreation facility, we look forward to discussions on location-specific details and trust we'll be able to reach an agreement for this facility soon," he said in a written statement.

"We will be working to bring world-class recreation opportunities for our service members one step closer to reality."

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