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Zermatt Resort Not Sold, Not Bankrupt; New Funding Held Up
 by Incorrect Room Numbering Scheme!

By Andrew Kirk, Park Record, Park City, UtahMcClatchy-Tribune Regional News

May 22, 2010 --Zermatt Resort developer Robert Fuller confirmed Wednesday his business is not for sale and is not declaring bankruptcy.

He has told Midway City government he's having trouble solving his financial problems because units are numbered incorrectly.

Since the recession began in 2008, the resort has struggled to pay nearly half a million dollars in state and county taxes. People close to the resort have said it was seeking a buyer, but that's not true, Fuller said.

"I can't speak to all the things being worked out," he explained. "But the future will be very secure."

When The Park Record last reported the issue in mid-March, Fuller said his strategy for regaining firm financial footing would take several weeks. He predicted being able to issue a statement in June.

At that time, Fuller said he was excited about the resort's future, in part, because he had contracted Bobby Foster as general manager. Foster had been the marketing director and spokesperson for Premier Resorts International, but had a falling out with the principals last summer.

Foster joined Zermatt around Christmas time to help with sales and marketing and then stepped in as interim general manager, Foster explained in an interview a few weeks ago.

But then he was laid off at the end of April. The announcement came as a shock, Foster said.

Fuller on Wednesday said he couldn't discuss personnel issues but wishes Foster the best.

"I don't want to talk about people. He's a great guy," Fuller<> added.Fuller is now acting as general manager himself.

On the day he left, Foster said the resort had been seeking new investors and hadn't yet been successful. He believes that will be the focus of the resort moving forward.

"Things are going in the right direction. The property can be successful," Foster said.

Brad Wilson, Midway City recorder, said Thursday original plats recorded with Wasatch County for the resort list ground-floor condominium units as 001, 002, etc. and second floor units as 101, 102, for example. The signage and deeds list the units in accordance to standard hotel practice of first floor being 100's and second floor in 200's.

That mundane detail has kept Fuller from receiving new funding for at least five weeks as he works to correct it with the county, Wilson said,

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Salt Lake City confirmed no forms of bankruptcy have been filed. If the resort did have a new owner, that person would have to add their name to its liquor licenses. Vera Pitt with the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control confirmed no new applications have been filed.

It's easy to understand Fuller's commitment to working out the Zermatt's financial problems. Originally a dentist, Fuller loved telling the story of his pioneer ancestors when he opened the resort in 2006. His family partially from Switzerland helped establish Midway's tourism industry in the Nineteenth Century.

He saw the development as fulfilling a family legacy, he told multiple reporters.

Another change sought with the county, Wilson said, is Hotel Bärren is being changed to Hotel der Baer.

View Zermatt Resort in a larger map

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Copyright (c) 2010, Park Record, Park City, Utah

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