The first phase of the project, valued at $150 million, will involve the demolition of one of the buildings that make up the current 1,200-room hotel complex. Several other adjoining structures will be stripped down to the bare steel and then rebuilt. This phase of the overall $500 million master plan is to transform the 1,600-acre property into a luxury hotel, convention center and resort spa.

"The Concord has a history steeped in tradition," says Louis R. Cappelli, managing partner in Concord Associates, the developer for the new Concord Resort and Convention Center. "Thousands of people of all ages have fond memories of the hotel and the enjoyable times they had here. The Concord enjoyed a well-earned reputation as the biggest and the best resort hotel of its day. Virtually every major entertainer performed here during its heyday. We intend not only to keep this sense of history alive, but also to create a new, modern, full-service luxury hotel, convention center and resort spa. The Concord Resorts at Kiamesha Lake will once again emerge as a major four-season resort and residential community." Concord Associates is a joint venture of Cappelli Enterprises of Valhalla and Reckson Strategic Venture Partners LLC. The joint venture also owns another Catskill hotel--the Grossinger Country Club.

Phase one of the project will take 20 months to complete and will include: a 525-room hotel, an 85,000-sf exhibition, convention and meeting facility that will also feature a ballroom, dining rooms, restaurants and a 25,000-sf Imperial Theater with seating for 2,400. The hotel complex already features the infamous Monster golf course as well as the International 18-hole course and a nine-hole course. At the end of phase one other recreational amenities will include: a golf school/tennis academy, eight indoor tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts and a bowling alley. The plan also calls for a health club and spa as well as a 250-car parking garage and 700 additional spaces.