Shell Vacations Adding Napa Valley Location

NAPA, CA-Shell Vacations LLC closed on the purchase of a 12-acre view parcel here after receiving planning commission approval for a 200-unit hotel and vacation ownership resort. The property is located on the crest of a mountain overlooking the Napa Valley, near the freeway and the famous statue of the grape crusher. Shell says it is the only remaining land in Napa zoned for vacation ownership development. Development plans call for two- and one-bedroom units in an old world, Tuscan/Italian theme. Amenities will include a swimming pool with Jacuzzi and children’s pool, an exercise facility, meeting facilities and an on-site restaurant. Shell has been working to obtain approval for the development for two years. The company says it hopes to break ground by the end of September and complete the 64-unit first phase of construction by the fourth quarter of 2005. The land was acquired from Summit Equities. Neither the cost of the land nor the cost of the proposed development was available Friday afternoon.According to the California Travel & Tourism Commission, the California wine industry accounts for $1.3 billion in tourism expenditures with 14.8 million visitors coming to California wineries in 2002. Of those, about three million went directly to Napa County wineries, and about six million visited Napa and Sonoma counties from Bay Area-related travel. The area has 3,000 hotel rooms, the majority of which are small bed and breakfast establishments.Shell Vacations is one of the nation’s largest independent vacation ownership developers, currently operating 17 resorts in six states and Canada and various preview centers. Its California resorts include three in San Francisco: the Inn at the Opera, the Suites at Fisherman’s Wharf and the Donatello Hotel.