by Mike Bailey
It was a packed (outdoor) house at Sankoty Lakes Resort and Retreat in Spring Bay on New Year’s Eve for what Kim Blickenstaff hopes will be the first of many fireworks shows at one of his signature projects.
More than 400 vehicles left virtually no room to spare in the parking lot at the 220-acre resort, a joint development between entrepreneur and philanthropist Blickenstaff and sportsman and contractor Dwayne Atherton.
In keeping with pandemic precautions, visitors were asked not to exit their vehicles, but that didn’t seem to dampen the enthusiasm for the event, as many honked their approval following the finale.
“We wanted to rock the Illinois River valley after an all-too-quiet 2020, and I think we accomplished that,” said Greg Birkland, president, and CEO of KDB Group, the business created to handle Blickenstaff’s central Illinois operations. “I’m sure it was a wake-up call for the trout who got to watch, too.”
“It has been an unprecedented, unpredictable 2020, and if we could bring central Illinoisans a little joy at the end of a year few will be sorry to see in their rearview mirror, we were very happy to do so,” added Blickenstaff. “This spectacular show illuminated not just the beautiful piece of property we have at Sankoty, but hopefully it put a spotlight on a 2021 that promises much better things for all of us.
“The Bay is back!”
Central States Fireworks, out of the Springfield area, conducted the show. Check out some video here, here, and here.
For many, it was a first peek at the property, which has undergone nothing short of a transformation over the last year, from gravel pit to what is sure to become among the best camping, fishing and recreational destinations in the Midwest.
A mile-long stream teeming with trout has been constructed and meanders past 20 glamping tents and two cabins. A clubhouse that will house a full-service restaurant is up, getting its finishing touches, and set to open in the coming months. An elaborate RV park sits just across Blue Creek to the north. Three large lakes dominate the property, which also brags access to the Illinois River. A large beach has been built and, before long, will sport rows of cabanas.
And that’s just the beginning.
“We will be open in 2021,” said Birkland. “We are looking forward to a great year.”
Meanwhile, Blickenstaff’s Scottish Rite Theatre was simultaneously broadcasting a concert from the facility online. Catch that performance at your leisure on the Scottish Rite Theatre’s website or on our Facebook page.