Grand Bear Resort reopening Friday

Grand Bear Lodge in Utica is back open for business starting Friday.

The resort, closed due to coronavirus shutdowns, took the time to make improvements to the property and is ready to start booking rooms and serving meals again.

General Manager Bill Peterson said Grand Bear Lodge will offer guests a new fitness center. The resort also has new security vehicles to patrol the property, they've redone storage spaces, updated the outdoor patio Bear Island, and are offering all new menus.

In addition to refreshes on the property, resort staff is taking measures to assure guests they are doing everything in their power to make their stay clean, safe and comfortable.

"During this time of unprecedented challenges in the hospitality business, we would like to assure our guests and employees that we will take the necessary steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19," the resort said in a statement.

Some of those protocols include: employee facemasks and gloves, employee temperature scans, socially spaced restaurant tables, carry out for food and beverages, plastic partitions at all service counters and frequent cleaning and disinfecting of public areas and restrooms, public area fogging twice daily and sanitizer and masks available for purchase.

Peterson said the staff has also reconfigured the breakfast buffet to limit contact with all food products.

Peterson said mini golf is open at this time, the opening date for the arcade and waterpark is yet undetermined, but will be announced on the resort's Facebook once a date is confirmed.

Peterson said the staff looks forward to reopening, and the resort is busy working on future upgrades including an outdoor inground pool and redesigned meeting rooms.

"We're open for business," Peterson said. "Fully staffed and ready to go."