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Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa’s new ‘steward’ Mark Klausner stands in the redone General Course pro shop.
WHILE SEVERAL SURROUNDING STATES have multiple golf resort destinations, Illinois for the most part has just one.
The Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa in the beautiful Northwest Corner of Illinois, Galena.
Galena isn’t a big town, but it’s got a both a historic side and an atmosphere that’s fun to enjoy. Especially when the warm summer months come around.
But Galena is a town that relies to a point on tourism, and people coming to town to relax and enjoy themselves. In that manner Eagle Ridge Resort is no different. It offers 63 holes of golf, a relaxing spa, and plenty of food and drink options. But if want to just enjoy nature, there is no shortage of that at Eagle Ridge.
Because of the resorts 63 holes of golf, it’s golf that really does drive the business of Eagle Ridge. But in recent years, with east coast ownership of the resort losing touch with what had made the resort so attractive for years, it was time for change.
The Highlands restaurant and the General Golf Course sit right near the front entrance of the property.
ENTER MARK KLAUSNER, who had been living in the Galena Territory for years, and noticed that things had changed, and decided to try and make Eagle Ridge the attractive property it once was.
So back in 2019 right before the pandemic hit, Klausner and wife Kathy decided to step up and purchase the resort.
Sometimes you look at things, and think you can fix what stands out. But one of the first things Klausner realized after buying the property, is how much needed to be done from the infrastructure standpoint. Because there was plenty to fix that would cost money, real money, and they were things the homeowners, members and resort guests would never see or notice.
So Klausner rolled up his sleeves and went to work. Klausner doesn’t like to call himself the owner of Eagle Ridge, but the current steward’s of the property. Klausner might be the new General of a property that’s famous for the resorts General Golf Course, but he hardly runs the resort in any type of military fashion or the way Union General U.S. Grant would have.
Klausner grew up on the South Side of Chicago, before he and his wife moved to Aurora and lived there for close to 30 years.
The General golf course has flipped the 9’s, so hole #18 is the old hole #9.
After visiting Galena and Eagle Ridge for years, Klausner was ready to try different locations for vacations.
But at the last minute an opportunity arose that would keep the Klausner’s in Galena. There was some very nice secluded land, 7 acres worth that was on the market.
Klausner made an offer that he didn’t think would get accepted. But it was accepted and the rest is history. The funny thing was, Klausner could have sold out just as quickly. One of his neighbor’s who wanted the property, learned of the sale after Klausner bought the land. The neighbor called Klausner three times trying to buy the land, with solid offers. But after briefly thinking about those offers, Klausner decided to stay-put especially after Kathy said she wanted no-part of selling out.
The Roger Packard-Andy north designed General golf course, celebrates it’s 25th birthday on May 25th.
SEVERAL YEARS BACK Klausner’s property at Eagle Ridge changed, at the hands of Mother Nature.
A small micro-burst came through on the backside of Klausner’s land.
“It took out at least 30 trees and made a mess of things in the backyard,” said Klausner. ‘When my kids came over for the holidays, they helped chop up the fallen trees, and I now have a large pile of firewood.”
But Klausner actually had more than that. Because the fallen trees opened some outstanding views of the valley’s around his home. For the Klausner’s, Galena never looked so good. The views guests have are also really good from the patio dining area outside the General Clubhouse and Lounge 289.
Currently even though the rebuilding is still going on, Eagle Ridge is starting to fly high again. The General Clubhouse has been redone, and work continues on the golf courses. The new 15,000+ square foot spa, opens July 13th on the previous location of the resorts general store.
Klausner has found ways to improve how the resorts operates, getting rid of propane and bringing in large solar panels to improve energy sources. The four golf courses are seeing changes and improvements.
CLICK HERE to hear the full interview with Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa’s ‘Steward’, Mark Klausner.
Klausner a total sports fan of Chicago’s sports teams, really enjoyed the White Sox Field of Dreams game with the Yankee’s last year. But now is looking forward to the Cubs Field of Dream’s game come this August.
So if your looking forward to your next getaway, that includes some rounds of golf and relaxing spa time. Make your return or enjoy your first stay at Eagle Ridge by visiting EagleRidge.com or call the resort at (800)-892-2269.
The new ‘stewards’ welcome you to the Galena Territory and Eagle Ridge Resort.