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December 2017
The Sandcastle, A History (Continued From Previous Page)
on. “My husband figured out how to turn them on. The kids
loved to swim in the dark with the lights, before the security
guards came at 9 p.m. to be sure everyone was out.”
Meanwhile, several years after the modifications made related to
fitness and food during the Sandcastle building’s first five years
(see the first part of this article in the November, 2017 Digest),
the building needed additional improvements. Kay Narmour,
now KICA Recreation Director, recalled, “Everything came
through the front door - palm trees, party rentals, people. The
foyer was hardwood, and twice a rental company had to refinish
the floor because they had scratched it so badly. Members
damaged it, too. Sand is so bad on hardwood.”
The 2005 renovation project improved the lobby and added
a service elevator so that caterers would not have to come
through the front door.“For the first time, members had a real
entrance,” Kay said. The library and hallway got a hardwood
floor. Upstairs improvements were made to the too-big kitchen
and access to the third room.
2007 brought more changes to the fitness and pool area food
operations. “The snack bar wasn’t vented, so we couldn’t offer
the hamburgers, hot dogs and french fries that everyone
wanted. It wasn’t a real snackbar,” Kay said. Dissatisfied with
the “grumpy” lack of customer service, Kay had previously
replaced the food providers with independent contractors, and
in 2006 had even tried some vending machines; “They were
not popular,” she noted. She wanted a real poolside grill.
The 2007 project added the grill and remodeled the entire
first floor, creating the current lobby and two fitness rooms,
one for equipment and one for classes. The second floor
remained open during construction; the downstairs offices
were relocated upstairs and the resort provided fitness space at
the Straw Market. Lost to the renovation was a lovely mural
that decorated the aerobics room, which Artist Guild president
Kathleen Kreuzeberger had painted.
Except for the conversion of the pool pavilion to a bar
overlooking the parking lot in 2015, the last 10 years have seen
only maintenance projects at the Sandcastle. After 20 years,
the Sandcastle is not the showpiece it once was. The second
floor has remained a popular event location, but has often been
inadequate for the growing number of clubs and classes. Kay
has heard frequent complaints about the lack of fitness space
and noted, “The dated style and décor are not up to Kiawah
standards, and there is no view of the ocean from anywhere but
the upstairs meeting rooms.” She has also had complaints from
adults who do not like being in the middle of children’s games
and balls at the pool.
Terri Weaver, a regular fitness center user for nearly 10 years,
noted that fitness class attendance “has gone up dramatically.”
Part of that started when class fees were eliminated. “We went to
the Sandcastle Committee and said that member health is really
Conceptual Drawing of the Planned Relocated Bar at The Sandcastle
important and more people would come to classes if they didn’t
have to pay every time.” She wishes there were space for real locker
rooms with lockers, better shower facilities, and some privacy.
KICA COO Jimmy Bailey commented on the need for the
current project. “The building has adapted to a number of
uses beyond its original purpose. Much about it is makeshift.
Because of the various Band-Aids over the years, we wound up
with building storage occupying the ocean front space on the
first floor. We stuck the Sandbar in the only spot we could find.”
“We are investing significantly in soundproofing the group
fitness room, which will improve the noise problems when an
event in the ballroom is at the same time as an exercise class.
We have incorporated a bar as a critical feature, which will
have an ocean view and set up as a professional bar is. We will
open up ocean views from the first floor. We are adding an
adult pool overlooking the ocean. We are also benefiting from
the purchase of the old Town Hall, now called Beachwalker
Center, moving some small group activities there.”
Funding for the improvements will not affect annual assessments;
in fact, the board has voted not to increase assessments this
year. Most funding will come from a combination of funds
from the Comcast revenue sharing agreement, which is over
$200,000 annually, and the operating funds surplus which has
accumulated over many years.
The Sandcastle closed its doors on Oct. 25 and is anticipated
to reopen by July 3, 2018. Watch for progress reports in Digest.
Article contributed by Digest Feature Reporter Sue Schaffer.