New owners of the former Teamsters Health and Medical Camp – now named the Oak Valley Golf Course & Resort – say they plan to keep the Pevely-area property as a resort that will be open to the public.
Co-owner Tauqeer Haider said there are no plans to turn the 317-acre tract into a housing development, despite rumors he said are circulating.
The camp, 1230 Abbey Lane, is in unincorporated Jefferson County, just east of Pevely. Haider, 55, and Younus Shah, 46, both of St. Louis County, bought the property a few years ago from Teamsters Local 688 Insurance & Welfare Fund Board of Trustees.
“When we bought the property, 10 to 12 contractors wanted to build subdivisions here,” Haider said Feb. 28. “Our intention is to keep this property as it is. (The Teamsters) spent millions of dollars to build this property. We bought it from Teamsters about three years ago, but as far as operations, we’ve had it (a few weeks).”
Tom Conway, the Oak Valley business development/tournament director, said “it was leased for the first two years to another operator.”
Haider and Conway said the facility is undergoing remodeling and renovations, but its many features remain available for use.
“This place has been in operation since the 1960s,” Haider said. “The golf course, pavilions, RV campsites have fully been in operation – and the fishing lakes.”
It also has a pool that will be opened for the spring/summer season and other features, he said.
Construction work is in progress, the men said.
“The clubhouse will be rehabilitated,” Haidir said. “There will be a new look to the building in front and back. We are putting in all new windows and making a new facade. We are adding 4,000 square feet to the back of the clubhouse. We are building a huge outside facility for weddings and other activities. It should be finished by May.”
Haider said once the outdoor facility for weddings, which overlooks the Mississippi River, is completed, he believes Oak Valley can become a wedding destination or a place for friends to gather for some fun. Renovations to a building near the facility are to become modernized suites.
“If someone wants to have 20 to 40 people here for a reunion, they rent out the building,” Haider said. “We also have campsites and 12 RV hook-ups.”
Conway said people continue to play the 18-hole golf course while renovations are being done.
“We’re rebranding the golf course and resort, giving it a new name and opening it to the public,” he said. “Prior to us, it was for members only. We will make physical improvements to the golf course specifically by redoing the bunkers, adding sand and horticulture, cart path repair and upgrades. The parking lot will be upgraded. We’ll go from 90 spaces up to 200. There are future plans to put in a driving range.”
Haider said he and Shaw seek annexation into the city of Pevely.
“We want to support the community and build the community,” he said.
Pevely Ward 1 Alderman Steve Markus, who chairs the Pevely Planning and Zoning Board, said Pevely leaders would like to annex the site.
“We welcome their voluntary annexation into the city of Pevely,” Markus said. “It would help us round out our borders.”
Haider said Oak Valley offers something unique to the area and can bring visitors to the Pevely area.
“We intend to advertise throughout the county and throughout the state to bring people here to use the resort,” he said. “We want people to know what we have here.”
He said memberships to the resort are offered at various levels with different prices.
“The biggest thing is, the community should utilize the place for your children to get away from their computers,” Haider said. “Grandpa can park the RV here. Dad can golf. Mom can swim with the kids and grandma can walk the nature trails. Three generations can enjoy the place as much as they want to.”
People are being sought for various jobs.
“We’re (hiring for) the banquet facility, including the cooking and waiting staff; the grounds crew; the pro shop staff including marshals and starters; at the water park, lifeguards and concession workers,” Conway said.
Staff size varies greatly during the year, Haider said.
“In the summer, we have 30 to 40,” he said. “Right now, we have a skeleton crew of eight.”