A state audit shows the Honey Creek Resort near Lake Rathbun made more money than it lost last year.
Department of Natural Resources spokesman, Kevin Baskins, says the biggest factor in the resort’s bottom line this year is the decision by the state legislature to pay off the bonds used to finance its construction in 2008.
Lawmakers approved nearly 32-million dollars to pay off the revenue bonds for Honey Creek after the head of the D-N-R said the facility wouldn’t be able to be profitable without the bailout. The state audit found Honey Creek had revenues of just over six million dollars for the fiscal year that ended in June, with expenses of around five-point-nine million dollars for an operating profit of 163-thousand-930 dollars. The resort struggled to get ahead since it opened in September of 2008 and reported a loss last year of 165-thousand-433 dollars.
The resort, that includes lodging, a restaurant and golf course, is operated by Central Group Management. Baskins says the improving economy has helped them see better results.
The operating profit this year leaves the resort with an overall positive balance of 199-thousand-387 dollars. The breakdown in operating revenue shows the facility took around three-point-four million dollars from lodging, one-point-eight million dollars from the restaurant and 697-thousand dollars from the golf course.
