Hospital buys Toad’s Fun Zone
Standard-Examiner file photo The arcade at Toad?s Fun Zone and Mulligans Creekside Golf Center, 1690 W. 400 North, Marriott-Slaterville from 2008. Intermountain Healthcare purchased the property for future long-term development. A new management company is making improvements to the center.
Contributed photo Patrons use the batting cages at Toad?s Fun Zone and Mulligans Creekside Golf Center, 1690 W. 400 North, Marriott-Slaterville on May 31. Intermountain Healthcare purchased the property for future long-term development. A new management company is making improvements to the center.
Contributed photo A ribbon cutting ceremony with the Ogden/Weber Chamber of Commerce at Toad?s Fun Zone and Mulligans Creekside Golf Center, 1690 W. 400 North, Marriott-Slaterville on May 31. Intermountain Healthcare purchased the property for future long-term development. A new management company is making improvements to the center.
Standard-Examiner file photo An overview of the arcade at Toad?s Fun Zone and Mulligans Creekside Golf Center, 1690 W. 400 North, Marriott-Slaterville from 2008. Intermountain Healthcare purchased the property for future long-term development. A new management company is making improvements to the center.
MARRIOTT-SLATERVILLE – The go-karts have new tires, the water features in the miniature golf course are flowing and the pitching machines are launching balls smoothly.
The driving range is still open and green, while inside of the club repair center, golfers can have their swing analyzed by a series of high-speed cameras.
Many improvements have been made in the last six months at Toad’s Fun Zone and Mulligans Creekside Golf Center, 1690 W. 400 North, Marriott-Slaterville, courtesy of the new management company now running the property.
“It’s been a lot of work in the last couple of months by everybody,” said Turner C. Bitton, vice president of Pioneer Management Inc.
Pioneer Management assumed control of the amusement center and golf course after Intermountain Healthcare purchased the property on Jan. 18.
McKay-Dee Hospital spokesman Chris Dallin said Intermountain is not getting into the mini-golf business. It purchased the property for future long-term plans, Toad’s Fun Zone just happened to be on that property.
“Population projections show that west Weber County continues to grow and we want to be able to continue to serve the healthcare needs of the population,” Dallin said.
In the meantime, Intermountain contracted with Marriott-Slaterville to run operations at Toad’s Fun Zone, which in turn, entrusted the job to Pioneer Management.
Bitton said since taking over the center, the management company has been busy making improvements on the property, giving the center some T.L.C.
They have gone back to the old Mulligan’s name on the golf course, renaming it Mulligans Creekside Golf Center.
“We are trying to provide everything for a golfer, young/old, beginning to advanced,” said Kip Van Dyke, the center’s head golf professional.
The golf center includes training, lessons, club repair, a year round driving range, and the nine-hole executive golf course.
The new management hired a new superintendent to oversee the golf course.
“The condition and the playability of the golf course are improving every day,” Van Dyke said. “I’ve been able to see a generation grow up and learn to golf. This is a great environment for kids to learn, get them out away from their computers.”
On the Toad’s side, Bitton is working to add two more rental rooms, to the existing three, by the end of the summer, to make more space for corporate and private parties.
The management also went from purchasing video games for the arcade to leasing the equipment to provide a stream of new games for visitors.
It is also offers more promotions such as $100 pass for little league teams to use the batting cages.
In all, Bitton said the new ownership has invested about $100,000 into the center so far, all while lowering prices to make the center more affordable.
So far, it has been business as usual for Chris Dahlberg, a long-time patron of the center, who primarily uses the driving range. He said he has been practicing at the center since it opened. His concern is Intermountain’s long-term plan.
“This is probably our premier driving range in our area,” Dahlberg said, “and it would be sad to see it go.”
The question is, Dahlberg said, where will people go when they make it into a hospital?
Dahlberg said it is a nice place for developing young golfers.
“It will be interesting to see what happens with the development of the area,” Dahlberg said.
It is also a place that hires a lot of teenagers.
“This is such a part of this community,” Van Dyke said. “We provide a lot of first time jobs for young kids.”
Bitton expects it will be at least another decade before Intermountain does anything with the property.
“Toad’s will be here for years to come.”
