OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford The groundbreaking for the new Hideaway Bay Resort in Silver Creek was held Friday.

SILVER CREEK — Officials and supporters held a groundbreaking for the new Hideaway Bay Resort on Friday afternoon.

While wet weather dampened the enthusiasm a bit, the forecast for the lakeside site is sunny.

Developers Kevin and Christian Cullen of Adventure Sports Development represented the resort ownership Friday, along with Gene and Matthew Tundo of Tundo Construction. They intend to erect a new resort on the now-empty 3.6 acres, former site of the Hideaway Bay Restaurant which was destroyed by a fire.

The resort will have a two-story event space with an indoor and outdoor bar and 10 waterfront cottages for “glamping.” Water sports operations and a walking trail are also planned. The investment into the project is $1.69 million.”

The story of this site started really nine or 10 years ago when this property was in foreclosure,” said Mark Geise, deputy county executive for economic development and CEO of the county Industrial Development Association.

He credited then-county legislator and current state senator George Borrello for pushing to get it into the Chautauqua County Land Bank for redevelopment.

“He wanted to see that this property ended up being developed for something that had more of a public use and had more of a use that would appeal to tourists and visitors to this site, as opposed to someone just acquiring it at auction … and building a private residence,” Geise said.

The IDA provided incentives for the project, he noted. “Really, outdoor recreation and active living is something that we’re really reveling in and will continue to do so, and this aligns perfectly with (our) vision for the county,” he said.

Kevin Cullen said he and Christian first saw the site from a paddle board 10 years ago, “and this vision kind of started right then and there.” He called it “a beautiful, special site, it might be the most beautiful site on Lake Erie.”

He added, “It’s a sacred site, this is a sacred place. We’re going to continue that tradition just as stewards of this land, try to be as environmentally conscious as we can, offer as much opportunities as we can, and celebrate momentous occasions. We’ll have weddings here, anniversaries, birthdays.”

Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel said that “having this project is another way to incentive our federal government to step up to the plate and help this Lake Erie shoreline that has been battered the last three or four years.” He thanked the investors on behalf of county residents for their plans, and even offered them a congratulatory certificate.

Borrello was the final speaker at Friday’s ceremony. “We all came together and said, ‘we are not going to just let this go off to someone with a dollar and a dream.’ It will end up rotting away and becoming nothing,” he said. “We want to plan properly because this is a great space, a special place.”

He added that the resort will “be part of the economic drivers of this area. … This will be something special for everyone to enjoy.”