Dear Arden Hills Member:
For nearly seven decades, Arden Hills has been a cornerstone of the Sacramento region. Its journey began with founder Sherm Chavoor, who, over the initial 31 years, transformed this modest swim and tennis club into a globally renowned establishment through the remarkable achievements of its athletes. In 1985, the Favero family assumed ownership, ushering in a new era for the club. Over the subsequent 35 years, we worked tirelessly to expand this neighborhood gem into the premier Resort, Club, and Spa in the region. The club grew from a modest 6,000 square feet to an expansive 100,000-square-foot resort, boasting exquisite grounds, sophisticated social amenities, and a diverse range of athletic services and facilities.
In the early 1990s, we began our first phase of expansion, introducing new pools, new social facilities, a commercial kitchen, a basketball court, state-of-the-art strength & conditioning rooms, and cardio facilities. In addition, the entrance was relocated from Mission Avenue to a grand new entrance off Fair Oaks Boulevard. In 1998, a 50-meter pool was added, continuing the Arden Hills tradition of producing elite swimmers, hundreds of whom secured athletic scholarships to the nation's top universities.
In 2002, during our second phase of expansion, we added a 50,000-square-foot Athletic Pavilion, including a luxurious 10,000-square-foot Day Spa. The Spa at Arden Hills consistently earned the title of the Best Spa in the region for 17 consecutive years. In 2013, the addition of JMG tennis saw Arden Hills become a hub for producing world-ranked elite tennis athletes, with one of our young members even challenging Djokovic at the Arthur Ashe Stadium during the nationally televised quarterfinals at the US Open.
Throughout the decades, we've had the privilege of hosting thousands of weddings and events, warmly welcoming hundreds of thousands of guests. Our greatest joy has been in celebrating with you, our cherished members, at numerous festive occasions, from Christmas parties to Mother's Day and Easter Brunches, Halloween celebrations, Crab Feeds, Easter Egg Hunts, Spa Parties, Valentines Dinners, Luaus, and Member Appreciation Parties. It's been you, the members, who have created the enduring memories, and we are forever grateful for your support, encouragement, and loyalty over all these years. We are also thankful for our remarkable employees. None of this would have been possible without the thousands of dedicated individuals we employed over the years. Your membership has supported over one hundred million dollars in wages back into our local economy during our stewardship of Arden Hills.
As we approached 2020, the club was thriving, and our family was in the process of passing the torch to the next generation, eager to continue the club's success for decades to come. Yet, as fate would have it, a curveball was thrown our way—COVID-19. Every facet of Arden Hills, from the gym to the spa, weddings and events, restaurants, and lodging, found itself directly in the crosshairs of the worldwide shutdown. While assistance in the form of “PPP” funds provided some relief, it fell far short of making up for the losses. The club had never closed for more than a day for nearly seven decades. Yet, it took over 18 months to fully reopen the gym, the restaurant, and the Spa, and three years to navigate the complexities surrounding weddings and events.
Early in the pandemic, we embarked on a multi-pronged approach to ensure that Arden Hills would survive for the next generation. That approach included reevaluating the overall business model, rezoning the property to maximize refinancing potential, and pursuing new investment and/or ownership (including possibly transitioning to a member-owned facility). As we diligently worked to recover, it gradually became clear that our previously very successful business model may no longer be viable in a post-COVID world. It also became evident over time that the likelihood of identifying potential investors/buyers for the Arden Hills business had diminished significantly due to the pandemic's devastating impact on our resources. As a result, our focus shifted towards identifying a highly qualified club industry leader with the means to preserve the property and facilities for future generations.
It’s with this in mind that we can now share an update that is both somber and exciting about the future of the Arden Hills property. Sadly, after nearly 70 years, Arden Hills will cease its operations as of December 31, 2023. However, we are excited to announce that we have entered into an agreement for Life Time, the nation’s premier healthy lifestyle brand, to acquire and bring their operation to this iconic property.
Not only will Life Time preserve the legacy of this property, but they will infuse it with new energy, excitement, and passion. Life Time’s plans include a phased renovation and transformation with the goal of minimal impact on members and their routines. Building upon the already luxurious facility, members of Life Time can expect updated spaces with a refreshed look and feel with best-in-class equipment across the property, including the fitness areas, pools, tennis courts, renovation of the spa, dining, and more. Life Time has more than a 30-year track record of success and operates more than 170 athletic country clubs across the U.S. and Canada, including in Roseville and Folsom. They possess the resources and expertise to preserve the legacy of this storied property and elevate it to new heights for our community in the decades ahead. Life Time will be purchasing the property in early 2024 and will open after a short period of closure as Life Time Arden. You can expect more information from us and updates from the Life Time team over the coming weeks, including details on an exclusive opportunity for current members to join Life Time.
We want to express our heartfelt appreciation for the honor of being stewards of this exceptional club for the past 38 years and for the privilege of serving you. We wish you and your families as much love and happiness as our family has experienced throughout these many years.
Sincerely,
