Published: May 24, 2006 10:51 pm         

Bunkers sports bar at Glade Springs holds grand opening

Calling it a place for the entire community, officials at The Resort at Glade Springs in Daniels unveiled Bunkers, a 5,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art sports bar and restaurant to a crowd of over 100 guests.

“This is a day full of pride for The Resort at Glade Springs,” said Elmer Coppoolse, chairman and chief executive officer of EMCO Hospitality Inc., owner of the resort.

Bunkers boasts two separate viewing lounges with 105-inch flat-screen televisions, as well as a large number of plasma screens throughout the restaurant and individual flat screens at every booth.

Coppoolse said Bunkers seats 100 guests inside with large viewing windows overlooking the Cobb Course.

“An additional 75 guests can be accommodated on an unparalleled outdoor deck overlooking the ninth and 18th green, the first tee and the new golf academy and practice range grounds,” he said. “A large 40-foot u-shaped bar is the focal point of the new sports bar. Two pool tables and a dart area complete the experience.”

The resort’s latest dining addition, expanding the choice of restaurants at the resort to a total of four.

The day also featured the 2006 Bunkers Open, a golf tournament to benefit the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce, which was followed by the extravagant grand-opening party.

“This establishment is an awesome addition to the area,” said Frank Wood, publisher of Beckley Newspapers and chairman of the board of the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce. “I can’t think of any place like this in the state.”

Wood also commended Coppoolse and EMCO.

“The vision he and his partners have for this resort is exactly what it needed,” Wood said. “The things they have accomplished to this point are simply amazing.”

Special appearances were made by West Virginia University coaches John Beilein and Rich Rodriguez, as well as the Budweiser Girls.

“This is an incredible sports bar and resort,” Beilein said. “It’s great to see such support for a new establishment. We also appreciate all the support this area gives to WVU.”

“This is such a great crowd,” Rodriguez said. “EMCO, Elmer Coppoolse and his team at Glade have done a fantastic job. This is a beautiful addition to the resort. Beckley is a special place and we appreciate the support you all give WVU.”

Coppoolse said the resort is becoming “the place to be” and the premiere golf destination in West Virginia.

“Bunkers certainly marks the culmination of another part of our investment program here at the resort,” Coppoolse said.

Coppoolse added that the resort will now concentrate on the new spa and a new indoor bowling center and indoor swimming pool.

“There are a whole lot of things yet to come, many of which we hope to complete this year,” he said.

For full details on Bunkers, the 2006 Bunkers Open or the Bunkers grand-opening party, contact Julie Hicks 763-0828. For more information on The Resort at Glade Springs, please visit the Web site at www.gladesprings.com.

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