A half-century-old suburban mainstay is getting a second chance with new ownership and a capital infusion. Saint Charles Resort, a group of national hospitality vets, bought the note for The Pheasant Run Resort & Spa in St. Charles through foreclosure proceedings. Hostmark Hospitality Group will manage the property upon deed transfer and will oversee a $5M renovation. “We saw an asset that had rich historic importance and had fallen on hard times,” Hostmark president and CEO Jerry Cataldo (above) tells us. The initial focus will be addressing short-term capital needs, Jerry says, while maintaining the property’s top attractions like the 18-hole golf course, Spa Vargas Wellness, and a vast array of entertainment options.

The 473-room, 250-acre resort (above) has always been a magnet for meetings, trade shows, and social events, and Hostmark will continue to target the so-called SMERF audience (social, military, education, religious, and fraternal organizations... not the little blue creatures). It’s about making the physical product more palatable and current for those gatherings, Jerry says. Development around the resort should help bolster its appeal, he adds, like the infrastructure upgrades on North Avenue and redevelopment of Charlestowne Mall. If Jerry, a family-oriented sports enthusiast, had his way, the resort décor would all be Blackhawks-themed.