New Beachfront Resort on West End Brings Jobs and Steady Stream of Tourists to Galveston

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. October 14, 2008

GALVESTON, TX, June 15, 2005. A festive poolside grand opening celebration for Galveston 's only beachfront resort drew close to 600 Galveston city officials, business leaders, resort owners and neighbors. Escapes! to the Gulf at Galveston is the seventh resort in the expanding portfolio of Escapes!, Inc., one of the nation's leading and oldest independent timeshare development companies.

Located on the West End , the unique beachfront resort marks an unprecedented public-private partnership between Galveston County and Escapes!, in which the two entities shared resources to construct a beachfront public park and a private, mid-rise condominium on Galveston Island.

"Escapes! to the Gulf at Galveston is a win-win for our city!" said Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas before she cut the ribbon officially marking the resort's grand opening. "Our new beach pavilion, the improvements in access to and parking for our beautiful beaches here on the West End, the educational wetlands preserve, the new jobs, and the tourists that this lovely resort will draw, are all testimony to the benefits that can accrue when government and business work together in partnership for the common good." Other city leaders participating in the opening ceremonies included Councilwoman Jackie Cole, DVM.

"This Grand Opening is not just another new project coming on line for us...it is a statement that Cooper Communities is in the vacation business. In keeping with my grandfather's vision, we are dedicated to offering a vacation experience that is affordable and beyond the owners' expectations," said John A. Cooper III, president of Cooper Communities, Inc., the parent company of Escapes! "My grandfather started this company in 1954 with a dream, a hope and a prayer. He had vision to offer retirees an opportunity to live a better life in retirement than while they worked. The dream came true, and today we have over one hundred thousand owners sharing my grandfather's dream. My grandfather always wanted to have a project in Texas, so I would like to say to my grandfather, Granddad, we are here."

Resort Manager Sarah Spencer served as Master of Ceremonies at the ribbon cutting ceremony. During the celebration that followed, guests swung to the music of Jazz Express and were treated to a cornucopia of gourmet delights prepared by Benno's. A number of lucky guests won valuable prizes, including Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bates, Escapes! owners from Austin, Texas, who won a four-day cruise provided by ICE Gallery. Others took home two $50 gift certificates to Waterman's Restaurant, four passes to Moody Gardens, two CC's pizza passes for four, a $50 Playa Del Loro Gift Certificates, two $25 gift certificates to Seaside Bistro, two 30-minute massages, and a 30-minute aerial tour.

"Escapes! is grateful to county leaders who saw the numerous public benefits of making these projects work cohesively," said Escapes! President T.L. Spencer. "Escapes! is growing and developing in new markets, with Galveston representing one of three Gulf Coast resorts and one that has already proven to be very popular. Our sales are already far ahead of projections."

The joint projects, on Galveston Island 's West End , include a $16 million, approximately 78-unit condominium resort for Escapes! members-the only resort fronting the beach, a newly completed 3,314-square-foot public beach pavilion, an educational wetlands preserve, beach access points and public and private parking. Pavilion amenities include an additional 7,299 square feet of outside decking for a scenic gulf view, picnic facilities, indoor showers, full wheelchair accessibility, a food concession and merchandise sales.

The U-shaped, raised, five-story condominium features a central resort recreation area with a swimming pool overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. The combined dramatic structures and lush tropical plantings throughout the development enhance the resort-style tropical setting.