COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- When the Coeur d'Alene Resort opened in the summer of 1986, Forbes magazine recognized it as "the most lavishly appointed hotel in the Pacific Northwest" but scoffed at its millionaire owner Duane Hagadone for building it "in the middle of nowhere."
Hagadone, a native of Coeur d'Alene, envisioned what Forbes could not. His dream of creating a world-class destination in northern Idaho became a reality, and as the resort nears its 20th anniversary it continues to be recognized as one of the finest destinations in North America.
To mark its 20th anniversary this summer, the resort has undergone a $20 million expansion and renovation. Among the improvements are:
--A $10 million, two-story spa, configured into a stunning lakeside setting.
--Newly remodeled lakefront and lake view accommodations throughout the resort's 18-story tower, overlooking Lake Coeur d'Alene and the surrounding mountains.
--A new lobby area fashioned to symbolize the resort's hospitality and provide guests with a comfortably elegant setting.
--Complete modernization and reconfiguration of the 25,000-square-foot Conference Center, custom furniture throughout the 25 venues, and a state-of-the-art kitchen facility devoted to meetings groups.
--Transformation of the famed Hagadone Suite into an ultra-exclusive private bungalow, complete with personal butler.
One constant over the past 20 years is the Resort Course and its signature "floating green" at the par-3 14th hole. The green is a man-made island -- conceived by Hagadone himself -- that floats on the surface of Lake Coeur d'Alene.
The par-71 course is more than just a one-hole attraction, though, and it also continues to be improved. Most recently, the resort has added $3.5 million in improvements to it, including more fairway bunkers, increasing its length, and remaking its second signature hole, the par-3 No. 5.
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