A letter sent to members of Tapatio Springs suggests the impacts of the June fire that destroyed the club’s spa were more widespread than initially suspected, shuttering 43 guest rooms and the Bluffs Event Center.
A fire ignited the evening of June 20 in the spa and fitness center between the children’s and adult pools, burning well into the next morning and resulting in a total loss of the building. While the fire was contained to the single structure, initial statements indicated only minor smoke damage was done to surrounding buildings. However, the letter from the club’s managing director stated smoke from the fire was more impactful than initially suspected.
“ This past Monday marked seven weeks since the fire shuttered the spa, fitness center and swimming pools,” Tapatio’s Managing Director Caleb DuBose wrote. “We wish we could say that this was the extent of the damage. However, its negative impacts have also resulted in 43 guestrooms being out of order along with the Bluffs Event Center because of smoke damage.
“As you can imagine, this has had significant financial impacts on our associates. Having had to relocate business because of our limited inventory has caused many hardships. Additionally, we realize the inconvenience this has caused to our members and apologize for this unfortunate situation.” The club’s management was expecting to demolish the damaged spa and fitness center this week, but the letter states an extended investigation has delayed the destruction plans. Kendall County Emergency Management Coordinator Jeff Finke said the county has completed its investigation and didn’t find anything suspicious, noting any extended investigation likely would be from the company’s insurance agency.
The Tapatio Springs website states all resort fees for guests who stay at the hotel through Sept. 6 will be waived because the spa and pool remain inoperable.
In June, Fincke said an initial investigation may have linked work done on the spa’s air conditioning system on the roof to the fire’s start, but the official cause of the fire couldn’t be obtained by The Star’s Friday press deadline.
The club was bought out by Crescent Hotels & Resorts just two weeks before the fire started. It is a large corporation with main offices in Fairfax, Virginia, and Toronto, Ontario, in Canada and has an expansive portfolio of hotels and resorts across the county, including the Horseshoe Bay Resort, the Hall Arts Hotel in Dallas, the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel & Suites in Houston, three hotels in The Colony, Texas, and numerous locations from New York to Colorado and north to Canada.
The sale has led to several members questioning how the change in ownership will impact the future of the club and membership, according to DuBose’s letter, but the future of Tapatio remains unclear.
“The property team has been receiving an abundant number of inquiries as it relates to the future for Tapatio Springs and membership,” DuBose wrote. “We understand the need to know and want nothing more than to have answers for you. Unfortunately, much of the process we are having to navigate is not in the club’s control. We are at the mercy of other entities’ timelines, and we ask for continued patience and understanding during this time.”
While the fire and smoke have minimized the club’s offerings, it hasn’t stopped business completely, and DuBose urged members to take advantage of all the events and offerings Tapatio still has.
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