By Kathleen Swift
Shangri-La Resort on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees is a premier golf resort known for its 27 holes of championship golf and luxury 119-room resort hotel. With the addition of The Anchor, an 11,000-square-foot indoor facility, Shangri-La is now a prime destination for a lot more than golf.
Mike Williams, director of communications and government relations, said, “Our newly opened facility features Hologate state of the art virtual reality games and two Trackman golf simulators, which include the ability for golfers to play all 27 holes of Shangri-La’s legendary course – rain or shine! Players will be able to refine their game, including the ability to play the entire 27-hole Shangri-La championship golf course virtually. Players will be able to focus on specific styles, stances and strategies. They will even be able to play the same hole multiple times under the watchful eye of Ryan Dalton, player development and fitting specialist, to improve scores once they’re out on the course.
There are LaserShot shooting simulators, CXC driving and flight simulators, escape room games, arcade games, pop-a-shot basketball, billiards and ping-pong tables, shuffleboard, darts, a plethora of sporting event video screens, and the most inviting indoor-outdoor bar and lounge on Grand Lake.
“Indoor facilities are just part of the picture. Outdoors, the new activity park includes a new racquet club facility with four outdoor tennis courts, six pickleball courts, basketball, sand volleyball, fire pits, a kids’ fishing pond, an outdoor event area and a mini-Fenway whiffle ball providing fun for kids of all ages.
“We anticipate that The Anchor will appeal to younger people with families who visit the resort. We have activities that are entertaining for everyone from ages 7 to 90. There is just nothing else like it between Kansas City and Dallas.”
The name of the new facility, The Anchor, was inspired by the 20,000-pound bronze replica of one of the anchors from the ship USS Oklahoma, which was sunk during the WWII attack on Pearl Harbor. The anchor is prominently displayed across from the new facility and includes bronze plaques with the names of the 429 personnel who perished on the ship when it was attacked in 1941. The memorial will be dedicated July 2, 2021.
The addition of facilities at The Anchor enables the resort to offer corporations more indoor space after their meeting sessions for team-building activities, entertainment and extreme year-round enjoyment without being impacted by weather.
“We are expanding the recreational offerings to add to our popular championship golf course,” said Shangri-La President and CEO Barry Willingham. “We are also focused on providing more indoor entertainment options for our members and our hotel guests to make Shangri-La an attractive year-round destination for business groups and families alike.”
The resort offers casual family dining and beverage services at Doc’s Bar & Grill, fine dining at The Summit Restaurant & Buffalo Bar, al fresco lakeside food and beverage service at the seasonally operated Eddy’s Lakeside Bar and a relaxed atmosphere at the Monkey Grind coffee shop, a proud purveyor of Starbucks® coffee.
At the full-service Shangri-La Marina located adjacent to the resort hotel, Sail Grand also offers yacht charters, boat and personal watercraft rentals and parasailing adventures.
With the addition of The Anchor activity park, the award-winning Shangri- La is the perfect destination for any corporate event, golf outing, weekend getaway or family vacation. There is truly something for everyone at Shangri-La Resort.