Oil derrick plans for Jethro Bodine's Beverly Hillbillies Mansion & Casino will be unveiled at two public meetings, slated for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Indian Hills General meeting room and 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the CVIC Hall in Minden.
Plans for the casino and spa originally included a 200-foot oil derrick, but the Douglas County Board of Comissioners objected to the height and 2,600-square-foot size of the integrated readerboard. Plans have been revised and right now, developers are proposing a 143-foot height substantially below the placement of the hotel, project spokesman Don Smit said.
"We've been working hard on this," he said. "The intent has always been to make the derrick an attraction and it's been evolving throughout the entire design process.
"We have to give a reason for the derrick and now, the drawings are done. We like the concept and we're in the process of refining it," he said.
The proposal includes a tie to Riverwood retail center with an interpretive trail, Smit said.
Next week's meetings have not been sanctioned by Douglas County officials, but developer Max Baer and other members of the group want the community to see the derrick before a decision is made at the upcoming Jan. 3 Board of County Commissioners meeting.
"The presentation will last about an hour and we will take comments," Smit said. "But if residents have an objection, the time to voice that will be with the commission. We want them to go to that meeting with some knowledge of our proposal."
Located on 23 acres between Topsy Lane and Sunridge Drive in the Indian Hills area, the proposed $120 million casino and spa require height variances well over the 45-foot limit.
The project received approval for the zoning change and a gaming-use permit, but got tangled up concerning the variance approvals for two 143-foot, 12-story towers, 200-foot oil derrick and 2,600-square-foot readerboard.
The 143-foot hotel towers were approved by the Douglas County Board of Commissioners Aug. 2, but the derrick has been the subject of revisions for months.
Plans for a revised oil derrick were pulled off the commission agenda in December, but will be heard during their regular January 3 meeting, Smit said.
Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.
What: Plans for Beverly Hillbillies oil derrick unveiled
When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday or Thursday
Where: Tuesday's meeting at the Indian Hills General Improvement District meeting room, 3394 James Lee Park Rd. Thursday's meeting will be held at the CVIC Hall in downtown Minden, 1602 Esmeralda Ave.
