Wyndham is closing a handful of legacy resorts - dedicated chart/tracker located in the first post for this unfolding set of events

[makersforme]

I've never been there, but I could never imagine why anyone would go to that place. Nothing to do, no real major "nature" stuff nearby. A lake, I guess some golf. Not near ANYWHERE.

It was Fairfield's first resort back in the 70's I guess. I'm guessing cheap land back in the day.

I could see Fairfield Glade having more promise long term, but barely. Having been there I realize it's got some major limitations, but at least it's near some population centers. There's just better options nearby now.

We went once years ago...long week to say the least. Had to drive to a pool. At the time, the closest Walmart was like a 45 minute drive. The county was dry so if you are a drinker that could be an issue. I live near St. Louis and there is no easy way to get there. Just miles of 2 lane road and we were stuck behind semis full of Tyson chickens. I voted yes on the proxy and will not be taking CWA points. Time for the exit...hopefully an easy exit.

 

[sponger76]

The details are very similar the notice we received Mountain Meadows. Well, I enjoyed the Fairfield Bay location. It’s a beautiful, peaceful respite from busy, hectic life here in Honolulu.

Arkansas has much natural beauty to offer when the noise of life gets in the way of daily peace. It’s impossible to find anywhere without noise pollution on the island of Oahu. I (and my children) will miss staying at Fairfield Bay. Many thanks to those of you who have contributed your kindness and insight in this process.

Wow, going from O'ahu to the middle of nowhere in Arkansas on a regular basis for vacation is just not something I would have imagined. There are lots of great out-in-nature areas on the mainland that are far closer and easier to get to. But I do feel you regarding the hustle and bustle of O'ahu. It's crazy compared to when I was growing up, I miss certain things (food, beaches, etc) but in a lot of ways I'm glad I only visit and don't actually live there anymore.

 

[Floridaman76]

Wow, going from O'ahu to the middle of nowhere in Arkansas on a regular basis for vacation is just not something I would have imagined. There are lots of great out-in-nature areas on the mainland that are far closer and easier to get to.

Absolutely.

How the original developers picked some of these locales seems like they just threw a dart at a map with their eyes closed.

"Bay", "Glade", Villa Rica, New Bern.

Time caught up with them

 

[rickandcindy23]

We went to Fairfield Bay in January on the way to Disney World, and there were dozens of deer roaming the grounds. It was so beautiful there. The roller coaster road to get there was kind of interesting.

We will miss that one.

Pagosa Springs is one I need to return to with the grandkids before the place is on the chopping block by Wyndham. The kids need to go to the Cliff Dwellings at Mesa Verde.

 

[njbelf]

We went to Fairfield Bay a couple years ago because our trip to Sedona got canceled by the airline. We looked at somewhere we could drive fairly comfortably and so picked Fairfield Bay. We drove through a vicious thunderstorm to get there and it was still pouring when we got our key to the room. By the time we found our way to where we were staying the rain ended and we had a great time there. Yes, the room (on the golf course, I think it was Wyndham Fairways) was a little dated but nothing was decrepit. We found they played pickle ball at the gym so my wife and I joined there one time. We swam in the pools, hiked Sugerload Mountain in the middle of the lake. used the grills.. all in all a fine week. Fairfield Bay is far more than a Wyndham spot.. I think what it suffers from is the lack of people in driving range.

So, when I saw the eclipse was going to go right over that resort, I booked it immediately. Apparently not many other people did. I got 4.5 minutes of totallity sitting on the golf course. If you paid for a round of golf, you got to take the golf cart with a fried chicken basket for lunch to the golf course. There were probably 4 other people out there with us. Note that had nothing to do with Wyndham. They local government had scared the people there that they were going to get overwhelmed with people. Needless to say, they had no such innundation. I did get a video that a guy did with a decent sized Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope of the eclipse. The telescope had the ability to track the sun so it's pretty cool to see the moon occlude it.

So, we really enjoy Fairfield Bay and will probably go back there even if Wyndham isn't there.

 

[Sandi Bo]

I think the question that needs to be asked is, can anyone provide a real-world example of Wyndham not providing points reimbursements for reservations that Wyndham cancels for any reason? It's one thing to not reimburse for an owner-based cancellation within 15 days without trip insurance, but if/when Wyndham forcibly cancels a reservation, IME Wyndham always provides points reimbursements - in this case into the future use year at least for those with a calendar year end use year as it relates to the actions in scope.

I think you need to know to watch and be sure the points go to the next use year. A careless action (by a VC or whoever is 'helping') can end with points returning to the year they came from (likely this year). If you know enough to ask, I don't think it's a issue to move them forward. (I was given points for a cancelled reservation for one of the hurricanes - it was October and I got current use year points - they were resale, so a struggle to use them). I read of others who got them reimbursed and moved forward. Hate to gripe too much about a goodwill gesture, they didn't have to do it at all (in my case). But pretty sure all I had to do was ask.

 

[Sandi Bo]

We went to Fairfield Bay a couple years ago because our trip to Sedona got canceled by the airline. We looked at somewhere we could drive fairly comfortably and so picked Fairfield Bay. We drove through a vicious thunderstorm to get there and it was still pouring when we got our key to the room. By the time we found our way to where we were staying the rain ended and we had a great time there. Yes, the room (on the golf course, I think it was Wyndham Fairways) was a little dated but nothing was decrepit. We found they played pickle ball at the gym so my wife and I joined there one time. We swam in the pools, hiked Sugerload Mountain in the middle of the lake. used the grills.. all in all a fine week. Fairfield Bay is far more than a Wyndham spot.. I think what it suffers from is the lack of people in driving range.

So, when I saw the eclipse was going to go right over that resort, I booked it immediately. Apparently not many other people did. I got 4.5 minutes of totallity sitting on the golf course. If you paid for a round of golf, you got to take the golf cart with a fried chicken basket for lunch to the golf course. There were probably 4 other people out there with us. Note that had nothing to do with Wyndham. They local government had scared the people there that they were going to get overwhelmed with people. Needless to say, they had no such innundation. I did get a video that a guy did with a decent sized Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope of the eclipse. The telescope had the ability to track the sun so it's pretty cool to see the moon occlude it.

So, we really enjoy Fairfield Bay and will probably go back there even if Wyndham isn't there.

When I whine about loosing Bentley Brook, my husband reminds me we can still go -- we'll just have to pay for it.

My sisters and I were discussing how hard Jiminy Peak works to keep things running there, making snow, other activities on the mountain. Climate change has not been kind to them.

 

[Twenty20]

I've never been there, but I could never imagine why anyone would go to that place. Nothing to do, no real major "nature" stuff nearby. A lake, I guess some golf. Not near ANYWHERE.

It was Fairfield's first resort back in the 70's I guess. I'm guessing cheap land back in the day.

I could see Fairfield Glade having more promise long term, but barely. Having been there I realize it's got some major limitations, but at least it's near some population centers. There's just better options nearby now.

Real estate sales have been pretty steady and solid at FF Glade. It's obviously a retirement community, and a pretty popular one, at that. Has the amenities that many are looking for in retirement, and with a very reasonable cost. A number of people I've met there are from the Midwest or East Coast and originally retired to Florida but decided to come halfway back.

How that translates to people wanting to vacation there is a different story, I guess. It's a great golf destination with 5 courses that are nice and very cheap to play. I took my young kids there for a week in summer and we had a nice time swimming in the lakes/beaches, renting a boat, etc . it's quiet and relaxing and a pretty area. But I could see plenty of people find it boring.

The location is pretty good. There are a LOT of population centers within a 6 hour or so drive. Was an easy spot for us to get away too, for several generations of family over decades. We'll miss it, even though we have also gone there rarely these days.

 

[Marianne g]

When I whine about loosing Bentley Brook, my husband reminds me we can still go -- we'll just have to pay for it.

My sisters and I were discussing how hard Jiminy Peak works to keep things running there, making snow, other activities on the mountain. Climate change has not been kind to them.

Me too!! Do you think you’ll just start on another part of the resort?

 

[paxsarah]

I think you need to know to watch and be sure the points go to the next use year. A careless action (by a VC or whoever is 'helping') can end with points returning to the year they came from (likely this year). If you know enough to ask, I don't think it's an issue to move them forward. (I was given points for a cancelled reservation for one of the hurricanes - it was October and I got current use year points - they were resale, so a struggle to use them). I read of others who got them reimbursed and moved forward. Hate to gripe too much about a goodwill gesture, they didn't have to do it at all (in my case). But pretty sure all I had to do was ask.

This depends on someone’s use year and the date of the reservation. Anyone with a January use year is going to be dealing with future year points anyway. (Are converted fixed weeks always January?) A March use year with a canceled reservation in Q1, then that request makes sense. But it probably won’t apply to most affected folks.

 

[HitchHiker71]

I think you need to know to watch and be sure the points go to the next use year. A careless action (by a VC or whoever is 'helping') can end with points returning to the year they came from (likely this year). If you know enough to ask, I don't think it's a issue to move them forward. (I was given points for a cancelled reservation for one of the hurricanes - it was October and I got current use year points - they were resale, so a struggle to use them). I read of others who got them reimbursed and moved forward. Hate to gripe too much about a goodwill gesture, they didn't have to do it at all (in my case). But pretty sure all I had to do was ask.

So specific to these actions, assuming a calendar year use year, are you saying that future use year reservations made for 2026, when cancelled, should be deposited to 2027? I would assume the points for those reservations would be refunded to the same 2026 use year. That said, for those who have non-calendar year use years, especially April 1 or July 1, this point is more applicable, as they may want to request to have those reservations goodwill moved into the next use year if desired.


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[JulieB4]

I own at Fairfield Bay as well and as of Monday morning have received no emails from Wyndham

You should have gotten a proxy ballot in the mail by now. We have , as well as the email I had gotten. They have the exact same info for the user name and password for eballot.

 

[bnoble]

Question for folks who have seen ballots for resorts other than KBV. Does it include a provision to transfer intervals to the HOA before it declares bankruptcy?

 

[chapjim]

Question for folks who have seen ballots for resorts other than KBV. Does it include a provision to transfer intervals to the HOA before it declares bankruptcy?

No.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I wonder how this will affect competition in booking reservations. If owners agree to CWA and are still in the system, these owners will book ahead of many owners, and there will be fewer resorts to book just in general.

I would never take CWA, but I don't have to make that decision.

Bonnet Creek is booked for the entire fall season. I have been trying to piece together a few nights here and there for after our cruise in November. I am not good at remembering to look multiple times a day.

 

[paxsarah]

I wonder how this will affect competition in booking reservations. If owners agree to CWA and are still in the system, these owners will book ahead of many owners, and there will be fewer resorts to book just in general.

I would never take CWA, but I don't have to make that decision.

Bonnet Creek is booked for the entire fall season. I have been trying to piece together a few nights here and there for after our cruise in November. I am not good at remembering to look multiple times a day.

It seems to me that the counterbalance is that Wyndham will own fewer points that it can use for its own rentals. In practice, maybe that means more intense competition at 13 months for the most prime reservations adding these new CWA owners, and a little more availability inside 10 months with Wyndham scooping up less inventory for rentals (which I’ll admit I haven’t tracked closely, but I have to assume happens well inside 10 months).

 

[Floridaman76]

It's definitely going to be harder to book, and harder to get upgrades. Part of this is Wyndham has screwed their VIP program because even more people will be bitching about "never getting upgrades".

Especially in Williamsburg now, they removed 1/3 of all capacity. It used to be pretty easy to get upgrades there. I just got two there for my stay in October. These were not instant upgrades either, they were auto upgrades at my upgrade window (30 days)

It's going to make it real difficult to book at places like Steamboat where you had to have deeded or access to get really prime spots like Christmas and New Years with so many additional people being able to book at 13 months there vs 10 months.

 

[chapjim]

It's definitely going to be harder to book, and harder to get upgrades. Part of this is Wyndham has screwed their VIP program because even more people will be bitching about "never getting upgrades".

Especially in Williamsburg now, they removed 1/3 of all capacity. It used to be pretty easy to get upgrades there. I just got two there for my stay in October. These were not instant upgrades either, they were auto upgrades at my upgrade window (30 days)

It's going to make it real difficult to book at places like Steamboat where you had to have deeded or access to get really prime spots like Christmas and New Years with so many additional people being able to book at 13 months there vs 10 months.

Solution: Buy more points!!

 

[CO skier]

I wonder how this will affect competition in booking reservations. If owners agree to CWA and are still in the system, these owners will book ahead of many owners, and there will be fewer resorts to book just in general.

It seems to me that the counterbalance is that Wyndham will own fewer points that it can use for its own rentals. In practice, maybe that means more intense competition at 13 months for the most prime reservations adding these new CWA owners, and a little more availability inside 10 months with Wyndham scooping up less inventory for rentals (which I’ll admit I haven’t tracked closely, but I have to assume happens well inside 10 months).

It is not as though a dozen or so resorts worth of owners will be piling into the CWA resorts at 10-13 months. Looking at the occupancy levels at these resorts (actually the lack thereof), the owners are already booking at other resorts, and only a fraction of those are booking 9-10 months in advance.

Hamilton Cove at Fairfield Bay was worse - 68% vacany rate.

Then think about all the owners who are not planning to accept the CWA swap and are getting out altogether. No more competition from them.

The time is right for our family to cash out. This is really a gift for us to be free and clear.

Taking all factors into consideration, the effects on 10-13 month availability will be minimal, at most; i.e., the smallest fraction of a small fraction of a super-minority of remaining owners at the affected resorts.

 

[Floridaman76]

Solution: Buy more points!!

Maybe, but not from them

 

[Floridaman76]

It is not as though a dozen or so resorts worth of owners will be piling into the CWA resorts at 10-13 months. Looking at the occupancy levels at these resorts (actually the lack thereof), the owners are already booking at other resorts, and only a fraction of those are booking 9-10 months in advance.

Taking all factors into consideration, the effects on 10-13 month availability will be minimal, at most; i.e., the smallest fraction of a small fraction of a super-minority of remaining owners at the affected resorts.

I think maybe you don't understand how it works or don't grasp what's coming.

These owners largely weren't staying at the resorts which are closing, although certainly some were. But they were booking at other resorts at some point after the 10 month mark passes.

They will now have the ability to book those locations at 13 months instead of < 10 months. There will be pressure on high demand dates.

Look at it like this, most of us were fighting for a finite number of spots at high demand resorts for prime dates (Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years, etc) at exactly the 10 month mark. That inventory we were expecting to be there at 10 months to the day, is going to be booked up by new access owners at some point before the 10 month mark even hits.

Those owners don't have to stay up at midnight at the 10 month mark, they can book 12 months and 3 weeks out.

Watch, its gonna happen.

 

[CO skier]

It used to be pretty easy to get upgrades there.

That is the problem (from Wyndham's point of view). VIP RENTERs are using their discounts and upgrades to outcompete Extra Holidays. See post #881 for an example at Bentley Brook.

 

[rickandcindy23]

That is the problem (from Wyndham's point of view). VIP RENTERs LOL are using their discounts and upgrades to outcompete Extra Holidays. See post #881 for an example at Bentley Brook.

Discounts at a year out? When did that happen? Prime dates and resorts I can book for guests? I don't think so.

The only guests I have added are reservations for people who are taking my Bali Hai contracts, since Wyndham will not get those transferred anytime soon. I have points to burn.

Interesting to see you and Troy in this thread. Sometimes you agree, sometimes you disagree with one another. You can both agree how horrible the "mega renters" were.

 

[CO skier]

Watch, its gonna happen.

Pick your resort(s) as the poster child for this (nonexistent) "phenomenon." So take some reference points now and let us compare the 13 month availability in a year.

This reminds me a lot about when WorldMark changed the less than 7 night minimum from a 90-day booking window to 10 months -- all kind of wailing and gnashing of teeth about "there go the weekends at 10 months." Turns out all the popular weekends were already booking before 10 months, and the change had zero effect on weekend availability.

 

[chapjim]

Since Wyndham is in the process of culling low occupancy resorts, one place might have been missed -- Galena, IL. Granted the town has tons of history but I wouldn't think the resort has a high occupancy rate. Being three hours from Chicago maybe keeps it busy?