Golf season has been in full swing for two months, but not at Cliff Park, outside Milford

BUSHKILL – The National Park Service has not received any proposals in response to the Request For Proposals (RFP) for a 10-year lease for the Cliff Park Inn hotel, restaurant and nine-hole golf course (Commercial Use) within Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The current Request For Proposals is written to allow the National Park Service to continue to accept proposals every Friday until an acceptable proposal is received.

"We continue to make every effort to find an appropriate, new operator for this unique property,” said Superintendent John Donahue.

The leasable portion of the property contains 59.03 acres of land. The nine hole, par 35, golf course sits on approximately 45.3 acres. The buildings and properties included in the lease are identified in the RFP. The most prominent building is the Cliff Park Inn hotel and restaurant, a four-level, 14,244 square-foot structure with 12 guest rooms, including two suites. The new lessee will be authorized to operate a hotel, restaurant, and bar, and will be required to operate and maintain a golf course.

The NPS is looking for an operator willing to invest in a long-term business opportunity and not simply consume the property and its amenities for short-term profit. The necessary investment will be offset by the income over ten years. As an incentive to the right party, the NPS has agreed to accept $1.00 (one dollar) annually for rent instead of the appraised rental income. The appraised rental income represents almost two-thirds of the investment needed to make the inn, restaurant and golf course fully operational.

“The golf course continues to be maintained by the National Park Service, however it will remain closed to the public until we have a lease in place”, Donahue added.  “The National Park Service is making a significant effort to see that it is preserved and available for future generations. However since it is a lease and not a concession we have not found a mechanism to operate it on a short term basis.  We want to re-instate normal operations at the inn and golf course at the earliest possible date.”

The RFP is available on the park’s website at www.nps.gov/dewa/parkmgmt/historic-leasing.htm. Viable, interested parties may arrange to make an inspection tour. For additional information, please contact Janel Kenas at 570-426-2418.