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For the next half century, Virginia's Explore Park may be run by a Missouri nonprofit corporation originally formed to teach people about the Old West. Founded as Western Living Histories, the company changed its name to Virginia Living Histories in October 2004. The Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority, the governor-appointed board that oversees Explore, has scheduled a closed meeting to discuss the lease this morning at the park's visitor center. Larry Vander Maten, a St. Louis businessman whose companies own and operate nursing homes, is president, secretary and treasurer of Virginia Living Histories, according to the 5-year-old nonprofit organization's latest filing with the Internal Revenue Service. He's also one of the company's three directors. Vander Maten and his representatives have been in closed-door negotiations with representatives of Explore's governing body and fund-raising arm for roughly a year. Dale Wilkinson, a Botetourt County developer and former Virginia Senate candidate, introduced Vander Maten to the board. "They just kind of ran with it from there," said Wilkinson, who said he's been friends with Vander Maten for 15 years. Where they've run is to the brink of an agreement that would turn the park's management and development over to Vander Maten's nonprofit for 50 years. The development could include motels, retail shops, perhaps even a water park. "Maybe that's what we need to get people into the park so we can teach them a little Virginia history," said Fred Anderson, chairman of Explore's board. The current draft of the 30-page document - the 16th draft, according to Anderson - requires Vander Maten's company to invest at least $20 million in Explore's 1,100 acres if it decides to go through with the project. Vander Maten's nonprofit, according to its latest IRS filings, has never operated any program related to its stated mission. Mike Altizer, the Roanoke County supervisor whose district includes Explore, said, "I don't have a clue" about Virginia Living Histories' track record. But Altizer said he trusts Vander Maten. "I think he wants to do something right," Altizer said. "He comes across to me as a person who will do what he said he would do. He's looked quite a while for something like this." Anderson said he learned about the negotiations in December, when he became chairman of Explore's board. Anderson said he didn't know anything about Virginia Living Histories, but the board has checked Vander Maten out and everything came back positive. Anderson didn't know about federal sanctions against one of Vander Maten's companies for failing to pay overtime to its employees, or fines levied after patients died in his company's care. Vander Maten did not return calls to his St. Louis office Wednesday. "He's a businessman, and we've had businessmen negotiating with him on our side along with our attorneys," Anderson said. "Those businessmen speak well of him and his companies." Anderson said Vander Maten brings a lot to the project. "I think he brings a bankroll," Anderson said. He also has lines of credit larger than what the agreement calls for him to spend on Explore, Anderson said. "I believe he's a businessman who can make things happen." As state funding of the 10-year-old state-owned park has dwindled, Roanoke County has spent at least $700,000 a year on Explore Park for the past four years. But that spigot is due to run dry in June 2006. Altizer said the county may continue funding the park through the three years it may take Virginia Living Histories to get its version of Explore under way. It's a matter of keeping things up and keeping the park active, he said, a way to protect the investment already made. While Roanoke County officials and local members of the General Assembly were told about the negotiations, Blue Ridge Parkway officials were not. The parkway provides the main entrance to Explore, linked by the federally funded 1.5-mile, $12 million Roanoke River Parkway. At the end of that road is a Blue Ridge Parkway visitor center, the only parkway facility not on federally owned land. But the parkway's representatives have not been part of Explore's discussions with Virginia Living Histories. "I have to believe that before anything is signed and in stone we'll be a party to those discussions," said parkway spokesman Phil Noblitt. Anderson said the parkway will be invited to the table: Explore's leaders have simply been waiting until they had something concrete to discuss, he said. The park's board may also hold a public hearing on the lease. Anderson said he expects the contract to be set in three to six months. Vander Maten, according to Anderson, expected it to be settled at the Explore board's meeting last week. Anderson said the deal has the potential to bring millions of dollars into the Roanoke Valley's economy. "I truly do believe this will make Roanoke a destination place," he said, "and make people want to pull off the parkway and see what's over there." --Staff writer Todd Jackson and news researcher Belinda Harris contributed to this report. |
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