SHIVWITS PAIUTE INDIAN RESERVATION, Utah (KUTV) — The developers of the Black Desert Resort are in talks with the Shivwits Band of Paiutes to add new golf courses to Southern Utah.
Located on reservation land, the area would also include a youth sporting facility, hotel, historic museum, and shops. The proposed area is located just off West Old Highway 91 on the Ivins border.
“I love golf, but I’m concerned about where they’re going to get the water and how many more people can we handle down here,” said St. George golfer Les Broadhead.
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Darren Prince, the director of economic development for Washington County, said the development would benefit all of the surrounding areas.
“The golf courses have been an essential part of tourism here in Washington County for many years,” he said. “Our golf courses are at peak capacity.”
He said Black Desert and Desert Color created 3,000 jobs, most of which go to existing residents.
“Very few of those historically have been move-ins,” he said. “The vast majority of those are for our local residents. It’s extremely beneficial to our existing residents.”
He also said tourism dollars have allowed the county to keep the same property taxes for over 20 years.
While the proposed development would bring economic opportunities, Prince said any growth comes with challenges. This can include more traffic, increased housing costs, and not enough consumer space. Broadhead has noticed these challenges increasing during his seven years living in St. George.
“Every time I go for another drive, there’s a whole new subdivision, so there’s lots of people that have moved here in just a short period of time,” he said. “To see this kind of growth is just kind of overwhelming.”
Prince said the district is working to build new roads and affordable housing options. He also said the Shivwits Band is pulling from their own water supply to maintain the course.
“How do you say, ‘I can be here, but you can’t?'” Broadhead asked. “So, personally, selfishly, I’d say, ‘Let’s stop the growth, but people sell their land and develop it.’ I think they have that right.”
Because the proposed development is on tribal land, the Shivwits Band will decide whether to develop. It is still in the early stages of discussions with no set timeline.
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