Deflated for now, Saskatoon's Golf Dome is about to get a makeover
A lesser known fixture of Saskatoon's skyline is coming down for repairs and renovations.
The Ramada Golf Dome just north of downtown is nearing the end of its lifecycle. Over the next several weeks, crews will be dismantling the indoor driving range and ballpark before erecting a new dome in time for the fall.
"I just know that we're at the end of its life," Darryl Caudle, Ramada's vice president of hotel operations for Saskatoon and Regina, said.
"Every year you have big storms that come up and so we're a little concerned at times about weight bearing and snow and things like that, so it's time."
Caudle has managed to attract some unusual attention for the once every two decades renovation.
Taking his sales pitch to Facebook, Caudle posted an advertisement for the thousands of feet of tarp, insulation and cables that make up the domed roof. Like any online classified advertisement -- there's been steady interest.
"I figured in today's world, what better way than social media to kind of get that out as a platform." Caudle said.
"We've had several requests, but I'd rather deal with just one person, ideally."
There should be more than enough tarp for a family camping trip.
Moving such a large amount of material off the property is no easy feat, and as Caudle's ad states, "timing and price go hand in hand."
"I've got a specific buyer that's actually looking to do a couple of Quonsets and stuff like that," Caudle said of the unique deal he's looking to strike.
"It's almost a bit of goodwill, I would say."
The golf dome was supposed to close on April 30, but extended its season until Friday because of the rain and snow.
Dismantling of the structure will begin next week, but it's not as simple as puncturing the side and watching it deflate.
Crews will first start taking out the inner layers of the dome before moving to the outside next month. Then when the new material arrives, the same process will occur in reverse.
"Then we'll bring in a boom lift crane and the new facility gets stretched out, re-cabled and it comes back up again as a new facility," Caudle said.
Hosting slo-pitch games, private events and even the occasional Powwow, Caudle was sure to mention the golf is only going away for a brief period of time before it is resurrected with a shiny new surface and plenty more amenities inside.
There will be a new front entrance, added lighting for golfers, fixes to the flooring and an improved bar and hospitality area to give the entire building the update it’s been waiting for.
"A whole general refresh of the area so that it's not just the outside. You'll be coming into an experience inside that also would seem new and refreshed as well," Caudle said.
The new and improved golf dome is set to reopen in September and retake its place as a fixture in Saskatoon's skyline.
"It's a unique facility for sure. It's been around and it's well known. When you're flying over the city, it's definitely a bubble that you see."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Robert Pickton to remain in medically induced coma for at least 'two or three more days': police
Serial killer Robert Pickton will remain in a medically induced coma for at least the next few days following an attack in a Quebec prison Sunday, according to police spokesperson Hugues Beaulieu.
Poverty report cards: Which provinces got the worst grades?
Poverty and food insecurity have worsened in most of Canada in the past year and most provincial governments aren't doing enough to address the problem, according to a just-released series of report cards.
'I feel betrayed': Ottawa-area customers out thousands of dollars warn of bad faith contractor
A group of people from eastern Ontario and western Quebec is issuing a warning about Dennis Walker and his company Vue Windows.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
Toronto man who stabbed, decapitated mother in 2022 found guilty of 2nd-degree murder
Dallas Ly has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of his mother, whom he stabbed during a dispute in 2022 before decapitating and dumping her remains on the side of the road in east Toronto.
Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland
Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017.
Fish oil supplements may raise risk of stroke, heart issues, study suggests
As an excellent source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, daily fish oil supplements are a popular way to keep the risk of cardiovascular disease at bay.
Tick season, warmer weather sparks fears about Lyme disease spread in Canada
The surge in Canada's tick population is linked to recent changes in our climate, according to Mount Allison University biology professor Vett Lloyd.
Private island on Nova Scotia's South Shore listed for $15.8M
A private island on Nova Scotia’s South Shore has been listed for sale with a $11.5-million USD price tag.