A Vacant Chaska Landmark Gets A Second Act
For anyone who has driven past the old Oak Ridge Hotel and Conference Center in Chaska, the building has been hard to miss and easy to forget. The 171,000-square-foot property was built in 1989 and has sat vacant since 2020. Now a Canadian developer wants to give it a new purpose. Saskatoon-based Scandvik Hotels has proposed redeveloping the site at 1 Oak Ridge Drive, next to McKnight Lake, into a 130-room Scandinavian-inspired hotel and Nordic spa. The estimated cost of the project is $40 million.
What A Nordic Spa Would Bring To Chaska
The vision goes well beyond hotel rooms. Plans call for an outdoor patio area with walkways, several hot and cool pools, saunas, steam facilities, and relaxation spaces, along with an on-site restaurant that could seat between 100 and 150 guests. Founder and President Travis Batting told commissioners the suburban location needed a strong draw, and the wellness angle is exactly that. One of the more community-friendly details is day-use spa access, meaning you would not need to be an overnight guest to visit. Batting also mentioned fitness programming like yoga, Pilates, a bike club, and a run club.
Why This Matters For The Southwest Metro
Destination projects like this tend to ripple outward. A year-round wellness draw can bring visitors, spending, and more than 100 permanent jobs to Carver County, and it gives Chaska a marquee amenity that neighboring suburbs do not have. Batting pointed out a smart bit of seasonal balance too, since Nordic spas are typically busiest in winter while hotel demand peaks in summer. For homeowners and buyers watching the area, new amenities and steady employment are the kind of long-term signals that tend to support local desirability. [INTERNAL LINK: Chaska and southwest metro market updates]
What Happens Next
The Chaska Planning Commission unanimously approved the redevelopment concept, and the proposal is set to go before the Chaska City Council next. If it keeps moving, the developer hopes to begin construction in the second half of 2027 with a goal of opening in 2028. It is early, but this is a Twin Cities redevelopment story worth keeping an eye on.
Thinking about buying or selling in the Twin Cities? Hot Tips around the Twin Cities? Need Help Buying or Selling 🏡? DM me or Text Darin Bjerknes 612-702-5126 or DM on Instagram @darintheminnesotan.
