The City of Red Deer and the operator of Heritage Ranch, Joel Martens Training Inc., will continue operating at Heritage Ranch until Oct. 6.
In a media release issued on the evening of Friday, June 6, the city stated Heritage Ranch will comply with "key conditions outlined in the agreement, which will ensure continuity of service for residents and visitors and allow planned events and activities at the site to proceed as scheduled."
This announcement comes shortly after the city unexpectedly announced on May 26 that indoor facilities and ranch operations at Heritage Ranch were to cease with the termination of the operator’s contract. This was originally set to take effect on June 9, until the city's new announcement stating operations will continue until the fall.
Over the next several months, Heritage Ranch will remain fully operational, including:
— Regular restaurant service
— All existing bookings, including weddings, anniversaries, and corporate events
— Trail rides and horse experiences
— Carriage rides and date night offerings
— Ongoing care and presence of horses at the site
“We wish to express our sincere thanks to the City of Red Deer, our patrons, and the community members who supported us during this period of uncertainty,” said Joel Martens, whose company is the operator of the city’s Heritage Ranch site.
Greg Sikora, parks and public works manager for the City of Red Deer, added: "The city’s priority is ensuring that public spaces like Heritage Ranch continue to serve our community in a meaningful and reliable way. This agreement allows for continued service delivery while we work toward a longer-term solution for the site.”
The city continues to seek an operator through an open Request for Proposals process, which closes on July 11. Following the evaluation of submissions, a new contract will be negotiated in accordance with the procurement process, with a transition to the selected operator planned after Oct. 6.
"As always, the city remains committed to ensuring public amenities are managed in the best interest of the community," states the City of Red Deer's website.
For more information, people can visit Heritage Ranch’s website or www.reddeer.ca/heritageranch.
