Bentwood Country Club…Out with the old! $745,000 fitness project in the works.

Bentwood Country Club…Out with the old! $745,000 project in the works.Bentwood Country Club, 2111 Club House Lane, has torn down its original clubhouse built in 1978 and is in the process of clearing the area for the pad of a new fitness center, projected to open next summer.

According to an October permits and inspections report on the city of San Angelo’s website, the project is valued at $745,000.

The country club previously had a personal training room, “but what we’re putting in is vastly different,” said Kevin Collins, Bentwood’s director of development. “It’s a full-service fitness center. We currently have 1,000 members at Bentwood, and all 1,000 members will have access to thefitness facility. We will be having daily classes, personal trainers on staff, a director of fitness. Everything your regular fitness centers do here in town, (Bentwood members will) be able to get right there at the club.”

Collins said construction of the 6,500 square-foot building is expected to begin in December with a June or July 2016 opening.

“We’d like to get that done before the swim season begins because it will be adjacent to our pool,” he said. “It also will have an outdoor pavilion and bar area that will look over the pool and tennis courts.”

The addition of the fitness center is just one in a series of phases Bentwood has planned for its residents in the coming year, Collins said.

“Bentwood recently purchased a large amount of land for another 600 homes,” he said. “We’re in the process of becoming San Angelo’s master community.”

He added that four new residential sections will be ready for purchase by the first quarter of 2016.

“Our whole business plan is built around family and community,” he said. “Our goal is for (residents) in Bentwood to … never have to leave the development. We’re not a part of the Walmart going in but in essence, there’s not much reason you have to leave. You can go across the street to get your groceries, and we have everything (else) you need. Our goal is to create the best value for residents and create a total community.”