Smaller Pheasant Run will remain open for business in St. Charles

At least part of Pheasant Run will remain open for business in St. Charles.

Operators of the iconic resort announced Thursday an agreement with the DuPage Airport Authority to settle a pending lawsuit.

Airport officials filed a condemnation lawsuit against the resort earlier this year to block a pending residential development targeted for the resort's golf course. The plan arose after a group of investors purchased the resort out of foreclosure in 2012. Schaumburg-based Hostmark Hospitality Group was then hired to manage the property.

The residential housing plan came before St. Charles aldermen for initial feedback last October. Airport officials said there "could not be a worse use" for the resort property at that meeting.

When airport officials could not come to terms with the resort on the project, they went to court to use the airport's power of eminent domain to condemn the entire 250 acres.

Hostmark announced Thursday the airport authority will acquire only a portion of the existing golf course that is adjacent to the airport. The resort buildings and the adjoining land that runs along Route 64 in St. Charles will remain as Pheasant Run.

Resort officials refused to provide details regarding exactly how much land the airport will take. They also wouldn't address questions about whether there remains any intent to pursue any form of residential housing development at the site.

"With this agreement, Pheasant Run will continue to serve its current and future guests without effect from the eminent domain case," reads a written statement from the resort.

Hostmark CEO Jerome F. Cataldo is quoted in the statement as saying, "We are proud to offer our future guests and social and business event planners the reassurance that Pheasant Run Resort will continue to provide an exceptional experience for years to come as further investment to enhance the resort can now continue."

St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina said the city has seen no revisions to the housing plan the resort submitted for a concept evaluation last fall. But he is happy to hear resort management say further investment in the resort is on the way.

"I'm very optimistic about that comment," Rogina said. "And the city is certainly happy that the solution allows them to be an iconic symbol of our east gateway."

The airport authority's attorney was out of town Thursday and not available for comment.