The former Sedona Cultural Park has sat empty, aside from being a way for some to access a pair of popular trails, for the last dozen years.

Many have wondered what will come of the privately-owned area that sits on nearly 40 acres in West Sedona. They may have their answer sooner than later.

During a Thursday, June 25, Sedona Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, one of the property’s four owners gave the standing-room-only audience a glimpse of what the property could look like in the next few years.

“We look at this as not only a huge opportunity for ourselves but for the enrichment and advancement of this community as well,” said Mike Tennyson, who along with his business partners bought the land in 2003. “We got the property back from the Fitch Group in 2012 through foreclosure. We really didn’t want it back but we got it. We’re going to make lemonade out of lemons.”

Tennyson said his group has been waiting for the city’s Community Plan to be complete as well as the Community Focus Area plan, which is ongoing. He said they have yet to submit any construction or business plans to the city and that the plan presented is subject to change.

“We see this as a three- to five-year endeavor,” he said. “I’m 63 so I’m ready for this to get past the finish line.”

Plans call for an 8.5-acre resort and conference center, a 6.8-acre wellness village, residential area that would include various-priced homes, a campus of innovation for technological or medical endeavors, a culinary institute, a possible expansion to Yavapai College, a shared parking structure and more than five acres of open space. In addition it calls for several acres of what’s referred to as community core. That would include gardens, event space, a cafe/coffee shop, art studios, gathering hall, restaurant, garden market and plazas.

To read the full story, see the Wednesday, July 1, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.