Ponderlodge to Have Fewer Trails, Possible New Name

VILLAS — The state Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife will return the former Ponderlodge golf course back to a wild state with most of the interior trails, the former golf cart paths removed and trees, summer grass and shrubs planted throughout the acreage.
While the property has been referred to as “Villas Wildlife Management Area” for five years, Fish and Wildlife is calling the site “Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management Area.”
Laurie Pettigrew, southern region planner for the Division of Fish and Wildlife, said all buildings, except the maintenance building, will be demolished by February or March. She said trails would be removed from the interior of the property, keeping the majority of activity away from that area.
Parking areas will remain at the Shawmount Avenue entrance and a lot will be retained near the old lodge building. Tennis courts and two swimming pools will be demolished.
The remaining trails will go around the outside perimeter of the property. The perimeter trail will measure close to two miles in length, said Pettigrew.
A spur trail will be built to Cox Hall Creek where an observation platform will be constructed. A trail around the pond will be handicapped accessible, she said.
Trees, small shrubs and summer grasses will be planted on the property as part of the restoration as a natural habitat, said Pettigrew.
Trails will be mowed once a month in warmer weather.
Lee Widjeskog, superintendent for Fish and Wildlife southern region, said an entrance will be open along Delaware Avenue to allow handicapped access to the lake trail. The perimeter road around the Ponderlodge property will be demolished, he said.
Widjeskog said there would be no staff on site and a Higbees Beach crew would handle maintenance at the former Ponderlodge. He said he expected fewer problems with vandalism when all but the maintenance building are torn down.
The property will not be locked at night unless a resident volunteers to close the gate at 9 p.m., he said.
“It is going to be really different than it is now,” said Widjeskog, projecting new growth of wildflowers and grasses.
Pettigrew said the pond would be stocked with trout if all the buildings were demolished by April. She said it was possible large mouth bass could be placed in the pond following further study of the pond’s water quality.
Widjeskog said the original state restoration budget for Ponderlodge was reduced from $1.4 million to $700,000. He said no one made a decision at the state Department of Environmental Protection, the owners of the former Ponderlodge, as to what to name the property.
He acknowledged Beck suggested “Villas Wildlife Management Area.”
Beck said DEP had approved that name.
Widjeskog said the township installed a sign at the property with that name. He said anything was possible at this point.
Resident Joe Winters said the least DEP could do was allow the name “Villas Wildlife Management Area,” considering the amount of money the township has spent policing the property.
Pettigrew said there were no plans to repair holes in the fence around the property.