Skywatch Lodge is a commercial hospitality development. The project requiring a Land Use Permit is the construction of the infrastructure and buildings for Skywatch.

The 9+ acre project site out on the Dettah Road just north of Dettah has been fully developed with over 15,000 square feet of existing buildings, infrastructure (driveways, power, contained sewer and contained water) for over 25 years. It was originally developed as the Somba K’e Treatment Centre but was closed very shortly thereafter. It has been out of continuous use for over 20 years.

The site was purchased by Coromandel Aurora Lodge Limited Partnership from the GNWT in 2015. The site is freehold – not leased. The project calls for renewable energy sources (heat and hot water from pellet boilers) and photovoltaic supplementation of power from solar paels. The total capital investment is budgeted at $25 million, with $20 million in construction.

Upon completion, Skywatch Lodge & Spa will provide hospitality operations delivering commercial lodging, food and beverage services and spa services for up to 74 guests at full capacity. Skywatch Lodge & Spa will feature 37 guestrooms, dining room, lounge, meeting rooms and 7-treatment room spa that will run 24-hours per day, year-round, and employ up to 25 full-time equivalents and up to 40 total employees, daily Staff quarters will be build on-site for up to 14 staff, including senior management. Construction is slated to begin in April 2017 and will consist of 21,000 square feet of modular construction set on rock socket piles and 20,000 square feet of site built construction using existing and new concrete foundations on an already developed site, for a total of 41,000 square feet of new buildings.