Date for Quartz Mountain opening questioned

Monday, February 7th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Lone Wolf-AP) -- There are questions as to whether construction on the 17 million dollar Quartz Mountain State Park lodge is on schedule for the planned April grand opening. Kris Marek is planning and development director for the state Tourism Department. Marek says April is a makable dates for completion of construction. But she says that doesn't mean the southwestern Oklahoma showpiece will be ready for customers.

Marek says the tourism department is more concerned with getting the lodge done right. Lieutenant Governor Mary Fallin toured the sight on January 20th and expressed concern over whether the April opening date could be met. The Oklahoma Arts Institute is scheduled to hold its annual summer program at the lodge in June. But last year the Fall Arts Institute had to be canceled because construction was behind schedule. Construction had been scheduled to be finished by September 15th, 1999.