Lawton officials ready to name new Ralph’s Resort concessionaire

City Council members are ready for a new contractor to run the Lake Ellsworth concession of Ralph’s Resort.

The council, acting in its capacity as the Lawton Authority, will consider a lease agreement today with Ralph’s Family Resort LLC, for operation and management of Ralph’s Resort. Ralph’s Family Resort LLC is operated by David McCall and his family, and was one of four entities/individuals submitting proposals to operate the Ellsworth concession. The lease now held by Steve and Sandra Perry will expire Dec. 31, and the couple has said they would not renew it. Ralph’s Resort has been operated by members of the Perry family for decades.

City administrators said they evaluated the four proposals and recommend the one submitted by McCall because it is “the best overall proposal” and is one that sets a five-year business plan to remodel and expand the area’s amenities before obtaining a 20-year lease. The plan includes a convenience store and cafe, dry storage stalls, permanent camping spots, boathouse and wet boat slips, a pavilion, and enclosed and covered fishing areas.

McCall’s proposal is to continue paying what the Perry’s pay in their lease for the first five years: $1,000 annually plus 2 percent of gross revenues (excluding fuel sales, if that amenity is added). Year 6 would be the first of the 20-year lease, with the annual rent to increase to $5,000 that year, then $1,000 a year thereafter until it reaches $20,000. The family would continue to pay the city 2 percent of gross sales through year nine, then 5 percent beginning in year 10. McCall’s business plan notes the family expects to have “substantial building expenses” in the first nine years, but would begin to pay them off in year 10, which is why payments to the city could increase.

McCall has specific plans for the concession, beginning with plans City of Lawton officials already made. McCall said he wants the city’s $230,000 allocation planned for store roof repairs and a new dry stall storage area be combined and spent on one of two projects: repair and update the original store to building code, for use as a general store and cafe; or remodel the Wayne Gilley Pavilion to become the new general store and cafe. He also is asking the city to cover the cost of demolition and removal of damaged dry stalls and concrete (estimated cost, $10,800); wet boat storage ($16,740); and indoor fishing arena ($2,860).

That would clear the way for new amenities the family plans to add, to include a second campgrounds, new dry stalls for boat and RV storage, a new wet slip replacing the fishing arena, and remodeling a second structure to allow the general store and cafe to be two separate businesses.

In another lake-related item, the council will consider approving new lease agreements for tenants leasing space at School House Slough.

The City of Lawton now is operating most functions in that Lake Lawtonka concession area, and council members directed city staff in 2023 to increase all Lawtonka recreational area fees by 25 percent a year for three years, effective Jan. 1, 2024. The 2025 year would be the second, 25-percent increase for those fees, which include camping, dry stalls and wet slips.