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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
Bear Lake has been a popular tourist destination for years, and it's really starting to show. This beautiful lake, deemed the "Caribbean of the Rockies" for its beautiful blue color, has anywhere from 300,000 to 500,000 visitors each year. The last few years have also brought a shift in population so there are now more vacation homes than primary residences, 61 percent to 39 percent.
This has been good news for Darren Lutz and his company, Lutz Construction in Garden City. He's been involved with a significant portion of all the new home construction in the last 10 years including The Reserve, a beautiful gated community in nearby Fish Haven, Idaho, and the Bluebird Bed and Breakfast, along Highway 89.
Being in the often challenging construction industry, Darren says there's plenty of competition. But he feels this is positive because it means the economy is improving and the quality of work is high.
His work is split almost halfway between locals and out of towners. The trend he's seen in the last few years is an increase in the size of homes he builds. Many of his customers are building their Bear Lake property with the idea of using it for retirement. With the Baby Boomers turning 65 at a rate of 10,000 per day, this is a huge market to tap into. Darren's clientele extends from Garden City all the way along the Wasatch Front and into Idaho and Wyoming.
He has built Lutz Construction from the ground up. He started it 13 years ago right after he graduated from high school. It's become a family company, since his wife, Cheree, handles the office side of the business. He's gained a reputation for his high quality of work and for being where he says he will be at the time when he says he'll be there. He credits much of his success to local customers who have supported this excavation and concrete company through the economic flexes of the last two years.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
Lutz Construction PO Box 68 Garden City, UT 84028 435-946-8678
