Well-to do Texas hotelier interested in Claim Jumper

(Park Record) A high-ranking official with a well-to-do Texas hotelier acknowledged on Monday his company has an interest in the abandoned Claim Jumper building on Main Street, one of the first signals that the historic structure could indeed reclaim its status among the street's grand buildings.

Hotel ZaZa put up a large sign in a window of the Claim Jumper at about the same time as the start of the Sundance Film Festival, advertising the little-known brand to the crowds in Park City for the festival.

The Hotel ZaZa president who oversees the development and management divisions of the hotelier, Benji Homsey, said in an interview there are prospects for Hotel ZaZa with the Claim Jumper. He indicated, though, an agreement has not been finalized.

"We're definitely looking at it. There's a chance we'll be in Park City. We like Park City a lot," Homsey said, adding that Hotel ZaZa is in the "early stages of analyzing this opportunity."

According to Homsey, one of the people in Hotel ZaZa's ownership also is a figure in MidFirst Bank. The bank was the lender on the Claim Jumper when another firm defaulted on the loan. MidFirst Bank wholly owns the business entity that purchased the building at a trustee's sale in December, putting Hotel ZaZa into a key position if it wants to pursue a development at the Claim Jumper. The building remains for sale as well, and marketing materials had put the asking price at $7,250,000 prior to the trustee's sale.

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