By Ajibade Morakinyo
Calling it a ‘resort’ like others resort is actually an embarrassment to the luxury and modern facilities lavished in this newly opened Ife Grand Resort and Leisure, therefore, there should a little sense of admonishing when mentioning this resort. No doubt, it is a place where modernity meets an African rural setting.
Located in the heart of ancient city of Ife, Osun State, it is a replica of Ooni’s Inagbe Grand Resorts located in Lagos, where countless has over time spent time with their family and friends for different purposes. The serenity of the location gives its visitor an urge to come another day.
Absolutely, the Ife Grand Resort meets a world class standard and it’s built by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. It sits on 252 hectares of land and have about 300 rooms. The sprawling resort hits you in its grand splendour on entrance. To the right hand side from the highway you can see the white structures, all bungalows, built in chalet format. Because the road is on a higher plain, you can have a birds eye view of the resort.
The resort is divided into various parts, namely; The Arrival and Reception area, the Bar/Platform area, the African Village where you have fifty African huts, with thatched roofs hung on trees named after all the Oonis of Ife, the deluxes/presidential suites, the sporting arena, the Igbo Olodumare, the Conference Centre/Events Hall, and the car park area all interwoven.
Very significant is the fact that all the streets inside the resort are named after popular Yoruba towns and areas like Oyo Street, Ijebu Street, Ogbomosho Street, Isale Eko Street and so on. This resort is worth visiting, visit this and regret not.
