Over the past several years, the Grand River Dam Authority has replaced almost all Grand Lake lighthouses with lighted buoys. Shangri-La made arrangements with GRDA to keep and maintain the historic lighthouse on the jetty surrounding Shangri-La Marina, letting boaters know, in historic fashion, “If Shangri-La is your destination, you have arrived!”
Shangri-La Resort officials presented a $17,000 donation to the Monkey Island Fire Department. The donation represents proceeds from the “Courage Under Fire Classic” golf tournament held annually at Shangri-La to benefit the MIFD. Picture (from left) are Shangri-La Director of Communications Mike Williams, President & CEO Barry Willingham, MIFD Chief Carl Tesreau, Shangri-La Executive Chairman Jason Sheffield, and General Manager Lance Funderburk.
A Letter from the CEO
To our valued Shangri-La members and guests
With winter behind us and the arrival of Daylight Saving Time, we mark the arrival of another exciting spring season of bustling activity at ShangriLa. Spring break, Kids’ Camp, Dueling Pianos, Easter, Mother’s Day, and the arrival of the muchanticipated Memorial Holiday Weekend are all on the up-close agenda!
With input from dedicated members of our newly created Member Advisory Board, we are implementing some exciting changes at the resort, including some great new and unique dining options along with the May opening of both the Pool Bar and Eddy’s Lakeside Bar A great line-up of live entertainment is already on the books and our entire team is excited about the busy season that is already underway.
With the arrival of springtime, the golf courses are in fantastic condition,
the Anchor arcade is packed with games, our pickleball, tennis, and basketball courts are always busy, and we always have something special on the agenda.
In the past couple of months, our team has been on the road spreading the Shangri-La message at The Oklahoma Boat Expo, the St. Louis Golf Show, the Kansas City Golf Show, and the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association It is truly a joy to see and hear so many compliments about Shangri-La from our members, guests, and a wide array of leisure publication writers who continue to sing the praises of the wide variety of amenities we are privileged to offer our members and resort guests on a daily basis throughout the year
The 2024-2025 winter season was very unusual in one regard. Our membership continued to grow significantly over what other resorts
refer to as the “off-season proving once and for all that the wide array of amenities at our resort has solidified the fact that there is no “off-season” at Shangri-La!
As I approach my sixth anniversary as President and CEO, I am constantly reminded that I am so privileged to be associated with such an outstanding team and the best group of members in the world Thank you for your support, your input, and for being such an important part of the Shangri-La Family!
Barry Willingham, President & CEO Barry.willingham@shangrilaok.com
Marina Information Contact: Mitch Whitehead 918-257-4898 mitch.whitehead@shangrilaok.com
Tennis or Pickleball Court Reservations Contact: Racquet Club 918-257-5205
Email: anchormanagementteam@shangrilaok.c om
For any other general questions, please email marketing@shangrilaok.com
From the General Manager
In addition to golf, amenities include 10,000 square feet of versatile meeting space in our 119room resort hotel which features a spectacular resort pool, tanning ledge, hot tub, and splash pad, in addition to an indoor pool Our spa is adjacent to a fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment, as well as a steam room and sauna
equipment and tributes honoring the veterans whose valiant efforts provided us with the freedoms we enjoy as Americans today. We feature a variety of dining & drinking venues throughout the resort, and more options will be added with the opening of the Pool Bar and Eddy’s Lakeside Bar on May 16.
It is my honor to share with you the multiple options available to members of Shangri-La Resort, one of the most popular destinations in our region of the United States Shangri-La is a fullservice resort featuring 45 holes of golf – a 27-hole Championship Course and an 18-hole Par 3 Course which has caught the attention of golf writers and players from throughout the nation
The Anchor activity park includes a popular sports bar, as well as a complete arcade featuring both traditional arcade games a simulator bay offering LaserShot shooting and Trackman golf We also have more traditional games such as pool, shuffleboard, pingpong, darts, and foosball in addition to Wiffleball® at our unique mini-Fenway Park at The Anchor, along with basketball, sand volleyball, cornhole, pickleball, and tennis at The Racquet Club
Our fabulous Legacy of Liberty Memorial Park includes a wide variety of original WWII
Shangri-La offers several different membership options, each of which provides exclusive access to some amenities and member discounts at others I sincerely hope one of them is a perfect fit for you If you are not already a member, I look forward to having you as a member of the Shangri-La family
For our valued members and welcomed guests, we are always here for you, anytime you have the urge to “Escape the Ordinary!”
Sincerely,
Lance Funderburk, General Manager Lance Funderburk@shangrilaok
com
Shangri-La Member Ann Turner to be Inducted into
the
Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame
Congratulations to Ann (Pitts) Turner, Shangri-La’s multiple-time Women’s Club Champion. She will be inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in August 2025 Ann served as head coach for the first 24 years of the Cowgirl Golf program and led the team to its first conference title in just her second year She went on to lead the Cowgirls to 15 conference championships, 15 NCAA Championship appearances and six AIAW Championship appearances The honor is one of many bestowed on Ann. She is a 2023 inductee into
the Oklahoma State University Athletics Hall of Honor, a 2008 inductee into the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame, a 1995 inductee into
the National Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and a two-time recipient of the NGCA Rolex/Gladys Palmer Meritorious Service Award for outstanding service and contributions to women ’ s college golf. During her years at OSU, she coached 19 AllAmericans and directed many of her players into the professional ranks She remains an active member of the Shangri-La Women’s Golf Association. Congratulations, Ann! We couldn’t be more proud!
Members of the Year among the original “84”
Wild Bill and his beautiful bride are fixtures at Shangri-La
by Mike Williams
Director of Communications & Government Relations
Congratulations to Dr. Bill and Marnie Pettit, Shangri-La’s “Members of the Year ” The Pettits earned the honor by attended more designated member events in 2024 than any other members in addition to attracting new members to the club It was a hard-fought battle, with the Pettits followed closely in the competition by members Brent and Nita Stephens and Duane and Tammie Koehler
The Pettits are longtime Shangri-La members, making history as members of a core group of “the faithful” who stayed with Shangri-La through the difficult years of deterioration. Their name is listed among “The 84” in the trophy case at Shangri-La’s club house in honor of the only 84 members remaining when Eddy Gibbs bought the property in 2010 Today, there are almost 900 Shangri-La members
Dr. Bill Pettit has plenty of history in his remarkable career, as well. His final position before retirement was service as the first Dean of the Oklahoma State University (OSU) College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, Oklahoma The school, which opened in the Fall of 2020, is the nation’s first tribally affiliated medical school. Prior to his current position, he served as Provost of the OSU Center for Health Sciences, as well as Associate Dean for Rural Health and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs In August 2021 Bill retired from his latest post, eliminating all obstacles that might interfere with the love he and his wife Marnie share for Monkey Island and the Grand Lake lifestyle! The Pettits love of Grand Lake sent them shuffling year-round back and forth between Broken Arrow and their home at Brighton Bay on Monkey Island In January 2022 they sold their Broken Arrow home and became official full-time Grand Lakers!
Both raised on Iowa farms, Bill & Marnie were high school sweethearts – in fact, Bill was Marnie’s first date when she was 16; but they lost track of each other
until a chance meeting years later in Des Moines Two years Marnie’s senior, Bill had graduated and left for undergraduate studies at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa before heading to Greely, Colorado for work on his Masters in Special Education Counseling.
918-257-7786
“I became a vocational rehabilitation counselor,” Bill recalls, “first in Atlantic, Iowa; then Des Moines, working in-patient treatment for heroin addicts ”
In the meantime, Marnie went to beauty school, then Grandview College in Des Moines where she opened a beauty salon. She was on her way to donate blood when she stopped at a red light
“I looked at the driver of the car stopped beside me –and it was Bill,” she laughs “I had no idea he lived there I hadn’t seen him for years ” She gave him a call and the romantic reunion was on. They dated for a couple of years and were married in 1974.
“She shopped around a little after we dated in high school,” Bill jokes, “but she came back to me ” Bill joined the Army Reserve “ so they would pay for school” while attending medical school at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Three years later, Marnie sold her beauty salon, they loaded up in their brand new 1977 Corvette and headed to
Members of the Year Dr. Bill and Marnie Pettit
North Carolina for Bill’s duty at Fort Bragg repaying Uncle Sam for the medical school assistance. He served his residency in family practice as a Captain in the Army at Fort Bragg, home to the Green Berets and the 82nd Airborne – a military base Bill describes as “mostly a place where people jump out of airplanes ”
“From there,” Marnie jokes, “ we moved to L A ” “L A , ” in this case, was not Los Angeles; it was Lawton, America where Bill practiced medicine at Fort Sill while Marnie had her hands full with their twin daughters, Allison and Emilly. When “Major” Bill Pettit left the military in 1983, he was hired by a group of physicians and investors to open a walk-in clinicAM+PM Clinic
“There are a lot of clinics like that now, ” Bill says, “but it was pretty unique then I averaged 55 patients a day there ”
With the twins in school, Marnie opened another beauty salon and also sold real estate Bill opened the Center for Occupational Health (Worker’s Comp clinic) as an employee/partner before selling out to Comanche County Hospital He continued to work at the two clinics as a hospital employee until 2002 Although they had been Grand Lake fans for many years, 1999 is when they made their total commitment to the lake
“We had been coming to Osteopathic conventions at Shangri-La since 1983,” Marnie recalls, “and we loved Grand Lake and Monkey Island.” They bought a home in Brighton Bay on Monkey Island – and Marnie expanded her love of real estate to an additional market
“We would invite people to come to our house at Grand Lake, and I would end up selling them a house,” she laughs “This place is contagious ” Both of their daughters graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2001. A year later, in 2002, the Pettits moved to Broken Arrow for a new adventure at the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Bill initially joined the faculty of the OSU Center as the Medical Director for their clinic system before becoming Associate Dean for Rural Health and adding multiple titles along the way He has been honored many times for his emphasis on improving rural health
care including being named Osteopathic Physician of the Year by the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association. Bill and Marnie are active in lake life. They love to entertain, spend time with friends, and boat Both are avid golfers and regulars on the Shangri-La Golf Courses – and have been for years They quickly adjusted to the life on Monkey Island
“We just drove the boat, played golf, drank and had fun,” Bill says, adding, “I guess we still do I love the golf courses at Shangri-La; and we love the Summit Restaurant Eddy’s is fun, and all the venues have great food – and The Anchor activity park is absolutely incredible!”
At Grand Lake, Bill and Marnie are permanently in “Island mode ”
“We still drive the boat, play golf, and have fun We get around to most every place on Monkey Island,” Marnie says “And golf There’s plenty of golf Bill is a good golfer (Bill says he has now been downgraded to ‘fair’ golfer) I just play to have fun Let’s say that,” Marnie offers
“If there’s not wine or champagne involved, she doesn’t play,” Bill jokes. Their lake time is not limited to summers, though, because they have officially been full-timers for more than four years “Actually, some of my favorite times are winters,” Marnie says “We build a fire and I cook I love to cook Grand Lake has always been a great family getaway for us – and now it’s home! Our entire family loves it here and we have great friends here And ShangriLa is just phenomenal Now that The Anchor Activity Park, The Battlefield Par 3 Course, and the Legacy of Liberty Memorial Park have been added, it’s even more fabulous Life here just gets better every year We love it ”
No one seems to be sure exactly how Dr Pettit picked up the nickname “Wild Bill” (or maybe they just won’t admit it)
“It’s more like ‘Mild Wild Bill’ now, ” he laughs “I used to be quite a party man Not so much anymore ” He pauses a moment to reflect. “Well…maybe every now and then.”
That “ every now and then” was frequent enough to earn the Pettits our “Member of the Year” honor at Shangri-La
There are no better ambassadors Congratulations to the Stephens, the Koehlers, all the members who joined in the fun - and especially the final winners of the year-long competition – Bill and Marnie Pettit, Shangri-La’s official Members of the Year!
Upcoming Events
Saturday-Sunday, March 1-2
“Welcome Back Weekend”
Friday, March 7
Live Music – Kevin Price
Sunday, March 9
Daylight Saving Time Returns!
Friday, March 14
PXG Fitting Day at the Golf Shop (3:00-7:00 p m )
Friday, March 14
Live Music – Gavin Tucker
Saturday, March 15
South Grand Lake Chamber
“Bootleggers Ball” in Roosevelt Ballroom
Monday- Wednesday, March 20-23
Spring Break Kids’ Camp at The Anchor (8:30-1:00)
Friday, March 21
Live Music – Jesse Joice
Saturday, March 22
“Killer Keyz” dueling pianos in the Roosevelt Ballroom
Friday, March 28
Live Music – Rockwell
Friday, April 4
Live Music – Ryan Graham
Saturday, April 5
SLWGA Spring Luncheon
Sunday-Tuesday, April 6-8
RSU Women’s Invitational
Wednesday, April 9
Verdigris Valley Conference High School Tournament
Friday, April 11
PXG Fitting Day (3:00-7:00 p.m.)
Friday, April 11
Live Music – Scott Musick
Wednesday, April 16
Grove High School Tournament
Friday, April 18
First weekly “Yellow Rabbit Run Horse Race” of 2025 (5:00 p.m.)
Friday, April 18
Sunday, April 20
Live Music – Kevin Price
Easter Brunch at The Summit
Sunday, April 20
Easter Egg Hunt at The Anchor (Noon)
Friday, April 25
Live Music – Gavin Tucker
Friday, May 2
Live Music – Jesse Joice
Saturday, May 3
Nichols Marine/Shangri-La Marina
Customer Appreciation Luau at Eddy’s (5:00-8:00 p m )
Saturday-Sunday, May 3-4
In-Water Boat Show at Shangri-La Marina (10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.)
Friday, May 9
PXG Fitting Day at The Battlefield – Putters & Wedges (4:30-8:00 p m )
Friday, May 9
Live Music – Rockwell
Saturday, May 10
Multi-Vendor Fitting Day at The Golf Shop - Ping, Titleist, Callaway, PXG, Mizuno (9:00 a m )
Sunday, May 11
Mother’s Day Brunch at The Summit
Sunday-Tuesday, May 11-13
Oklahoma High School 4A State Tournament
Friday, May 16
Live Music – Ryan Graham
Friday, May 16
Pool Bar opens at the outdoor
Resort Pool
Friday, May 16
Eddy’s Lakeside Bar opens
Saturday, May 17
Live Music at Eddy’s – Travis Kidd
Sunday- Monday, May 18-19
South Central PGA Pro-Am Tournament
Friday-Monday, May 23-26
Memorial Weekend
Friday, May 23
Parasailing adventures begin at Sail Grand at Shangri-La Marina
Friday, May 23
Dock Shots competition on the bluffs at Shangri-La Estates
Friday, May 23
Live Music – Scott Musick
Saturday, May 24
Live Music at Eddy’s – Kevin Price & the Closers
Sunday, May 25
Alternate Shot Horse Race on the Championship Course (4:00 p m )
Sunday, May 25
Live Music at Eddy’s – Fabulous 2Man Band
Friday, May 30
Live Music – Kevin Price
Saturday, May 31
Live Music at Eddy’s - Torn SAVE THE DATE
Monkey Island Fireworks & Family Fun Festival - Saturday, July 5
Easter is just around the corner
Make plans to bring the kiddos down to The Anchor on Easter for the annual Easter Egg Hunt with lots of great prizes!
Stay informed about The Fun at Shangri-La
A Message from the Sales and Marketing Team
We take great pride in our efforts to ensure that members and guests at Shangri-La have everything they need to enjoy a variety of options sure to make every visit a great memory We are grateful to the many trade groups, associations, corporate groups, family reunions, and friendship groups that make Shangri-La a regular destination for their most important get-togethers We take great pride in the fact that more than 85% of groups who have held events at Shangri-La have rescheduled a return trip to our resort Group events that are already on the books for 2025 are the advance proof that a fantastic season has already arrived at Shangri-La Many of those groups have already made reservations to return in 2026 and 2027!
Shangri-La is certainly not just about groups, though We take great pride in providing lots of fun activities for every Shangri-La guest in every age group The Anchor activity park provides games and activities for virtually every age of guest – ages 5 to 95! We have live music every Friday night, regular karaoke fun with Jason Morgan and lots of special events!
Over the winter months, our members and guests enjoyed a great New Year’s Eve gala, a variety of holiday celebrations, and an awesome Valentine’s Day dance; and we ’ re not slowing down for a minute, kicking off the season with a fun “Welcome Back to the Island Weekend” to celebrate the arrival of May and the return of both Daylight Saving Time and March Madness! Easter and Mother’s Day Brunches at The Summit are on the agenda, along with an always fun Easter Egg Hunt for the kiddos We have a fantastic week of special fun activities for Spring Break; and Golf courses have returned to regular season hours of operation. Lots of golf groups are already arriving n May 16, both the pool bar and Eddy’s Lakeside Bar open for the 2025 season Eddy’s will once again feature a variety of fabulous live entertainment on Saturday nights Boat and personal watercraft
Dana Able, Director of Sales, Marketing and Membership
rentals are also gearing up for the season, and yacht charter bookings are already filling up
The Memorial Day holiday weekend is just ahead –and we have a special weekend of spectacular entertainment for the official summer kick-off! Be sure you have reservations for 4th of July weekend
The awesome Monkey Island Fireworks and Family Fun Festival at Shangri-La are scheduled for Saturday, July 5.
Weekend stays at Shangri-La are always special. In addition to coverage of all the biggest sporting events at The Anchor, we feature live musical entertainment every Friday night in addition to the Saturday night entertainment upcoming at Eddy’s beginning May 16 There is no better place to enjoy a relaxing Spring weekend than Shangri-La!
We reached out to the entire region during the winter months, spreading the Shangri-La news even further by representing the resort at The Oklahoma Boat Expo in Tulsa, and big golf shows in both Kansas City and St Louis
We love sharing the fun at Shangri-La. Each week we send an informative eblast to our growing database providing important information about upcoming events If you are not already on the list to receive these weekly updates, please email your name and email address to marketing@shangrilaok com, and we’ll make sure you don’t miss out We actively promote our activities on social media – and we provide every resort guest with a weekly newsletter of everything happening at Shangri-La during your stay Stay in touch with us so we can stay in touch with you There’s always something fun and informative happening at Shangri-La Resort I hope you will join us often
Bienvenue, mon ami!
March 1, begins another great season on The Island and we’re bringing it back Mardi Gras style with a costume party and cajun meal at The Summit. Then come out and celebrate Fat Tuesday, March 4.
Come Sail Away Aboard Ship Shangri-La
Dear Members,
It’s finally time!! A busy golf season is quickly approaching and the courses and property will soon be buzzing with members and guests making unique and memorable experiences here at Shangri-La
As we move into the new season, we will have some new policies, new ideas and some creative endeavors to generate camaraderie and stimulate membership growth and retention
We have developed a new online golf shop for added service and satisfaction for the membership
This fully stocked online shop will contain many amazing brands and products that cannot be found in the golf shop on property We will continue to have a fully-stocked shop in the clubhouse and this expansion will allow us to increase available products and member offerings considerably. Find the online shopping on our website
We will be enforcing some longstanding policies for the
Tee Time
A message from Golf Pro Ryan Snyder
upcoming season as well We will not permit any outside alcohol or personal coolers on Shangri-La property
This has become a major issue and it could be very detrimental to the future of Shangri-La by adversely affecting our liquor license and our ability to serve our members This is not Shangri-La policy This is State Law and there will be a strictly enforced zero tolerance policy. We are also implementing active monitoring of Trail Passes for the use of private golf carts on the golf
course Trail passes are available for purchase through membership for $743 40 tax included. You may obtain your Trail Pass from Laura Barnes. Her office is in the resort hotel You may email her at laura.barnes@shangrilaok.com or call 918-257-7790
If you are found operating a cart on golf course property with no Trail Pass you will immediately be charged for a Trail Pass at the annual rate
To be clear, the trail passes authorize the use of private carts while playing golf. No golf carts are allowed on the golf courses – with or without a Trail Pass – unless the user is actually playing golf
Unauthorized use of a cart on the golf courses will be zero tolerance, aggressively monitored and strictly enforced.
These policy changes and additions will help add, maintain, and protect the level of value that our supportive membership community deserves
Ryan Snyder, PGA Golf Pro
It’s an Exciting Time for Food & Beverage Operations
As we transition into Spring there are signs of renewal all around us; and the food and beverage department at Shangri-La is included as a major part of the renewal Doc’s has already begun this renewal as a new menu has already kicked off. Back are favorites like smoked meats and some of your favorite sides. In addition, there is an array of tacos and nachos that have already
been a home run Stay tuned for more upcoming news, too, because there are more changes in store for Doc’s before the season starts
The Galley at The Anchor is transitioning to a menu with an Italian flair, with fresh dough pizzas and sandwiches Also look for drink and food specials at The Anchor throughout the year
We are close to finalizing the new menu for The Summit Restaurant. We will keep the “chophouse theme,” but Chef Jesse Gibbs will be adding some of his special touches, as well Denise Whitson and her gang have a ull calendar of events scheduled for
John Havens II, Executive Chef & Director of Culinary Operations
this year and they are working t to make sure they have something for everyone
Eddy’s will also be having a menu makeover that we are sure you will find enjoyable. We are mixing some favorites with some new items in preparation for the 2025 seasonopening weekend at Eddy’s May 16 You can also look forward to our 2nd Annual Food and Wine Festival. Keep an eye on your inbox for these and many other exciting things we have planned for the year This will be a year to remember at Shangri-La - and we couldn’t do it without you!
Shangri-La Members Appointed to Newly Established Advisory Board
To bettererve our valued members at Shangri-La, we have established a Member Advisory Board to provide important input from fellow members We appreciate the input from these dedicated members who have agreed to contribute their time, views, and experience as they share suggestions they share from fellow members The Member Advisory Board has already been meeting with our senior management team, analyzing the variety of options available to our members, and contributing suggestions for prioritizing and improving those amenities based on input they receive from their fellow members while
analyzing the cost effectiveness of our wide variety of services
Members of the Board have varied interests and focus on different aspects of the Shangri-La experience They represent you, providing important insight to enable us to maintain a focus of the wishes and desires of our most valued asset at ShangriLa – our members!
The following members were appointed to the Advisory Board
Mark Funke
Mark has been a Shangri-La member since 2017 He lives and works in Oklahoma City but also has a home at Grand Lake.
Aside from still enjoying his work life, Mark loves golf, boating and spending time with his
grandchildren He also loves cooking In fact, he has been part of a gourmet cooking group for 20 years
Mark’s favorite Shangri-La amenities are the golf course, marina, and “the people;” but his grandkids’ #1 choice is The Anchor
Judi Barber
Judi Barber has been a member at Shangri-La for almost 25 years, “through the rough times and the good times.”
Continuing her 56+ year career in education, Judi still does consulting work with schools
Judi’s hobbies include golf and gardening. She has served multiple times as President of the Women’s Golf Association, and she continues to organize the group ’ s “ away golf” events
She grew up as a “Grand Lake kid” and now lives at the lake full-time. The golf courses, Summit Restaurant, and member wine dinners top her list of favorite Shangri-La amenities
Joe and Janice Wilburn
Joe and his wife Janice are extremely active Shangri-La members. They first joined Shangri-La in 2007 when they had a lake house near Ketchum They now are full time Grand Lakers Joe enjoys golf, tennis, and pickleball with friends; so his favorite Shangri-La amenities, appropriately enough, are the golf courses, and tennis, pickleball, Anchor options available at the resort
Ryburn McCullough
Ryan is a full-time Grand Laker, living in Shangri-La estates adjacent to the Championship golf course. He has been a member at Shangri-La “off and on ” since the 1980s and has been present for a multitude of changes Predictably, his favorite amenity at Shangri-La is golf His hobbies include jet skiing, cars, and “ more golf!”
Becky Brock
Becky and her husband, Gary joined Shangri-La shortly after Eddy Gibbs purchased the property in
2010 They were early regulars at The Summit Restaurant when it opened in 2011
They purchased their home on Monkey Island in 2017 and became full-time Grand Lake residents in 2022.
Becky has a lot of “favorites” at Shangri-La – golf, of course, but also the variety of amenities that have made Shangri-La a community gathering place –“ a melting pot of people ”
Becky enjoys golf, pickleball, and working with her plants Most of all, though, she says she loves just sitting on her patio “looking at the lake We truly live in paradise!”
Jack & Nancy Adkisson
plit their time between Grand Lake and Owasso, OK They have been Shangri-La members for more than twenty years, first joining the club in 2004
The Adkissons are both active in the utilization of a wide variety of venues at the resort – all restaurants, all golf courses, the club house, The Anchor, and the fitness center – even the catering options Jack’s favorite event is the annual Flags for Freedom display of American flags along the highway entering Shangri-La.
Jack focuses on golf. Nancy’s hobbies include golf, boating, reading, and enjoying the beautiful views of Grand Lake from the deck of their home at the lake
Julie McFerron
Julie and John McFerron have been avid ShangriLa members since the club first opened under Eddy
Gibbs’ ownership in 2011. They moved to Monkey Island full-time in 2012 Their favorite Shangri-La amenities are the Wine Club, Wine Dinners, Friday evening member socials, and dining in general –especially at the Summit. When their grandkids are here, that list of priority amenities changes dramatically, shifting to all things golf, pickleball, wiffleball, basketball, swimming and the Anchor
Julie’s hobbies include taking various Barre classes at Grand Lake Barre 3 days a week, cooking, entertaining and stamping out childhood hunger through the backpack program at Fairland Public Schools
We are So Thankful!
We are extremely grateful to these men and women who are dedicating their time, attention and shared knowledge to help us ensure that the Shangri-La member experience is all it can be Gordon and Lisa Kucera
Gordon and his wife Lisa split their time between Grand Lake and Lee’s Summit, Missouri. They purchased property at Grand Lake in 2020 and immediately became active members at Shangri-La Gordon’s favorite spot at ShangriLa is “ on the golf course, ” but he also enjoys reading, water skiing, hiking, and biking (both peddled and powered)
Golf Professional Chad Dalton and Director of Sales & Marketing Dana Able were on hand at the St. Louis Golf Expo January 31February 2 spreading the
Spring Break Cruise, Petting Zoo, Easter Egg Hunt, Movie Nights
The Anchor is the place to be
Shangri-La Family,
As we transition into the vibrant spring months, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of you who participated in our recent events! Your enthusiasm made our S’mores and More Events, Christmas Crafts, Holiday Parties, Member Mingles, and Galas truly memorable.
Now, as we look ahead to an exciting season, we have plenty of activities lined up that are sure to bring joy to you and your family Anchor Kid’s Day Camp - Spring Break Addition!
Mark your calendars! From March 20-22, we invite your children to join us for three days of Awesome Activities! This Spring Break, kids will enjoy a Petting Zoo, Tie Dye, Free Arcade Time, Snacks, and Swimming. It’s the perfect opportunity for them to make new friends and create unforgettable memories To register, please find the registration form on our website: www shangrilaok com
You can also email Shaun Tune at shaun.tune@shangrilaok.com or Jason Morgan at jason morgan@shangrilaok com
The Ultimate Anchor
Easter Egg Hunt
Get ready for some egg-cellent fun! We are thrilled to announce our Ultimate Anchor Easter Egg Hunt, featuring over 1,000 eggs, open to the public with no admission charge! Join us at high on these engaging events
Changes at the Racquet Club
We are excited to announce some changes at the Racquet Club!
Although adjustments can be challenging, we are committed to creating an immersive experience for all our members Our professional staff will continue to host mixers, drills, and
lessons, and you may see some new faces joining our team Stay tuned for information on upcoming tournaments and events that our new professionals will develop!
Summer Job Opportunities for Youth
Do you have a child or grandchild looking for a summer job?
Encourage them to apply to join our Recreation Team! We will be posting links on our website as we prepare for the hiring season It’s a fantastic opportunity for young individuals to gain experience and create lasting memories at ShangriLa
Pool Time!
Reserve Your Cabanas Early!
We are working diligently to enhance our cabanas into luxurious retreats within the beautiful Shangri-La property As the pool area gets busier, we encourage you to book your cabanas early to secure your spot in the sun! The Pool Bar opens for the 2025 season May 16
Thank you for your continued support and participation in our programs. We can't wait to see you all at our upcoming events!
by Shelly Schultz, Marketing Manager
Now offering Lymphatic Drainage Massage Therapy
Advancement in technology is revolutionizing the world of beauty and wellness, and The Spa at Shangri-La takes great pride in keeping up with each new development. Recently, The Spa added Lymphatic Drainage Massage Therapy to their list of services This cutting-edge treatment is a game-changer in the beauty industry
The lymphatic system acts as the body’s sewerage system, carrying fluids throughout the body to the blood A network of lymph nodes help filter foreign substances, like infections before the fluid enters the central venous system
If the lymphatic system is not working properly, fluid builds up, causing swelling and can result in a plethora of health conditions Lymphatic drainage massage moves the fluid to where the lymphatic system is working properly, so the fluid can be removed, and the swelling goes down. Unlike the heart’s circulatory system, the lymphatic system doesn’t pump itself, so it requires manual drainage Manual drainage or LDM is a specialized technique used to stimulate the lymphatic system through a gentle, rhythmic massage
LDM can help treat lymphedema as well as post-surgical swelling, edema, sinus congestion, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, lipedema and chronic venous insufficiency, according to studies conducted at the Mayo Clinic It is also said to aid in reducing chronic pain, encourage weight loss, reduces cellulite, minimalizes facial puffiness and swelling, improves skin tone and texture, boosts energy and overall health.
To learn more about Lymphatic Drainage Massage Call The Spa
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From hair care to skin care – invigorating workouts to relaxing massages, The Spa is the place to revive your outlook – and your look!
Swedish Massage therapy includes couples’ massages as well as body wrap scrubs Manicures, pedicures, hair care, waxing, laser hair removal and total skin care offerings are all available
Skin care options include microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, medical chemical peels, and microneedling treatment, including the Morpheus 8 radiofrequency microneedling.
Our Spring special at The Spa at Shangri-La is a 50 percent discount on lymphatic drainage massages through March Much More Than Just a Spa
While the Spa at Shangri-La is open to the public, there are additional benefits available for members and registered hotel guests. Our state-of-the-art fitness center includes all new exercise equipment to fit every training program We also have recently remodeled our steam room and sauna at the fitness center, and our indoor pool provides an escape for a relaxing swim and participation in our Tuesday & Thursday Water Aerobics classes with instructor Mary Ellen Risinger.
Relax, revive, and rejuvenate with a wide variety of health and beauty options at The Spa at Shangri-La!
Director of Sales & Marketing Dana Able was on hand to greet guests at Shangri-La’s booth at the Oklahoma Boat Expo in Tulsa January 7-9.
Employees of the Year
Sandy Wagoner was named Manager of the Year by the Executive Committee during an awards banquet last month. Andrew Johnson was honored as Team Member of the Year.
Four Shangri-La employees were recognized as Employee of the Month during the annual awards banquet Left: Brenda Coulter was chosen November Employee of the Month, and Bell Linn was chosen for October Employee of the Month
Above: Zofi Smith and Andrew Johnson were also recognized for Employee of the Month. Lori Sparrow and Julie Morgan received recognition as Managers of the Quarter Congratulations to these outstanding team members!
