1990s -2010
 in Sapphire

The Evolving Resort 1990- 2010

Fundamentally Reshaping
Sapphire Valley

The modern landscape of Sapphire Valley was forged through a tumultuous era of rapid expansion and financial instability that fundamentally reshaped its governance and identity. As the resort transitioned into a massive timeshare operation under various corporate banners, the aggressive pace of development eventually led to a highly publicized bankruptcy for Fairfield Communities in the early 1990s. This fiscal crisis served as a critical turning point, forcing a restructuring that separated the resort's commercial interests from its residential components; this split resulted in the formation of the Sapphire Valley Master Association (SVMA), a member-owned entity created to protect the community's amenities and preserve the valley's character.

Sapphire Valley Resort History

Sunburst logo introduced by Fairfield Communities

EARLY 1990'S

In the 1990s, the operational landscape of the resort underwent significant restructuring when Brookstone Companies and Fairfield Communities entered a management agreement that eventually saw Brookstone assuming control of the entire resort by 1994. This era of maturity was characterized by a new governance model, as individual residential enclaves established their own Property Owners Associations (POAs) to work in tandem with a centralized Master Association. However, this period of growth was tempered by financial instability following the Fairfield Communities bankruptcy, which necessitated the liquidation of major assets to settle outstanding debts. 

Sapphire Valley Resort History

Logo used by Wyndham

Sapphire Valley Landmarks 


During the transition from corporate control to private enterprise, several key Sapphire Valley landmarks underwent critical ownership changes to ensure their survival. The Library Kitchen & Bar, housed in a historic 1864 structure, moved from resort oversight into the hands of local stewards Scott Rooth and then Michael Greeley, who operated the venue as a premier dining destination for many years before it was eventually reimagined by Marvin Gralnick and Chef Johannes Klapdohr. Nearby, Mica’s Restaurant & Pub transitioned from an association-run eatery to a family-owned staple under Jack and Helen O’Connell for nearly two decades, eventually passing to local operator Mike Quillen in 2023. Meanwhile, the Holly Forest Golf Course—now known as Sapphire National Golf Club—faced a complex journey through receivership following the Fairfield bankruptcy. It was eventually decoupled from the master resort's residential management and acquired by private interests.

Sapphire Valley Resort History

Logo used by Wyndham

2001 - 2006 WYNDHAM VACATION OWNERSHIP

On November 2, 2001, the administrative trajectory of the resort shifted significantly when Cendant Corporation and Fairfield Communities finalized a definitive agreement for Cendant to acquire all outstanding common stock of Fairfield. This corporate transition marked the integration of Sapphire Valley’s vacation ownership into one of the world's largest hospitality portfolios. Subsequently, Cendant initiated a strategic restructuring, announcing that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Wyndham Worldwide Corporation—the designated parent entity for its expansive hospitality and timeshare resort divisions—would be spun off into an independent, publicly-traded company. This separation, which was successfully executed in the summer of 2006, formally rebranded the resort’s management under the Wyndham banner, aligning Sapphire Valley with a global network of premier vacation destinations.

It is important to know by this time most of the resort had been acquired by private interests, leaving only the common amenities and the Mountain Laurel Timeshare area to manage. 

Cendant Corporation also announced that Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, its wholly owned subsidiary and intended parent company of its Hospitality Services ( including Timeshare Resorts) would be spun off into a separate company. “The separation of Wyndham continues to be expected in the summer of 2006”.

On May 5, 2006, a pivotal rebranding occurred within the resort's corporate hierarchy when the Cendant Timeshare Resort Group, Inc.—then the parent organization of both Fairfield and Trendwest Resorts—officially transitioned its identity to Wyndham Vacation Ownership, Inc. This strategic name change was executed in direct anticipation of Cendant’s planned divestiture of its hospitality services division later that year. Upon the successful completion of this spin-off, the hospitality division was formally established as Wyndham Worldwide, a move that elevated the industry-leading timeshare business into a standalone global entity. This transition effectively consolidated the management of the valley's vacation ownership units under the Wyndham brand, marking the final stage in the evolution from the local Fairfield era to a world-renowned hospitality network.

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