Congo River Golf & Exploration: Our Complete History

20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Congo River celebrated it’s 20th year anniversary in 2007. Congo River opened for business on July 23, 1988. Through 20 fun filled seasons Congo River has delivered more than 1,300,000 rounds of golf for kids of all ages. During this time, nearly 180 individuals chose to work at Congo River, forming truly unique teams year after year and an important family of alumni.

Congo River Golf & Exploration Co. (Congo River) is an entertaining and visually captivating Family Fun Park featuring 18 holes of Adventurous Miniature Golf, Game Room, Arcade, Party Pavilion and Food Concessions all designed around an African / Jungle theme.

Congo River was developed in 1987 by Benjamin R. Jones of RECreation & Entertainment Consultants, Inc. Congo River occupies approximately 2 acres of land which includes the miniature golf course, game arcade, retail, concessions, party areas, support buildings and parking facilities. The park is beautifully landscaped and meticulously maintained. The design and interactive theme of the park incorporate the history of Central Africa by having players follow in the footsteps of two great African explorers, Stanley and Livingstone. Educational fun facts are placed on signs throughout the course and park and explain about the geographic region, the two explorers and their discoveries. The multi-level course has a unique and artistic atmosphere created in part by the use of professionally designed landscapes of artificial rockwork and man-made mountains, featuring numerous waterfalls, streams, caves, bridges and intriguing building designs and scenery. The primary buildings form a village which includes ticket sales, concessions, retail, office and public areas. A small game arcade; thatched hut which houses more games; bamboo and grass utility building; and a gazebo rest shelter at the top of the course round out the buildings and Exploration Village.

Ben Jones was a real estate developer and business owner when he started his research and business plan for the development of a miniature golf course and family fun park. The initial research encompassed nearly two years of traveling through seven states playing more than 150 rounds of miniature golf, attending annual tradeshows sponsored by the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions, sitting through countless hours of workshops and seminars, reading dozens of articles and talking with a myriad of business owners from around the country. Well, enough already … and in the summer of 1987 Ben decided that the next step was simple; put all the research and due-diligence into practice. Not so fast … Simultaneously, while completing the due-diligence for Congo River, the other components of an entrepreneurial spirited plan were in the works: (1) securing the real estate – not one, but two separate parcels were combined to form Congo River; (2) surveys, appraisals. Site plan; layouts, designs and architectural drawings; (3) loan proposals; (4) formation of a legal entity; (5) drafting a private placement memorandum; (6) raising the equity financing; (7) proposals, plan commission and city council approvals; and (8) obtaining construction, financing and a first mortgage loan from a lending institution. Now we are ready!

Site work and construction on Congo River began in the fall of 1987. The development project followed the typical course – behind schedule and over budget. The target opening date of June 6, 1988 had long passed and although not yet complete, the course itself was ready, the public was anxiously waiting to play and it was simply time to open. It wasn’t pretty, but Congo River sold its first round of golf on July 23, 1988. It took nearly two more years to “finish” the park – for the first time.

The original design of the park and course was one of creative collaboration between Ben, Georgio Vozza, a course owner and builder with projects in Michigan and Florida, and Mike Smith, a freelance designer with Disney and Universal Studios. Certain of the original theming and art direction were designed by the award winning and internationally recognized firm of ITEC. Since opening, significant contributions have come from Tim Sheldon of Waterfalls of Wisconsin – Brookfield, Wisconsin; Victor Misurelli of Misurelli & Son – Kenosha, Wisconsin; and Perry Ortlieb of Anchor Signs – Benton Harbor, Michigan.

Congo River has served as the backdrop for newsprint and magazine ads as well as television commercials. Many a photographer has utilized the beautiful waterfalls and meticulously maintained grounds as a set for their photo shoot: high school and college senior portraits; prom night; bride and groom and complete wedding parties are among the most frequently photographed. Every season people ask if they can photograph their cats, dogs, automobiles and motorcycles in the park. Additionally, we have hosted close to two thousand birthday celebrations (with 8-year-olds leading the way) with our all-inclusive birthday party package.

Congo River has been recognized locally as well as nationally for its artful design, customer service, advertising, promotions and business operations. Congo River is a recipient of Advertising’s prestigious Brass Ring Award for its print media, and the National Frame Builders Association elected Congo River to receive its Community Business Award in 1993. The Miniature Golf Association of America bestowed Congo River with “Best in the Midwest” honors in 1997, a tradition that management works diligently to maintain. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel places Congo River on its Top 10 In The State miniature golf course listing and has placed two of Congo River’s golf holes on their listing of the Top 18 Best Golf Holes. The management teams of RECreation and Congo River have been the subject of case studies, and many informational business articles have appeared in numerous trade publications on such topics as hiring practices, systems and controls, and customer service. The teaching and learning philosophy of the parent company, RECreation, along with its organization systems and mechanisms for achievement are a few of the “best practices” being modeled by park owners and operators around the country.

Congo River is rich in history and alive with personality. Although always under the direction of Ben and the RECreation team, the personality of Congo River must be credited to on-site management and staff: the young adults who were invited to work there each season and who chose everyday to show up with a positive attitude and to give their heart and soul and make a difference. Leading the way for 13 seasons was Gary Strom. Gary, a 4th grade teacher from Kenosha, stepped in as General Manager in 1989 and led with the kind of passion and care that any employer could be proud. With Gary, good was never good enough and a personal best was only a temporary milestone meant to be broken. Life at Congo was personal for Gary. (Gary left Congo in 2001 to pursue a life-long dream of owning his own restaurant. He and his wife Keri are the owner / operators of Culver’s of Overland Park, Kansas.) Gary never missed a day in thirteen years, but Congo misses him.

It was also personal for Michael “Doogie” Hintzman, the very first person employed at Congo River. Always with a bounce in his step, Michael’s spirit and his attention to detail are noticeable in every corner of the park. He was the go-to-guy for seven years and even today, Michael is leaving his mark once again by designing and maintaining Congo’s web site.

Some of the original “16” from 1988 remain friends of Ben’s and have “Lifetime Honorary” status at the Park. Through the years many special people have been a part of the Congo team and many have transitioned from employee to friends: Steve Janiak, Shelle Bernfeld, Dani Poquette-Kosterman, Alice Johnson-Laitamaki, Ann Glassen, Katie Stone, Mike Kaminski, Carrie Kennedy, Kelly Coleman-Pavich, Melissa Myres, Vicki Oettel, Jason Slowinski, Chrissy Longoria, Adriana Rendon, Jessica Sladek, TJ Maksen, Florent Malard, Jeff Johnson, Lindsay Goldsworthy, Lauren Moddes, Ron Maksen, Brandon Thul, Brian Wiegele, Vanessa Becker and others have left their individual mark and some a legacy: and in doing so, a tradition and goal for those that follow to aspire to.

The current management team at Congo along with a dedicated group of assistants are creating their own unique systems and bringing new style to the management of Congo River.

The evolution of Congo River has spanned as many years as the park has been operating: golf hole modifications; elevation changes; new walkways; buildings and decks. Many new signs and thematic additions and lots of lush landscaping have all combined to keep the park fresh. New equipment and even a few rule changes over the years help to keep a simple game like miniature golf fresh and exciting. More is planned for the park and Congo River continues a legacy tradition of being a true, family focused, safe and clean and Fun Park for all to enjoy.