Families say they paid resort hundreds of dollars for pool that never opened

LAKE WYLIE, S.C. — Chopper 9 Skyzoom recently flew over the Long Cove Resort and Marina on Lake Wylie. The pool was not finished yet we could see debris and murky green water.

Kristy Kelly and other customers told Action 9 investigator Jason Stoogenke similar stories.

They all claim they paid Long Cove $275 for a pool membership and thought it would be open in April or May.

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“The whole, whole summer long, I would call. They would say, ‘Oh, it’ll be open on this date or in two weeks or in one week -- it’ll be open.’ And the whole thing went on and on and finally it’s the end of summer now,” Kelly told Action 9.

The Better Business Bureau gives Long Cove an “F” rating.

“To ignore your customers in this day and age, with their ability to turn to the media, to turn to social media? It’s not going to help your brand,” BBB president Tom Bartholomy told Action 9.

Long Cove has other money issues too. On Friday, Mecklenburg County said the business owed more than $42,700 in taxes and that $22,000 of it was already late.

Long Cove Marina Resort pool Families claim they paid Long Cove hundreds of dollars for a pool membership -- but the pool has never opened all summer. (WSOC)

Action 9 emailed Long Cove and the owners said, “We at Long Cove are just as upset about our pool not being finished as everyone else.”

They went on to say they took over the property last year and that the previous owners left them with headaches and all those tax bills. They told Action 9 that it has been an “uphill battle” and that they’ve had problems with permits, employee turnover, contractor turnover and poor workmanship.

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They also said they told customers they could use their memberships next year and that “there have been a few members who … preferred a refund which we have happily obliged.”

But three customers, including Kelly, said that’s not true.

One told Action 9 she was still waiting for her money back as of Labor Day while another said she finally tracked down one of the owner’s cell phone numbers and got her money that way.

Kelly said she tried for weeks to get a refund. After Action 9 got involved, she said she got her refund on Sunday.

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