Wampanoag Country Club in West Hartford hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking on Nov. 20 for the new clubhouse that will replace the building that was destroyed in April. 

By Ronni Newton

Golden shovels and hardhats were positioned Wednesday afternoon in front of a large hole that will become the foundation of the new Wampanoag clubhouse, but before club leadership, town officials, and members of the design and construction team held a champagne toast and tossed their shovelfuls of dirt at the ceremonial groundbreaking, club President Glenn Cunningham remarked on the significance of the day.

Seven months ago, to the date, the Wampanoag clubhouse went up in flames – with the second blaze, an inferno that erupted roughly 24 hours after the first fire was reported in the early morning hours of April 20, 2024 – completely destroying the structure.

In 2024, Wampanoag Country Club is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding. The golf course, recently renovated, was not damaged by the fire.

“Standing here on this ground, in front of the beautiful 130 acres that are behind us, I’m reminded of the vision of our founders … they built more than just a gathering space. They built more than just the best golf club in northern Connecticut,” Cunningham said. “What they did is they created a community, a community that’s here with us right now and a community that has thrived for 100 years.”

“This moment represents more than just the start of construction. This represents the culmination of countless hours of planning, of commitment by all of you, and by a shared belief in this club’s, Wampanoag’s future – and it is a future that is brighter than ever.”

Cunningham said experts estimated it would be two to three years to rebuild, but they refused to believe that – and immediately vowed to rebuild a better clubhouse, and open in 2025. He sincerely thanked the club members, staff, neighbors, and partnerships with the town staff who guide them through the proper process, and the design/build team of KBE Building Corporation and Newman Architects who translated their ideas into plans. The initial design plan was created in just 50 days, and in early September those plans were submitted to the town. The Town Plan & Zoning Commission (TPZ) unanimously approved a Special Use permit for the project to move forward, also approving use of a 30-foot-by-75-foot tent on the grounds – referred to as the “Chalet” – to allow continued operation of the club during the construction period.

“The new clubhouse that we build starting today will be more than just a structure. It will be our new home away from home, our place to make new memories, a place where friendships are forged and deepened and a place where our traditions are continued for generations to come,” Cunningham said.

Mayor Shari Cantor said the fire that destroyed the clubhouse was a shocking loss. “But what inspired me so much … what struck me so early was that absolute determination, commitment to the community, the love for this place, the history, the responsibility you had to the people who started this place,” she said Wednesday. “You made this happen.”

Cantor said she was awed by the determination, and really what makes it a story is “that it’s you. That your community stepped in, in such a profound way.” She expressed her thanks, and best wishes.

KBE Building Corporation COO Jim Culkin, who is also a member of Wampanoag, said Wednesday was a big milestone. “To be here today and to have this kickoff is very impressive,” he said, noting that it has only been seven months since the fire.

He said he’s really excited to build a project he can use when it opens, and has made the commitment to the budget and timeframe. “We’re going to do it,” Culkin said. “We’re here to say that we met our first milestone.”

Brooks Fischer, CEO of Newman Architects, said while he’s not a member, he has spent a lot of time at Wampanoag and it’s a special place. Within 30 days of the fire, he got a call from Culkin and immediately agreed to take on the project.

“What they’ve done here is really just remarkable,” Fischer said of the commitment and planning that has taken place thus far. “We think the building is going to be really special,” just like the last one was, but with all the modern amenities.

“To have a hole in the ground and permit in hand is really amazing, and to start doing foundations next week it’s really amazing,” Fischer said, and is a testament to the membership. “You want your home back and it’s coming back.”

The new clubhouse is larger – just under 40,000 square feet – but because it’s two stories, it occupies essentially the same footprint as the previous structure which was in use for roughly 70 years. The new building includes a porte cochere, outdoor terraces, and a walkout basement on two sides. Pocket doors allow for flexible event space for 140, 200, or even larger crowds – all with access to the spectacular views of the golf course from the outdoor terrace. The second floor area is reserved for members, and also has a terrace facing the golf course, ensuring a dining space with a view even while events are underway on the main level.

Images of the interior designs were revealed publicly for the first time on Wednesday.

“The end result will be transformative,” Cunningham said, for the Wampanoag community as well as for the West Hartford area. Construction should take 10-12 months, he said, and they hope to have the clubhouse ready for use next fall and are already booking events for 2026.

The official cause of the April fire has not been determined, but days after the incident officials did state that it did not appear to have been intentionally set.

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