It’s been in the works for more than three decades and the result is something everyone in southern Iowa can take pride in. Honey Creek Resort State Park opened its doors last week and the reviews have been spectacular.

The $58 million resort features 105 guest rooms and suites, a 6,000-square-foot convention center, 18-hole championship golf course, 9,000-square-foot indoor water park, dining, RV park, nine miles of hiking/biking trails, boat-docking facilities, cabins and more.

This resort will serve as a true destination getaway, drawing visitors from the area, the state and the entire Midwest to Rathbun Lake’s shores and the beauty of southern Iowa.

And while the resort is a great quality of life addition to our area, more importantly its existence will mean a true economic shot in the arm for a part of the state that desperately needs some good news.

Visitors mean money, not only for the resort, but the surrounding communities. Moravia, Centerville and Albia will surely reap some of the rewards, as will the extended area.

And the resort also means 138 new jobs, of which 80-85 are full-time.

Requests for conventions, weddings and more are already booked through 2010 and resort officials said it’s part of a steady stream of business coming to southern Iowa.

The state of Iowa has done an excellent job of marketing the new resort and word of mouth will surely follow.

We applaud the creation of Honey Creek. This new resort will benefit southern Iowa for years to come and serve as a true Midwest destination we can all be proud of.