IPI owners create Wild West in Balamban
With summer fast approaching, more visitors are looking for new places to visit, which offer the not your usual, swim-in-the-beach kind of activities here in Cebu.
Wild Wild West in Balamban, Cebu is one place that will satisfy Cebuanos thirst for an adventure adrenaline rush and a place for quality bonding time.
Located in the western part of Cebu, Wild Wild West is a 36-hectare property owned by the Lim family, who owns International Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IPI).
“They bought the property in the 1980s for an aquaculture business under Alliance Aquaculture, Inc. And for a long time has been farming prawns for export,” said Cristino Lim, IPI vice president for administration and finance of IPI and general manager of Wild Wild West.
In 2012 however, the family saw the potential of the property to also offer adventure activities while they continue to run the prawn farm.
“Paul Jake (one of the owners’ son) is so fond of cars so the first part that was developed in the recreation center was the drifting tracks where he and his friends usually practice their skills in drifting,” said Lim.
They started with the drifting tracks and invested at least P2 million, which included three car units which are fully setup for drifting.
They, then added the horseback riding trail and the restaurant.
They now offer All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) rentals, fishing at the lagoon for those who wants to fish for their own food, tirador challenge, fish feeding, karaoke, and biking.
The restaurant offers seafood dishes and their original liempo recipe.
“Of the 36 hectares, only about 20 hectares are fully developed now. That leaves us 16 hectares for more developments in the area,” said Lim.
Guests can enjoy an ATV ride for at least 15 minutes for just P150 and P300 for 15 minutes of horseback riding.
Lim said their guests were usually families and group of friends who want to spend some bonding time with each other especially during weekends.
The owners don’t charge entrance fees for visitors.
“If they don’t want to try our rides or fish, then they can just eat at the restaurant. There are a lot things to do here,” said Lim.
They now also have a camping area where people can set up tents and just enjoy the cool winds in the area or stay overnight if they want.
“We have tents for rent here at only P100.
There are about 30 people working in the center which includes those working in the prawn farm since it is still the main revenue earner in the property.
Ecotourism
According to Lim they are confident with the growing popularity of ecotourism and that it will help encourage more people to visit and check out their property.
The ride to Balamban from the city is already an ecotourism trip itself passing through the transcentral highway and getting in touch with the beauty of nature while feeling the colder winds in the mountain and the green lush of the mountain trees plus the colorful display of flowers grown in farms that one can see from the highway, Lim said.
