The Logan County Chamber of Commerce and local investors report official documents have been filed for the construction of a four-story, 80-room Cobblestone Hotel, proposed for a 2.6-acre parcel next to the Mary Rutan Health Center, 1134 N. Main St., Bellefontaine.
The new hotel easily accessible from U.S. Routes 33 and 68 will feature a mix of king and queen studios and suites, extended stay options, a swimming pool, 50-60 seat conference room, breakfast room, exercise room, laundry facilities and an outdoor patio.
The vision for a hotel at this site dates back to 2016, when an initial feasibility study was conducted by the Logan County Chamber of Commerce and Mary Rutan Hospital.
However, it wasn’t until after the opening of a Cobblestone Hotel in Urbana in the summer of 2020 that momentum picked up for seeing a similar model built in Logan County.
Community leaders toured the 54-room Urbana property and were impressed during meetings with the local investors who funded the hotel. This resulted in the commissioning of a fresh hotel feasibility study in July of 2021 for both the Bellefontaine and Indian Lake markets.
The studies conducted by Core Distinction Group out of Wisconsin overwhelmingly recommended a 50-60 room hotel be constructed at Indian Lake and a 60-80 room hotel in Bellefontaine.
“The studies showed that not having these hotels, meant incredible amounts of economic benefit were leaving Logan County for Marysville, Dublin, Sidney, and Springfield,” Logan County Chamber of Commerce President Ben Vollrath said. “The estimated lost revenue to our community was more than $15 million over a five-year period.”
With Cobblestone as a partner, the Bellefontaine investment group gradually formed and documents were formally executed at the beginning of this month. The group is comprised of 22 investors, predominately Logan County residents and business owners, plus the owners of Cobblestone Hotels, LLC. Financing will be provided by Richwood Bank.
Janice Tata, a company representative was instrumental in facilitating the project formation and educating the community about the hotel brand and its three divisions, Cobblestone (the franchise), BriMark Builders (the construction company), and SHG management (professional property management).
“This long overdue, badly needed project will be a great asset to Bellefontaine and the greater Logan County region and will be something the community can be proud of,” said former Bellefontaine Service Safety Director Jim Holycross, a signing member for the hotel investor group.
“Citizens, business people, and travelers alike will all feel good about having a great place to stay and will augment the energy of this thriving community. Thanks to Cobblestone Hotels and Brimark Builders for seeing the need and helping us get this project underway.”
The Cobblestone Hotel at Indian Lake is making significant headway as well, signing member Mike Major reports.
“The Indian Lake Hotel planning is nearly complete and we hope to break ground in April,” he said. “The hold up has been FEMA approval since our site is in a flood plain.
“Contractors have already been lined up so that there should be no delay once we break ground. We are excited to move forward and expect to see the hotel open in 2024.”
Headquartered in Neenah, Wis., Cobblestone Hotels LLC prides itself on filling the lodging needs of communities throughout the United States. Since opening its first location in 2008, the brand has expanded to over 160 hotels in 29 states. For more than 10 years, Cobblestone Hotels has been known as one of the fastest-growing hotel brands in the country.