Two hotel projects that have been several years in the making will mark groundbreaking celebrations Monday, Nov. 6, in Logan County — one in Bellefontiane and the other at Indian Lake — officials from the Logan County Chamber of Commerce recently announced.
“Nov. 6 will be a very special day in Logan County as we celebrate the groundbreaking for two Cobblestone brand hotels. These will be the first hotels built in our community in over 25 years,” Chamber President/CEO Ben Vollrath said.
The Bellefontaine groundbreaking ceremony is set for noon Nov. 6. The outdoor event will be conducted at 171 Dowell Ave., Bellefontaine, adjacent to the Mary Rutan Health Center.
Then that afternoon, the groundbreaking for the Indian Lake Cobblestone Hotel is set for 3 p.m., at 211 Lincoln Blvd, Russells Point, at the southeast corner of U.S. Route 33 and Lincoln Blvd.
Officials from the Indian Lake Hotel Investment Group report that construction of the new Indian Lake Cobblestone Hotel has already begun. All approvals and permits have been received for the 54 room hotel that is expected to open in the 2024 summer season. Russells Point Village Council also has unanimously approved all aspects of this project.
BriMark Builders LLC, a division of Cobblestone Inc. will oversee the construction using numerous local sub-contractors. The $8.4 million hotel is said to be the largest development project at Indian Lake since the turn of the last century when the Amusement Park was built.
In addition to single bed and double bed rooms long term stay rooms with kitchens and living rooms and ADA compliant rooms the new Cobblestone hotel will also have a conference/events room, indoor pool, as well as a bar and outdoor patio.
Most investors are connected to Indian Lake.
“They believe this hotel will serve a well documented need, spur more quality development around the lake and expand Indian Lake activities year-round,” the Indian Lake Hotel Investment Group reports.
Regarding the new Bellefontaine hotel, the Logan County Chamber of Commerce and local investors reported this spring that 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 health center.
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.
“The studies showed that not having these hotels, meant incredible amounts of economic benefit were leaving Logan County for Marysville, Dublin, Sidney, and Springfield,” Vollrath previously said. “The estimated lost revenue to our community was more than $15 million over a five-year period.”
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.”
