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Ground broken for Hampton Inn
By TOM BERRY
Staff Writer
The official groundbreaking for the construction of a new Hampton Inn and Suites in Murray was greeted with enthusiasm by Murray and Calloway County government, business and education officials Friday afternoon at the future site of the business on Lowes Drive.
Of course the unofficial groundbreaking for the 72-room hotel had already begun and workmen continued to level and prepare the foundation of the facility as the ceremony took place.
Danny Koon and his wife, Beverly, hotel partners through Horizons Development, LLC, were on hand along with three other partners in the venture.
Danny Koon spoke briefly crediting the Murray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce, Murray State University, city and county business and government leaders and others for working with the partnership and making it all possible.
The hotel is scheduled for completion in September.
“We've had great community support,” Koon said to a group of about 40 gathered at the site. “I would like to thank each one of you personally and individually and I would like to thank your staffs for helping us.”
Murray Mayor Tom Rushing and Calloway County Judge-Executive Larry Elkins also thanked the partners for their investment in the community as well as the local organizations that worked hard to make the event possible.
“It was a long road,” Rushing said. “They've been running in and out of my office saying ‘Hampton Inn is coming.' Then they would run in again and say, ‘Hampton Inn is not coming.' Well, as you can see, Hampton Inn is here.”
Murray State University President Dr. Randy Dunn pointed out that the partnership between city and county government and the university was mutually beneficial concerning the project and pointed out some of the ways MSU would benefit from the hotel's presence in Murray that is so close to university grounds.
“We're just excited that it has come to this point and we are looking forward to partnering with you in everyway,” Dunn said.
He said he would expect the parents and families of MSU students to bring business to the hotel which could also provide temporary student employment and internships for business students.
Don Ershig, hotel partner and owner of Ershig Properties, Inc., said the hotel will include everything Hampton Inn & Suites is noted for in providing comfort and service to its customers including 72 rooms and suites, a breakfast area, a meeting room, a fitness room, a pantry and swimming pool. He also noted the hotel would include a Tumbleweed Southwest Grill restaurant.
The hotel is located between Ryan's Steakhouse and Lowe's on Ky. 121 North adjacent to the Regional Special Events Center.
To read the complete article, pick up a copy of today's Murray Ledger & Times.
Story created Jan 27, 2007 - 00:14:38 EST.
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