PERRY, Ga. — The Georgia National Fairgrounds is headed into the final phases of bringing its hotel dream to fruition.
They've been talking for months about bringing a new hotel to Central Georgia and now they are months away from breaking ground.
Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer Maggie Lane says the three-story hotel will be attached to the Miller Murphy Howard Building.
That's located on the west side of the Georgia National Fairgrounds, closest to I-75.
"We're really excited for what the development of this new hotel could do for Perry, for Middle Georgia, for the entire local economy," Lane said.
COVID-19 delayed the project, but now, Lane says they're making some major headway.
"The hope is that we're going to have a stay for every type of visitor," Lane said.
Lane says they are partnering with Retreat Hotels and Resorts to bring two overnight options --- Townplace Suites by Marriott and a Fairfield by Marriott.
She says the hotel will have a restaurant, bar and grill, a pool, a fitness center, electric vehicle charging stations, 129 rooms, and plenty of conference space.
"I think it is great. Downtown Perry is beautiful and this side of town is kind of blah, and what makes it survive, thank God, is the ag center; and if we have a good, real nice hotel on this side of town, we will get more traffic, more restaurants will come. Some of the older motels and stuff can be demolished and we can have this side of town looking like the other side of town, which is Sam Nunn Boulevard," Smith said.
Debbie Smith works just around the coroner at the Oil Lamp Restaurant.
She says more people will stop off Exit 135.
"The more advertising from the hotel and stuff maybe they will come down further and see the Oil Lamp and any other restaurant. That'll make Perry thrive more," Smith said.
Lane says the next step is the permitting process through the City of Perry, and then, they will break ground.
Lane says they hope to break ground sometime next year and construction will likely take a year and a half. That could push the opening into 2025.
"We think by adding a hotel on site we are just priming it to be an even better convention center, extending the link of our visitors, and therefore generating more revenue in the local economy," Lane said.
The project is 100% privately-funded. Lane says that means the Georgia National Fairgrounds are providing only the property for the hotel.
Lane says the Georgia National Fair brings in about 1 million visitors a year. They expect that number to rise with the hotel.