HORNEPAYNE – After 13 years of sitting vacant, the site where the Hallmark Centre stood will be developed once again into a comfortable lodging destination.
Built in the 1980s, Hornepayne's Hallmark centre has served as a spot for businesses, a high school, a hotel, a swimming pool and gym, and a restaurant.
Now, Rideout Bay, a Winnipeg-based real estate development company whose focus is building hotels in Northwestern Ontario, will begin construction of a 46-unit Studio 6 hotel this spring.
'We need the hotel in Hornepayne," Mayor Cheryl Fort said. "It’s on schedule to start in April. This is a huge investment for our community.”
During the long winter, the roads between rural areas can be treacherous. Having a hotel to stay the night adds an extra level of safety during winter storms and night driving.
Fort also explains that the new hotel will bring a boost to the tourism sector.
Hornepayne is known as a hub for winter recreational activities.
“Getting back on top of the snowmobile route. We have beautiful trails. So, it’s going to just inject more people coming to our community. We can welcome more people, and it just opens up more opportunity,” Fort said.