WILDWOOD INN GOES “GATLINBURG
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Betty Burns
(816) 679-4074
Pat Frew, Director of Communications
859-655-4163
E-Mail: Pressroom@nkycvb.com | www.nkycvb.com
WILDWOOD INN GOES “GATLINBURG”
Florence, KY/May 22, 2006—The Wildwood Inn, 7809 U.S. 42, Florence has been in the hospitality business for 43 years. For the first time, it has more than one location with the $4.1 million purchase of the Homestead House Hotel in Gatlinburg.
Wildwood officials have big plans to convert the 86-room, seven-floor hotel into an equal mix of themed and traditional suites. Some of the themed suites will be nearly identical to the Florence location (African and Venetian), while others will be completely different. Among the considerations include a Dukes of Hazzard, Egyptian and one that one appeal to “bikers.”
Wildwood owner Tom Kelly says he has wanted to expand into the area for several years. “We looked at building a hotel in Sevier County in 1999, but by the time we lined up financing the 911 terrorist attacks hit. Cincinnati is the number one source of tourists for the area. The market has so much potential for us.”
Renovations, which have already begun, are expected to cost $250,000. The work should be completed by Spring, 2007.
The mission of the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau is that of an aggressive sales, marketing, service and informational organization whose primary responsibility is to positively impact the Northern Kentucky economy through conventions, meetings and visitor expenditures. The direct economic impact of visitors’ spending in Campbell, Kenton and Boone Counties in 2005 was $255 million.