Hotel Parq Central Opening SoonIt was built in 1926 as a hospital for railroad workers.
More recently, it was Memorial Psychiatric Hospital for children and adolescents.
Next week, it opens as Hotel Parq Central � a boutique 74-room property that has been undergoing a $21 million renovation since May 2009 to give it a modern touch while preserving the history of the building.
Owners Marc Bertram and David Oberstein gave the Journal a tour of the 2�-acre site as the final stages were being completed on the property at 806 Central Ave. SE for a Wednesday opening.
The exterior walls of three of the four buildings on the property maintain the original look. Inside the main property, the 39,000-square-foot space that served as a hospital, you�ll find new walls, new floors, new furniture and a new look.
The property is on the national Register of Historic Places, and its new owners worked with state and federal agencies to maintain the building�s history.
The main property features a drawing room, parlor, two meeting areas, a mailroom, a conservatory and three levels of guest rooms. Each floor features a butler pantry for guests to grab coffee, tea, hot cocoa or bags of ice.
Outside the main property, you�ll find a courtyard with a fountain, a hot tub and a grassy, garden area that can be used for events.
Rumors occasionally still surface that the place is haunted, but Oberstein said if there were ghosts there, they have since left the building.
During Balloon Fiesta, prices will range from $179 for a traditional king room to $200 for a one-bedroom suite with a fireplace. Prices will range from $149 and up after Balloon Fiesta.
A grand opening, including introductory rates, is planned for November.
Friedman Recycling PlantThe process of recycling at the Friedman Recycling Plant.
