El Dorado’s newest hotel will open its doors Monday, after more than one year of construction.
The 75-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott at 1800 N. West Ave. held its groundbreaking in August 2017. On Friday, construction crews and hotel staff were working to finish final details all around the property, and new employees were being trained in preparation of opening day.
The Marriott franchise is owned by Blossom Town, LLC and managed by Shinn Enterprises, Inc., which purchased the land in 2016 for about $150,000, according to previous reporting.
Madison Louden, general manager, said the hotel features some of the newest trends in the industry, including streaming features in rooms, such as Netflix, Hulu and YouTube.
“Delivering both function and comfort, our new design and décor elevate the Fairfield brand, setting a new standard in the moderate tier category,” Janis Milham, senior vice president and global brand leader, Classic Select Brands, said in a news release. “At Fairfield Inn & Suites, we provide an easy, positive and productive travel experience, as well as the promise of consistent and reliable service at an exceptional value. The Fairfield Inn & Suites El Dorado is a truly stunning example of the brand’s contemporary look and feel, and we are pleased to introduce Fairfield Inn & Suites hotels in the El Dorado area.”
Louden said many design features of the hotel are inspired by the Fairfield Farm, located in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Fairfield Farm was originally owned by the King of England, according to the company’s website.
Fairfield Farm reminded J. W. Marriott of the western ranches of his childhood, so he purchased the property for his family’s enjoyment in 1950, according to the website. In 1987, the first Fairfield Inn hotel opened in Atlanta. The Manor House was refurbished in 1997, and opened as Marriott’s only Bed and Breakfast property, the Inn at Fairfield Farm.
Today, Fairfield Farm is better known as the Marriott Ranch and is owned and operated by Marriott International. It continues to be a working cattle ranch, as well as a host location for special events.
Louden pointed to lights over a farmhouse table in the lobby that are meant to look like cowbells and window treatment that features photography from the Fairfield Farm. The material is sheer and allows light to pass through the photography.
“Mariott has done a phenomenal job with decor,” Louden siad. “The little things come into play.”
The hotel features an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center and an outdoor fire pit, which Louden said would be more like a “fire table” to create a relaxing and warm environment. It also includes a complimentary shuttle, a meeting room, valet laundry service, complimentary Wi-Fi and the Iron Mountain Bistro, which features a Mexican-inspired menu and will be open to the public. Louden said the bistro does not yet have its liquor license, but hoped it would be in place in February.
Rates begin at $144 per night.
Louden said the hotel wants to be more than just a hotel in El Dorado, but act as a community partner.
The hotel is set to officially open its doors at 3 p.m. Monday. Louden said staff will be giving tours and displaying all the hotel’s features and amenities.
“We’re really involved in the community,” Louden said. “We want to be a part of El Dorado.”
