The Ozarker Lodge plans June 30 opening

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Summer launch targeted for $10M boutique hotel in Branson

A $10 million boutique hotel project in Branson is expected to conclude this week with the scheduled June 30 opening of The Ozarker Lodge.

The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau is planning a June 29 ribbon-cutting ceremony in advance of the launch of the 102-room, 36,000-square-foot venture, located at 965 State Highway 165. Jeremy Wells and Dustin Myers, partners in Springfield hospitality branding firm Longitude LLC and investment group Flyover Developments LLC, teamed with national firm Eagle Point Hotel Partners on the project.

BP Builders LLC was general contractor for the renovation and expansion project designed by Kansas City-based Clockwork. Detroit firm Parini handled interior design, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. Work involved renovating the former Fall Creek Inn & Suites, as well as expanding the building to add a lobby, coffee shop and wine bar.

Final inspections are underway this week for The Ozarker Lodge, Wells said, noting construction and supply chain delays pushed back the opening from its originally targeted date in late May. He said the finished product was worth the wait.

“As I walk through the lobby and those areas and look at the renderings we did, I’d say it’s probably 95% the vision that we had in mind,” he said. “We’re pretty excited about that. We had to be very mindful and strategic about decisions we made with the budget and items, and just trying to get creative and crafty with it. It ended up looking really great.”

Wells said the project stayed on budget, which included the acquisition cost and about $6.5 million in renovations. Exterior amenities include a new heated pool, a playground, fire pits and creek-side soaking hot tubs. The Ozarker Lodge’s booking website lists summer rates ranging $122-$189. Most rooms are 288 square feet with suites either 386 or 483 square feet.

Through their work with Longitude, Wells said he and Myers frequently collaborate with hotels and resorts. However, this project gave them a new appreciation of the hospitality industry, he added.

“Seeing all the behind-the-scenes of what it means to be a hotelier and owner and dealing with project management, capital expenditures, budgeting, vendor management and all that type of stuff, while trying to keep things on track and on budget, is a whole different ballgame for Dustin and I,” he said. “We learned a lot through this process and have a lot of great partners involved. It’s been awesome.”