HOMES AWAY FROM HOME

By Jessie H. Nunery

Location and tourism are favorable components of the Twin Counties — and in 2019, the area hotel industry is a hot spot for development.

Whether it’s well-known hotel chains like Hilton unique, tiny houses at the Rocky Mount Mills or a national brand coming to downtown Rocky Mount, people visiting the area will have a wealth of options for years to come.

Travelers from the west might soon have an option in Nashville, where in the first quarter of 2019, interest in developing an 85room hotel at Nash Crossing was reported.

There is opportunity in Nashville as it sits directly within a path of travelers from the west and the I-95 corridor that runs north and South.

Whether it’s the Rocky Mount Sports Complex, which holds baseball, softball and soccer tournaments more than 30 weekends each year, or the new Rocky Mount Event Center, which has been booming with weekend volleyball, basketball and gymnastics tournaments since its opening in October 2018, out-of-towners need a place to rest their heads in the Twin Counties.

During the past year, a Homewood Suites

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has opened near the U.S. 64 and Interstate 95 interchange, while plans for a Tru Hotel and avid hotel in the same area are in the process of being approved and reviewed.

Five-story hotels aren’t the only types of overnight stays offered. The development of Rocky Mount Mills has lent to the 2019 opening of River & Twine, a collection of 20 tiny-home style loft stays that are unique in size, look and location.

“We’re exceeding expectations,” general manager Ryan Holloman said. “Now people can stay in Rocky Mount, hang out at the Mills and make a weekend out of it.”

A tier-one SpringHill Suites is in the process of approval through the Local Government Commission as developer David Hunt of Hunt Services will help bring the hotel, residential and commercial areas and a parking garage to downtown Rocky Mount.

A saying in a well-known baseball movie states, “If you build it, they will come.”

Well, in the Twin Counties, both are ringing true.

We’re exceeding expectations. Now people can stay in Rocky Mount, hang out at the Mills and make a weekend out of it.

- Ryan Holloman,

general manager, river and twine

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