Hotel Project With Cycling Amenities Set For Downtown Bentonville

A rendering of a hotel being developed in downtown Bentonville by Ropeswing Hospitality and Blue Crane

A 116,000-SF hotel and event center is planned for downtown Bentonville.

Blue Crane will develop the property while Ropeswing Hospitality will handle the food and beverage operations. Both entities are subsidiaries of the Runway Group of Bentonville, which is run by Tom and Steuart Walton, the grandsons of Walmart Inc. founder Sam Walton.

Runway acquired the property, known at Tucker’s Corner, for $2.55 million in October 2018. It is at the southeast corner of West Central Avenue and SE A Street.

The project was first announced in the summer of 2018. Developers hope to have it completed by the summer of 2024.

The developers said the hotel will cater to business and recreational travelers with an eye to cycling enthusiasts. The facility will have 142 rooms, an event center and restaurant-bar. It will also have amenities designed for cyclists such as a bike valet, storage and bike wash.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to build a hotel that uniquely reflects the endless outdoor adventures available in northwest Arkansas and provide an unparalleled experience for our local community and guests,” Blue Crane CEO Jared Faciszewski said. “The hotel will elevate the experience of travelers to Bentonville by creating a space where they can make lifelong memories and experience the natural beauty of Ozarks. It allows guests the opportunity to experience the magic of all that northwest Arkansas has to offer, right from the heart of the city.”

The hotel will have a capacity of 300 with a large event space for business and social functions. A parking structure for the hotel will be developed a half-block east.

“We look forward to welcoming the community into our new concepts positioned in Bentonville’s culinary and hospitality center,” said Tracey Spillane, vice president of bars and restaurants for Ropeswing. “We are going to create a vibrant, engaging concepts for both locals and visitors to enjoy first-class hospitality.”