NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The announcement of what was the Great Bend Farm and Ranch Expo now coming to the Kansas State Fairgrounds and the proof that big time golf still sees Kansas as viable with the Senior LPGA in Salina are both reasons that State Fair General Manager Bryan Schulz would love to see the hotel developers who have said they are interested in building in Hutch actually come through with more rooms.
"We've got such a beautiful campus," Schulz said. "Once we get the additional hotel rooms within the Hutchinson area, I think that's going to draw even more organizations wanting to come in."
As for any firm plans on where the next hotel will be, Schulz says not yet.
"We're still kind of at square one," Schulz said. "We've met with a developer and we will be having a few more meetings in the next few weeks, just to see what the possibility is and potential locations. It really hasn't made a whole lot of movement right yet, but conversations are being had."
This month marks 20 years since Prairie Dunes hosted the 2002 U.S. Women's Open, won by Juli Inkster. Inkster, Annika Sorenstam and the Senior LPGA were in Kansas through Sunday for the Senior LPGA Championship at the Salina Country Club. An event like that can't come back without better hotel accommodations.
"You see that with all sporting events," Schulz said. "They don't want to have to play a game and then get on a bus and drive for 40 minutes again. They want to have access to their rooms. It is very imperative that the whole hotel situation is rectified. I just believe that more and more people will start using the facilities we have in Hutchinson."
There have been at least three developers to express interest in building somewhere in Hutchinson in recent weeks.