Hammons to build hotel near Branson Airport

Hammons, CEO of Springfield’s John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, would not disclose the hotel’s flag but called it “European-style,” situated on 11 acres adjacent to Branson Creek Golf course and off of U.S. Highway 65. Construction should begin this fall and finish in summer 2010, he said.

Click here to view the project site plan.

Hammons spotted early construction work at the airport from the sky last fall as he traveled back to Springfield and was curious about the Branson Creek area. The completion of widening Highway 65 to the Arkansas border sealed the deal, he said.

“There’s big money being spent out there; it’s for real – otherwise I wouldn’t be there,” Hammons said at this morning’s announcement at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. “I’m pretty excited about the growth that has already taken place, and the growth that will follow.”

The hotel will be between six and nine stories and have between 160 and 250 rooms.

The $155 million Branson Airport is under construction now and should open in May 2009, airport Executive Director Jeff Bourk said. With a 7,140-foot runway, it will be capable of accommodating commercial aircraft traffic; Bourk said the airport is in talks with carriers that can provide low-cost flights, but he would not disclose names.

Branson Creek is a 7,500-acre master planned community south of Branson.

See SBJ's April 7 issue for related news in In Focus: Travel & Tourism.