Where to Stay

The Packinghouse Project Part I

Locals have all heard the legend of the old Packinghouse. Many have seen the large, hulk of a building, the remnant of an industrial past. Yet this building that has been largely empty for 100 years may soon get a second chance. Georgia Southern alumnus Scott Taylor is a property developer who moved back to Statesboro from the New York area. He purchased the building several years ago and has big ideas to breath new life into what has long stood dead and lifeless. 

Taylor saw the property late in 2015 when it came up for sale. “At first I was not one hundred percent sure,” he said, “but I loved the unique industrial style of the building.” Taylor has been cleaning out the packinghouse and plans to convert it into unique apartments. Taylor was inspired by the revitalized industrial style of New York City’s former meatpacking district.

He admits that the biggest challenge for the project is the “sheer size of the building.” He has extensive experience in investment property renovation and development, but this was his largest project yet. The inside of the building needed to be cleared of all debris and cleaned out.  He certainly faced a challenge freeing the building that was “entombed in kudzu.” Taylor said “It was like cleaning up after a hundred-year-old party” with cans, trash, and bottles strewn across the interior and graffiti scrawled over the walls.

After the clean-up phase, Taylor did the initial layout plan himself. “It was a challenge to create functional spaces and designs that make sense within the existing footprint,” he says. “But it was kind of fun to see a design that would work to repurpose the building into something cool and aesthetically pleasing.” Taylor has big hopes for the future of this iconic Statesboro landmark. Optimistically, he says that renovation and construction plans could start as early as this summer and be finished within ten months. He says “ I think people will be impressed and pleased with the result.” 

Story to be continued in Part II…

Holiday Inn University Area is Open With a New Look

Holiday Inn University Area is still open for business, especially for healthcare workers in need of a comfortable place to stay. They are offering a special rate to any healthcare worker who lets them know who they are when they check-in.

The hotel has also been recently renovated and we were sent a preview of the new rooms!

Single King Room

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Double Queen Room

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Single Executive King Room

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And here’s a sneak peek of the amenities that will be open and ready for use as soon as the current situation clears up!

Magnolia Ballroom

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Emma’s Breakfast

Although Emma’s is closed, they do have a grab-and-go breakfast option.

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Emma’s Restaurant

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Emma’s Bar

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Holiday Inn Pool

Holiday Inn Status and Special Rates

The Holiday Inn, 455 Commerce Drive, Statesboro, is still open. Emma’s is closed as of last week along with the pool and gym. They do have grab-and-go breakfasts available for their guests and are giving these out regardless of if the rate included breakfast or not.

They have activated special rates for medical professionals. These include

·         Traveling Nurses

·         Centers for Infectious Disease

·         CDC

·         Center for Disaster Relief

·         National Institute for Medicine

·         Medical Rate

·         Hospital Rate

They also have government rates for:

·         Army Reserves

·         Coast Guard

·         National Guard

·         Air Force

·         Army Corp. Engineers

·         US Army Ready Reserve

·         US Homeland Security

·         US Marine Corp

They also have a locally negotiated rate for Georgia Emergency Associates.

Statesboro Hotel/Motel Operating Status

If you are in need of a hotel room during this time, we are keeping a running list of hotels that are still open. There is also a list of other open businesses in Statesboro and Bulloch County that can be found HERE.

This list has been updated as of: 3/31/2020 1:03pm

Comfort Inn – Open

Super 8 – Open, lobby closed

Holiday Inn – Open, Emma’s and Pool closed, limited room service

Holiday Inn Express – Open

Knights Inn- Open

Home2 – Open

Eagles Nest – Open, pool closed, no breakfast

Quality Inn- Open

Studio 6- Open

Red Roof Inn – Open

Patriot Inn – Open

Parkwood RV Park and Cottages – Open, over-the-phone reservations

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Deluxe Inn – Waiting to hear back

Eagle Inn- Waiting to hear back

Stiles Inn – Waiting to hear back

Stay Plus- Waiting to hear back

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Springhill Suites – Closed

Hampton Inn- Closed

Hurricane Dorian Hotel Info

Please see the below hotel room availability as of 9/04/19 at 10:47am.  Staff members at all hotels are currently very busy booking rooms so the numbers continue to fluctuate.  “TBD” means that the hotel staff was busy with customers at the time of our call so the availability is “to be determined”.

For more hotel information please CLICK HERE.

We will continue to update hotel and shelter availability throughout Hurricane Dorian.  Please continue to check here and the provided community links for more information.

For up-to-date Public Safety information please visit Bulloch County EMA and Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office Facebook pages:

For food, shelter, and volunteering information please visit Bulloch County VOAD Facebook page:

Hurricane Florence Hotel and Shelter Info

Please see the below hotel room availability as of 9/13/18 at 2:55pm.  Staff members at all hotels are currently very busy booking rooms so the numbers continue to fluctuate.  “TBD” means that the hotel staff was busy with customers at the time of our call so the availability is “to be determined”.

Update for boat-owners:  Custom Marine is offering free boat storage in a fully fenced in area.  Call first to assure space is still available. 912-681-7777

For more hotel information please CLICK HERE.

We will continue to update hotel and shelter availability throughout Hurricane Florence.  Please continue to check here and the provided community links for more information.

For up-to-date Public Safety information please visit Bulloch County EMA and Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office Facebook pages:

 

 

 

 

 

For food, shelter, and volunteering information please visit Bulloch County VOAD Facebook page: