Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
MITCHELL – Renovations are close to being finished at Spring Mill Inn in Mitchell.
It’s been almost two years since the inn closed for an extensive modernization to update the inn’s operations systems, guest rooms and improve accessibility. It’s anticipated that the inn will open later this fall.
The inn is located in Spring Mill State Park, east of Mitchell on Ind. 60 East. Although the Department of Natural Resources hasn’t announced an official opening date, the anticipation is building, said Tonya Chastain, executive director of Lawrence County Tourism.
“We’ve filtered many calls and emails about the inn and when it’s going to open,” Chastain said. “As soon as they start taking reservations, there are groups that want to get in.”
Chastain said inquiries have picked up as people start planning for the holidays.
The inn was constructed in 1937-38 and opened to the public in 1939. The inn has 73 guest rooms, a conference center and dining room. The existing pool will be replaced with a splash pad.
Property Manager Mark Young said upgrades to guest rooms have been completed over the years, but this renovation is the largest since the 1970s.
“It’s coming along well and I think the public will really enjoy some of the changes that have been made,” he said.
On the outside, there are new sidewalks in front of the inn, additional ADA-compliant parking spots that are closer to the building and a ramp at the front door.
Inside, the gift shop and registration desk were moved to make room for an accessibility ramp.
According to project information on the Department of Natural Resources website, the goal has been to make needed improvements without altering the inn’s historic and comfortable atmosphere that guests enjoy.
Improvements include:
- New windows and doors, new fire alarm system and water lines, sprinkler system, and a new HVAC system.
- Accessibility upgrades will include interior ramp access into the lobby and sales offices, and a second elevator will be installed that provides better access to the upper and lower levels of the inn.
- The front desk will be moved, but the public spaces such as the main lobby and downstairs area will still provide comfortable gathering spaces for music, family games, reading and relaxing by the fireplace.
- Sleeping rooms will receive furnishing and further bathroom upgrades, along with painting and other cosmetic improvements. Structural changes may occur in some rooms due to the mechanical changes and improvements.
- The Lakeview Room and Millstone Dining Room will be painted and undergo other cosmetic improvements, and there also may be some visible structural changes created by the mechanical modernization.
Chastain said she was part of a group that recently toured the inn to see some of the changes.
“The charm is still there,” she said. “People are going to be really excited when they see it.”
“When you talk about improving an older structure, you’re always surprised by what you find,” Young said. “But overall it’s gone real smooth.”
Once the opening date has been released, the inn will begin taking reservations, Young said.
Guests have shifted to other hotels during the closure. Chastain said the county was fortunate that the Hampton Inn in Bedford opened around the time the inn closed.
Chastain said the tourism agency’s website will be updated as soon as the opening date is announced.
