The first step toward construction of a motel and truck stop and travel center was taken Tuesday morning.
At a special meeting of the Henryetta Economic Development Authority (HEDA), 12 acres of city-owned land west of town will be leased to Harry Patel . He said he would be building a 70 to 80 room Laquinta Inn and Suites facility that will also have a Valero truck stop and travel center adjacent to it.
Patel told HEDA members the $13 million project would include a 1,600 square foot meeting room as well as indoor pool and other amenities. It would be located on two of the 12 acres of the 30-acre site just south of the west Henryetta I-40 exit.
HEDA member Jim Beymer made the motion to provide the land for both the truck stop and motel on a 100-year lease for $1.
Patel said he has developed 15 properties around the state with the most recent being a Holiday Express in Kingfisher. He said it would take about 45 days to get the plans drawn up and do soil testing. An official groundbreaking ceremony would be held sometime in the next four months.
Saqib Anwar would be developing the truck stop and travel plaza. He is a Valero distributor in Oklahoma and has been in the business for 32 years.
Anwar said five acres would be required to the travel plaza and wanted another five acres for trucks to park.
“We would add four to six showers and small gym facilities for the truck drivers,” he said. A small restaurant affiliated with a chain such as A&W or Papa John would be included in the truck stop.
“This is a way to draw people here,” said HEDA member and city council mayor Jennifer Munholland. “We don’t have enough hotels here now.”
The agreement to provide the land will be sent to the Henryetta city council for ultimate approval. Council members would ultimately be the group that writes up the official lease contract. That decision would be made at the March city council meeting.