Another hotel breaks ground in Centre County, the third since June. What to know
Centre County officials were on hand Tuesday for the third area hotel groundbreaking since June, with the latest in an area that’s seen a recent boom in development.
The four-story Home2 Suites hotel by Hilton — a hotel brand designed to accommodate extended stays — will be located at 1764 E. Trout Drive in the Dale Summit area. The hotel will be the first addition in the new Shiloh Road Commercial Park.
The plans for the hotel were approved by both the College Township Council and planning commission this summer. It includes 116 rooms, 129 parking spaces (including seven American Disabilities Act-designated spaces), three electric vehicle charging stations and an indoor pool.
Once the hotel is constructed, its only access point will be along Shiloh Road, where drivers will then turn onto East Trout Drive, and then a newly-constructed road named “Kali Lane,” which will lead drivers to the hotel. Another access point could also be made available in the future once a neighboring construction site finishes its work.
A sidewalk will also be constructed, connecting Kali Lane and East Trout Road.
Rich Francke, a College Township Council member, said he hopes the new hotel will bring more visitors to the township.
“This hotel is more than just a building, it is a symbol of our community’s appeal and its bright future,” Francke said. “College Township is a vibrant hub of education, culture and innovation, attracting visitors from all walks of life. With the presence of the Pennsylvania State University and various local attractions and businesses, we have a unique opportunity to offer travelers a warm and welcoming place to want to stay. This hotel will serve as a vital resource for our community.”
The county’s other two hotel groundbreakings this year were both in June along the Benner Township side of the Benner Pike — a Tru Hotel by Hilton and a dual-brand IHG Hotels and Resorts hotel, split between the Avid and Candlewood Suites brands.
The Tru by Hilton is expected to be completed in June 2025, and IHG’s dual hotel is expected to be completed about a month later.
Fritz Smith, CEO of the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, sees the recent groundbreakings as a positive sign for the county’s hospitality and tourism industry.
“This is the third groundbreaking that we’ve done in Centre County for a hotel in the last few months,” Smith said. “That is indicative of a very strong hospitality and tourism industry, it’s indicative of a lot going on, it’s indicative of job growth and it’s indicative of confidence in the business environment this county.”
A number of other projects are also being constructed in the Dale Summit area along Shiloh Road, an area that was previously “not reaching its full potential,” College Township Assistant Manager Mike Bloom told the CDT in June.
Some of these projects include a Jersey Mike’s, which opened last week at 430 Shiloh Road, a mini-casino in the Nittany Mall at the former Macy’s location to be built by SC Gaming, and a new northcentral regional office for the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Another hotel is also being built in Dale Summit at 1414 Dreibelbis St. by StarGrande LLC, and had originally planned on opening in 2020, but after facing a series of delays the project has slowed its pace. The completion and opening date are not known.
In June, the township’s planning commission saw a proposal for a 45-acre, 629-unit apartment and townhouse complex, located at the end of Point Pleasant Drive, near the Pleasant Pointe Apartments. The project is still in its early stages, and has not been revisited since the June meeting.
According to Bloom, the township is also looking forward to seeing more businesses submit plans for the Shiloh Road Commercial Park, as six lots remain to be filled.
Construction on the new Homes2 Suites is expected to start in March or April, with property owner Ed Maxwell working on clearing the grounds until then. The hotel is expected to finish construction around April 2026.
