Omaha Forums

choke wrote:

NovakOmaha wrote:Having been in the hotel business I can say this:

If you aren't constantly renovating two things are probably true. One, you're not renting your rooms enough. Two, you're not competitive. TVs last maybe 3-4 years. Carpet if you're lucky wears out fast. Beds are good for maybe 2 years. It never ends. I don't know what the average occupancy is in Omaha anymore but the lodging business is extremely cash intensive. I don't even want to know what desk clerks and maids are paid these days.

On another note, the areas of 72nd & Grover and 108th and L were the two busiest hotel areas back in the 70s, 80s & 90s. At one time this Ramada Plaza was one of the largest Holiday Inns in the chain. If memory serves about 500 rooms. The Comfort Inn across the street was a Ramada & West of the current Ramada was a Howard Johnson's. That was a very busy area. In its prime those hotels ran way over 85% occupancy year round and were full quite a bit.

When Aksarben was running you couldn't find a hotel room between Des Moines & Grand Island on weekends. When Aksarben closed that was the death of the golden goose for Omaha hotels. State Track Meet weekends & CWS probably still fills rooms but Aksarben made you lots of money between Memorial Day & Labor Day. Paid the mortgage for the year. Lots of fun too. 30-40 buses per day at Ak. Then MSP, Kansas City & Des Moines got horses & CB got dogs. Killed Omaha's monopoly on gambling without going to Vegas. If Ak could have added casinos it would still be there & CB never would have gotten casinos. Would have meant hundreds of millions to the Nebraska economy. Just saying....

Aahhh. A casino at every gas station. That's what I always say. Stay classy.

Mrs. Loontger? That you?

skinzfan23 wrote:Didn't the Ramada just get an extensive reno in the past 3-4 years?

Yes, yes it did! I think the building should be torn down. A new 8-10 story one put up, and half of the land sold, which would help pay for some of the construction costs.

I think one of these hotels was re-branded as RL Hotel.

iamjacobm wrote:I think one of these hotels was re-branded as RL Hotel.

The motel closest to 72nd street.

Looks like half of this area could be changing, potentially.

http://images2.loopnet.com/d2/rvfAw7o1l ... cument.pdf

Language says everything but the red Lion and Coco Keys portion could be demoed for redevelopment.

iamjacobm wrote:Looks like half of this area could be changing, potentially.

http://images2.loopnet.com/d2/rvfAw7o1l ... cument.pdf

Language says everything but the red Lion and Coco Keys portion could be demoed for redevelopment.

Wow, that's crazy. Wonder why they want to get rid of the convention center?

Brad wrote:

iamjacobm wrote:Looks like half of this area could be changing, potentially.

http://images2.loopnet.com/d2/rvfAw7o1l ... cument.pdf

Language says everything but the red Lion and Coco Keys portion could be demoed for redevelopment.

Wow, that's crazy. Wonder why they want to get rid of the convention center?

I have to wonder the same, I know of a couple of big events yearly there, and I goto the same every year, I know said event has sold out twice in the last three years. Shocking to hear it could be demoed now.

I drive by this nearly every day & there are very few cars in the west parking lot and never any in the lot by the tower. Never any lights on in rooms in the tower either. Was wondering if they were failing, but now it makes sense.

Noticed today that this location is back to being a Ramada in after that RL Hotel fiasco

Once the meth heads move in, there's no corralling them. You can put a JW Marriott on the NE corner of 72/Grover, but as long as those Roach Motels are across the street, fuhgeddaboutit.

damonhynes wrote: ↑Thu Jul 26, 2018 4:12 pm Once the meth heads move in, there's no corralling them. You can put a JW Marriott on the NE corner of 72/Grover, but as long as those Roach Motels are across the street, fuhgeddaboutit.

OMG how true that is!!!

I half heard that the bank finally said enough and took possession of the whole place?

Coyote wrote: ↑Tue Sep 04, 2018 7:21 pm I half heard that the bank finally said enough and took possession of the whole place?

About time. That hotel property has been looking like heck and can't be good for that water park.

Rehulk wrote: ↑Tue Sep 04, 2018 8:11 pm

Coyote wrote: ↑Tue Sep 04, 2018 7:21 pm I half heard that the bank finally said enough and took possession of the whole place?

About time. That hotel property has been looking like heck and can't be good for that water park.

I'm pretty sure I saw an article in the last couple of weeks that said the health department shut down the water park for at least a month due to numerous code violations.

Here is the story about the closure from July

https://www.omaha.com/money/businesses/ ... 772e8.html

Crews working for fix issues with Coco Key

https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-new ... h-coco-key

KMTV wrote:OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) - The general manager of Coco Key tells 3 News Now the work to fix problems that caused inspectors to shut down the water park is ready for another inspection Wednesday.

KFAB is reporting this AM that the water park has just reopened.

Grow Omaha announced that MH Hospitality, the folks behind the Home2 Suites near the UNMC Campus, the twin concept hotel adjacent to the Ramada convention center, and the 44th and Douglas 6-7 story proposed hotel, has plans to raze this site and build a mixed use development. Early in the plans, but maybe 300+ apartments, a bank, another limited service hotel, and, get this, drive through restaurants. I guess the last one works well because they are right off the highway. It sounds like MH is still trying to purchase the property, so we'll see how it goes.

Wow, that sucks. I know that hotel has gone through several renovations and still looks bad on the outside. But the indoor water park would be a huge loss to the city. I was afraid to go there at first, but we have gone a few times and although they are under staffed it is a nice getaway in the cold winter months.

Just what we need....another mixed-use development with fast food drive-thrus.

skinzfan23 wrote: ↑Mon May 17, 2021 2:31 pm Wow, that sucks. I know that hotel has gone through several renovations and still looks bad on the outside. But the indoor water park would be a huge loss to the city. I was afraid to go there at first, but we have gone a few times and although they are under staffed it is a nice getaway in the cold winter months.

Just what we need....another mixed-use development with fast food drive-thrus.

Yeah this seems like a downgrade.

Its all going. They talk about it right at the beginning of the show in the news of the week segment:

[youtube][/youtube]

I should hold on until renderings and site plans are released, but I think this is an absolute disgrace. Its unfortunate that the current and previous hotel operators couldn't get it to work out better, but I think that last thing we need is more mixed use with fast food options. The Ramada property is actually in pretty good shape after all the recent renovations. And as I mentioned previously, I enjoy the indoor waterpark especially in the cold winter months. Looks like I am going to have to take the kids to KC to the Great Wolf Lodge.

Hopefully they do this right and it looks great, otherwise, it will be a complete miss.

It's a free market... the default assumption is that if you want to build a bunch of fast food in commercial space, you can.

Might be in the minority here, but in my opinion, it's better to have a commercially successful fill-in-the-blank that will eventually get upgraded and de-commodified, than the derelict-looking albatross that's there now. I also don't see any big social benefit to having a very sparingly used hotel over mixed use.

It's also kind of odd that this first large highway exit past downtown doesn't have any highway exit-type amenities except a huge gas station. There is definitely demand between Pacific and L, but 72nd is like this very strange divided highway or freeway that has nothing alongside it through that whole stretch. There is one Burger King that gets a huge benefit from being the only thing around, and that's it. Look at 84th in comparison, that is much closer to what the market "wants."

I agree with there not being too much right off the interstate, but if you drive 1 mile either way on 72nd there are plenty of fast food options. I don't think the majority of people traveling through the city are going to stop at that intersection to get fast food. They would more likely do that on the fringes, either in CB or Gretna or 144th st.

I got a convention every year in November at the Ramada, and just got a message informing everyone attending that they have been informed the Ramada Hotel/Convention Center is closing Aug 1st for demo prep. Here is the text of the message.

"Hello everyone! Well... we have some bad news. Late last week we were notified by the Ramada Plaza that they will be closing their doors on August 1st in order to demolish the property. I know this comes as a shock to everyone reading this post as it was to us, but we are still committed to holding Anime NebrasKon in 2021.

If you have booked any hotel rooms through an official Anime NebrasKon link (Ramada Plaza, Comfort Inn, or DoubleTree), an email notification of the cancellation will be sent to you soon. If you have booked your hotel room on your own or through a third party site please contact them directly if you wish to cancel your stay.

It is currently too early to give more information on what will be happening with both our event and our dates. We will be keeping you all informed as soon as we know more information. We hope to have additional updates in the coming weeks, as well as hosting some Q&A sessions and gathering your feedback. Please be patient as we get everything in order.

We are currently working hard to find a new location for Anime NebrasKon 2021 so we can see our con family again."


Honestly thought it would take longer for them to start demo, but they are moving fast on this.

It's interesting to read about this property. In the heyday of Aksarben (60s-80s) 72nd Street from roughly Dodge to I-80 was known as "The Strip". Iconic restaurants and lots of hotels.

Specifically to this property. It was an early Holiday Inn, known as the Holiday Inn Central. The part with more than two floors was added and was actually called the highrise. The original indoor pool was, for its time, an amazing place. I believe it had the largest convention and meeting space in the city and was one of the largest hotels in the midwest. At its peak over 500 rooms. In its prime it was THE hotel, followed by the Ramada Hotel Central across the street, now a Comfort Inn. Across the street was the Howard Johnsons. That was inferior to the Ramada and Holiday with small rooms.

When Aksarben was running and before KC, Minneapolis and CB had dog tracks and casinos Omaha hotels filled up the entire summer, 90 or more days, and on weekends every hotel room west of Des Moines and sometimes as far as Grand Island was filled. It was an amazing time. On many Saturdays Aksarben could draw 30,000 fans with dozens of busses coming up from KC and elsewhere. Hotels could make their year in 90 days. I know from personal experience, having been in the hotel business in Omaha from 1980-1992. It was a very exciting time. CWS, Aksarben, summer vacation season. It was truly like shooting fish in a barrel....actually like shooting fish on a plate.

During that time there was only the Hilton/Red Lion/Doubletree/Whatever it is now on 16th Street downtown for all practical purposes so 72nd Street and to a lessor extent the 108th & L area were the two hot areas for hotels.

The matrix sure has changed in Omaha's lodging industry. It is both for the better and sad to see. The decline of 72nd Street and 108th and L appears to be drastic. It is heartening to see how many hotel rooms have been built downtown and that's good. On the other hand I don't find groupings of hotels outside of downtown. I was amazed to see the former Sheraton in north Old Mill auctioned off. It was a beautiful property.

Anyway, end of an era. RIP

NovakOmaha wrote: ↑Thu May 27, 2021 9:25 pm
The matrix sure has changed in Omaha's lodging industry. It is both for the better and sad to see. The decline of 72nd Street and 108th and L appears to be drastic. It is heartening to see how many hotel rooms have been built downtown and that's good. On the other hand I don't find groupings of hotels outside of downtown. I was amazed to see the former Sheraton in north Old Mill auctioned off. It was a beautiful property.

Anyway, end of an era. RIP

In some ways it’s the markets that are moving. Aksarban has four relatively new hotels that are a few blocks from each other. Five, if you count the Hampton on 72nd. Even though it isn’t far away from the Ramada, it’s a more desirable location.

Aksarben suites, that was once a Embassy suites and before that was called something else. Was probably the first open concept atrium style hotel in Nebraska and Iowa and probably one of the few in the entire region including KC and Minneapolis. The 72nd hotel corridor was impressive back then.

Cermak wrote: ↑Thu May 27, 2021 11:58 pm Aksarben suites, that was once a Embassy suites and before that was called something else. Was probably the first open concept atrium style hotel in Nebraska and Iowa and probably one of the few in the entire region including KC and Minneapolis. The 72nd hotel corridor was impressive back then.

That's a surprisingly nice hotel still. I rarely hear anyone talk about it.

Cermak wrote: ↑Thu May 27, 2021 11:58 pm Aksarben suites, that was once a Embassy suites and before that was called something else. Was probably the first open concept atrium style hotel in Nebraska and Iowa and probably one of the few in the entire region including KC and Minneapolis. The 72nd hotel corridor was impressive back then.

Granada Royale Hometel. Originally.

https://ibb.co/khPPQ3w

https://ibb.co/0c7MW2y

https://ibb.co/C1Qh4Zq

NovakOmaha wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 12:20 pm

Cermak wrote: ↑Thu May 27, 2021 11:58 pm Aksarben suites, that was once a Embassy suites and before that was called something else. Was probably the first open concept atrium style hotel in Nebraska and Iowa and probably one of the few in the entire region including KC and Minneapolis. The 72nd hotel corridor was impressive back then.

Granada Royale Hometel. Originally.

https://ibb.co/khPPQ3w

https://ibb.co/0c7MW2y

https://ibb.co/C1Qh4Zq

wow! Good memory! now that you say that I can vaguely remember it/

Turtle9160, I also have attended Anime Nebraskon for many years. I have also attended many other Fandom events there going back to the mid 1980s. It will be tough to replace for Nebraskon. With around 6000 in attendance for the event the one time they tried to move it to the La Vista events center it was too small. Only CHI would be big enough now but it would be much more expensive all around.

skinzfan23 wrote: ↑Wed May 19, 2021 12:52 pm I should hold on until renderings and site plans are released, but I think this is an absolute disgrace. Its unfortunate that the current and previous hotel operators couldn't get it to work out better, but I think that last thing we need is more mixed use with fast food options. The Ramada property is actually in pretty good shape after all the recent renovations. And as I mentioned previously, I enjoy the indoor waterpark especially in the cold winter months. Looks like I am going to have to take the kids to KC to the Great Wolf Lodge.

Hopefully they do this right and it looks great, otherwise, it will be a complete miss.

I wonder what the odds of a Great Wolf coming to Omaha.

I tried to parse their franchise opportunities. I did not see anything for what their requirements would be. Maybe Omaha getting one is possible.

Athomsfere wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 8:51 am
I wonder what the odds of a Great Wolf coming to Omaha.

I tried to parse their franchise opportunities. I did not see anything for what their requirements would be. Maybe Omaha getting one is possible.

I have wondered this many times. I don't know if the land where the Comfort Inn on 13th St. near the zoo is large enough, but that would be a perfect spot for a Great Wolf Lodge. Right across from the state's biggest tourist attraction and family place of the zoo.

Omaha needs to start thinking a little bigger for entertainment options for local residents (outdoor waterpark, indoor waterpark, amusement park) and no Fun Plex doesn't cut it. It is ok, but not up to the standards of current-day waterparks.

It would be really great for a Great Wolf Lodge, there is no doubt it would do well, but it needs to be properly managed. It would be great to have an indoor place like this with the cold winters that we have.

I just looked at the one in Minneapolis, and it appears that its footprint would fit there on the property, although that one looks very similar to CoCo Key and not quite as nice as the KC one.

skinzfan23 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 9:46 am

Athomsfere wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 8:51 am
I wonder what the odds of a Great Wolf coming to Omaha.

I tried to parse their franchise opportunities. I did not see anything for what their requirements would be. Maybe Omaha getting one is possible.

I have wondered this many times. I don't know if the land where the Comfort Inn on 13th St. near the zoo is large enough, but that would be a perfect spot for a Great Wolf Lodge. Right across from the state's biggest tourist attraction and family place of the zoo.

Omaha needs to start thinking a little bigger for entertainment options for local residents (outdoor waterpark, indoor waterpark, amusement park) and no Fun Plex doesn't cut it. It is ok, but not up to the standards of current-day waterparks.

It would be really great for a Great Wolf Lodge, there is no doubt it would do well, but it needs to be properly managed. It would be great to have an indoor place like this with the cold winters that we have.

I just played with some numbers. I am tempted to ask them on their franchising just for fun. But for the sake of profitability. I don't know how they can turn a profit. It's looking like $300-400 per night at 100% occupancy would be required just to pay off 0% APR financing in a reasonable amount of time.

I believe that is the typical going rate for a Great Wolf Lodge. They do offer discounts from time to time, but they probably make some money on food and all the other activities that they offer.

zedmib wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 7:28 am Turtle9160, I also have attended Anime Nebraskon for many years. I have also attended many other Fandom events there going back to the mid 1980s. It will be tough to replace for Nebraskon. With around 6000 in attendance for the event the one time they tried to move it to the La Vista events center it was too small. Only CHI would be big enough now but it would be much more expensive all around.

I thought the LaVista Embasay was bigger, had heard they had close to 8k the year they went there but may have ticked the hotel off. They are going to be hard pressed to find a new place to move it.

But now under new ownership, the 15-acre complex will be wiped clean by next year. Rising in its place will be a much different scene: a mixed-use site filled largely by luxury apartments along with commercial and entertainment venues

https://omaha.com/business/local/72nd-s ... -top-story

This quote got me:

“Think about how many families celebrated weddings, special events, had summer and winter getaways there,” he said. “Now they’ll be able to come grab a cheeseburger, a cup of coffee, do business on that site. Some will even call it their permanent home, with the apartments.”