HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — A big, unanswered question in Hot Springs is, what will happen to the old Majestic Hotel site?
Hot Springs Metro Partnership (HSMP), the city's marketing partner, said they're progressing as two new groups have shown interest in redeveloping the property.
After a fire destroyed the historic Majestic Hotel in 2014, the city has tried to put something new on the property that continues to sit untouched, and the Hot Springs Metro Partnership said it's gaining momentum.
"I walk by that spot every day like I go to work right here, down at the pancake shop, and I walk by," Hot Springs resident Zarek Bettis said. "Anything nice to the eye would be cool."
Bettis said he looks forward to seeing the land redeveloped, and he isn't the only one.
The Hot Springs Metro Partnership is currently working to find the right fit for the project.
"We hosted a group in November," said Scott Dews, a Majestic Hotel site chairman for the Hot Springs Metro Partnership. "A developer who's really capable of doing a project like this [and] has a track record of developing boutique hotels and resort communities, which we are still working with."
Now, Dews is feeling optimistic because two different groups have shown interest.
"We feel like we've got the right people at the table to pull this off," Dews said. "Our committee is more excited and optimistic now than ever between the people we're working with. The vision that we've arrived at, collectively, what this site could be."
As for their vision, Dews said the goal is to build a boutique hotel, condos, retail, and restaurants with a prominent water feature. He also said they also want to attract the mountain biking community.
"We want to make this a base camp for these trails, these world-class trails that people from all over the country come to ride," Dews said.
Now, he's asking for patience from the community as they move forward.
"We absolutely feel that doing the right thing, no matter how long it takes, is more important than doing something just for the sake of having something on the site," Dews said.
As for what's next, the partnership is working on getting the second group to visit the property in person, and they're working with an architect to develop some renderings of their vision.
Dews said the HSMP is not releasing the names of the two interested groups at this time.