HANNIBAL, MO -- It's been five months since the Hannibal Inn and Conference center closed its doors. The city lost 240 hotel rooms and a few conference bookings when it shut down. Thursday the hotel was put on the auction block.
Maas properties of Rochester Minnesota took bids on the landmark hotel, which has been owned by Bob Ayers for 40 years. A few dozen people took part in the auction today. And now the property has new owners.
Arpit Patel wasn't sure if he'd even place a bid at Thursday's auction...But instead, he's ponying up $750,000 to be its new owner.
"It's part of the community. We didn't want it to close down and so I just wanted to check it out and see if it was okay," said Patel.
"As far as I'm concerned, having the property turn over and in the future be able to re-open its doors is nothing short of a tremendous positive for our community," said Hannibal Chamber of Commerce president Larry Craig.
The new owner of the Hannibal Inn and conference center has some experience. He and his father already own the Comfort Inn in Hannibal.
"And we have four other properties beside that so we have quite a bit of hospitality management experience," Patel said.
Patel says he hasn't really looked over the property yet, but will likely do some renovations. The hotel has never had a major facelift, only minor touch ups. Patel will now wait on his dad to come up from New Mexico so they can get started on making those changes and welcoming guests.
Previous owner Bob Ayers declined to comment on the sale..but his attorney said the Ayers family is pleased that the property has been sold and that it will continue to be a hotel.
Now along with the Hannibal Inn itself, Patel will also take ownership of the house and tennis courts behind the hotel and a neighboring six acre tract of land. It will take about 30 days to close on the property. Then Patel will begin work and will likely re-open the hotel early next year.
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