Chatham Wheels Inn to become a Holiday Inn Express

CHATHAM, ON—On May 5, the owners announced that Chatham, Ontario’s landmark Wheels Inn has become yet another victim of last year’s high gas prices and leaping loonie, and this year’s WHTI passport restrictions and poor economy—all of which have kept American rubber tire traffic away in droves.

The 117-room tower portion of the 350-room property will become a Holiday Inn Express and Suites, with a new lobby facing Richmond Street. Much of the rest of the complex has been offered as a donation to the local municipality.

For 36 years, the Wheels Inn has been a destination for families with children who wanted to use the indoor rides, pool, waterslide, bowling and games room. For adults, there’s a fitness club and spa. And there’s a ballroom for weddings, two restaurants, plus conference space in addition to the guest rooms.

Its location just an hour from Detroit and the U.S. border made it a big draw for American tourists.  Ten years ago, the parking lot was filled with Michigan and Ohio license plates.
But as Dean Bradley, president of the family-owned Brad-Lea Meadows Ltd. said in his announcement of the changes, it was with a “heavy heart’’ that he had to make the announcement, brought about by huge financial losses in recent years.

“I have often said that for 36 years the Wheels Inn defied economic gravity by operating a 350-room hotel and seven-acre indoor resort in a community the size of Chatham,’’ he said. “Making these decisions has been extremely difficult for my family and making the announcements today to our very loyal employees, many of whom have become part of our extended family, has been even more difficult.’’

Bradley said that in order to accommodate the new construction, the hotel will close all rooms in the tower temporarily on July 1.

Bradley also announced that he and a group of investors in the former Thamesview Lodge property on Grand Avenue West would donate $1 million toward the new Chatham-Kent Family YMCA complex being built on that site.

Bradley said 127 of the 224 Wheels employees will be laid off July 1 with more to follow in November.

In addition to being a tourist attraction, the Wheels Inn has provided a much-needed recreation facility for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and its 100,000-plus citizens.
Other than the “Y”, pools and other recreational facilities are “pretty thin”, according to Chris McGregor, editor of two of CLN’s sister publications, who comes from the Chatham area.

Bradley said the building that houses the fitness club, spa, bowling centre and rides room could easily and inexpensively be converted into a new 60,350- square-foot conference and exhibition centre to replace the aging Kinsmen Auditorium.

“We are announcing our willingness to donate the building and seven acres of land associated with it to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent,’’ he added.

He said using the original six indoor tennis courts, with high ceilings and broad open space, would be a cost-effective way to obtain an expanded exhibition area that he said is lacking in the community.

“We believe health and fitness are important aspects that are essential to the quality of life of our community,’’ he said. “Even though economic reality forces us to close our Wheels Fitness Club, we are committed to the continuation of this life-enhancing service in the community.’’

For that reason, he and his partners are donating the $1 million to the YMCA.
Mayor Randy Hope said Bradley’s offer of a building and land for a conference and exhibition centre to replace Kinsmen Auditorium will be passed along to a committee looking into replacement or expansion of the facility on Tweedsmuir Avenue.

“This could be a win situation for the municipality but I don’t want to over-predict what the committee might report when it appears before council May 25,’’ he said.

In the meantime, on its website and in a letter to guests, the hotel is putting a positive spin on things.
 
“As of the 28th of June, 2009, Wheels Inn will be closing Wildzone Adventures, Wheels Bowling Centre, Wheels Fitness Club and Health Spa.

“We are very pleased to announce our plans to transition into a 117 room Holiday Inn Express and Suites Franchise. It is our intention to convert the current tower to this use and building a new lobby, great room and pool area. The Holiday Inn Express and Suites will consist of 97 standard accommodations and 20 two room suites. The entire building will be completely renovated and will certainly be a show piece for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.

“As we transition into the Holiday Inn Express and Suites we will be operating out of our main building giving us 110 guestrooms and our indoor/outdoor pool with two twin 100 foot waterslides. Also in our atrium, we are adding some of our video and redemption games that the kids and “big kids” have always enjoyed.”