Lake Charles, Louisiana – In a significant move to revitalize its downtown area, the city of Lake Charles has announced a comprehensive lakefront redevelopment project. The ambitious plan, unveiled on December 6, 2024, includes the construction of a 154-room Hilton Garden Inn, a state-of-the-art amphitheater, and additional conference and convention center space.
The project is a collaboration between the city and private investment group ReNew Lake Charles LLC, which will build, own, and manage the hotel. The Hilton Garden Inn will be situated just north of the Lake Charles Event Center and will feature a full-service restaurant and lounge overlooking the lake. The hotel will also have a second-story pool and will be built on property leased from the city.
The new hotel will be paired with additional conference and convention center space, designed to meet the needs of modern meetings and events. The city will build and own this space, which will be integral to attracting new regional conventions and conferences to Lake Charles. Currently, many groups bypass the city due to the lack of modern meeting space and the absence of a dedicated convention hotel.
ReNew Lake Charles LLC Managing Member Gene Thibodeaux, a retired Chief Judge of the Third Circuit Court of Appeal, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating that it will create a “modern, first-class experience that will anchor Southwest Louisiana’s future as a capable host destination.” Keith DuRousseau, a member of ReNew Lake Charles LLC and owner of Keiland Construction, added that the new combined conference space and hotel will enable Lake Charles to host a diverse array of events in a contemporary venue, eliminating the need for groups to travel to nearby cities.
Corey Mitchell, Senior Director of Hilton Development, welcomed the opportunity to work with the city and ReNew Lake Charles LLC, citing Lake Charles as a growing market for Hilton. He emphasized the company’s goal of offering innovative accommodations to the local community and Hilton’s 200 million Hilton Honors guests.
The city has also entered into a purchase agreement for the former Capital One Tower site, which will be repurposed as a creative new home for the lakefront amphitheater project. The new amphitheater will have a capacity of 3,500 and will feature a modern design, allowing for a higher quality experience for events and attracting new live music events and festivals.
Kyle Edmiston, President and CEO of Visit Lake Charles, highlighted the potential of the project to transform Lake Charles into a top destination location. He noted that the combination of the new hotel, conference center space, and amphitheater will bring in new visitors, conferences, and revenue to the community.
Mayor Nic Hunter emphasized that the projects will be developed at no additional tax burden to citizens, citing the benefits of public-private partnerships. He explained that the projects will not only benefit the city and its citizens but also locally-owned businesses.
Construction on the projects is expected to begin in late 2025 and will be completed in early 2027. The Lake Charles City Council will consider agenda items related to these proposed developments at their regularly scheduled meeting on December 18, 2024. The community will have two opportunities to view the plans and offer comments at Lake Charles City Hall on December 11, 2024.