Posted: 1/13/2026 9:15:19 PM EDT
https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/construction-begins-on-renovating-lunken-airport-terminal-into-a-boutique-hotel-bar-and-restaurant CINCINNATI — Construction began Monday on the long-awaited renovation of the historic Lunken Airport Terminal into a boutique hotel, after years of delay. The terminal is a Cincinnati icon that has been empty since the longtime Sky Galley restaurant closed in 2020. The city-owned building was supposed to be revitalized years ago, but the Federal Aviation Administration rejected the first design as too tall. It forced developer Guy van Rooyen to reduce the project scale, from 55 hotel rooms down to 30, and prompted city officials to contribute a $2 million grant to finalize the new deal. “I get numerous calls every day about people’s memories at the Sky Galley, or at Lunken Airport Days,” said Anthony Cadle, a division manager in the city of Cincinnati’s Department of Community and Economic Development. “It is certainly a cherished asset … people love this property.” On Monday, van Rooyen’s crews began their investigative demolition of the terminal building. “Today is day one of construction. And the name of the game here is to peel back some of the layers of the building to relearn some of the history of it,” said Tyler Watkins, development director at The Salyers Group, which is leading the project, as crews cut 20 holes to expose the building’s original steel. Crews will remove anything that isn’t load-bearing or historically significant in the coming weeks, such as the Cincinnati police substation located inside the terminal. Construction set to begin by June. The Salyers Group transformed an old Coppin’s Department Store into Hotel Covington in 2016 and then added North by Hotel Covington and First District, a new café and gourmet market. “Not only are we going to bring back a restaurant, but we’re going to revitalize this entire structure,” Cadle said. “The developer is known for Hotel Covington, which largely … put Covington on the map. It really highlighted how unique Covington was. We expect the exact same for the East End.” The terminal will be transformed into a first-class hotel with space for weddings, ballrooms, a large restaurant and bar, outdoor patios and gardens, an in-ground pool with cabanas and valet parking. “The design plan includes the historic renovation of the actual existing terminal building, and then on the northern side … is a two-story addition that will happen on the rear of it,” Cadle said. “That will also include a small tower that will pay homage to the existing air tower … both (towers) will be these unique two-story units.” |
9 lives - 9 pellets... Coincidence?
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Not exactly the same thing but the Flyteco in Denver was pretty cool. Old Stapleton tower. https://flytecotower.com/ Attached File Attached File |
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
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Originally Posted By Vonbongo: Not exactly the same thing but the Flyteco in Denver was pretty cool. Old Stapleton tower. https://flytecotower.com/ https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/185708/IMG_6169_webp-3730591.JPGhttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/185708/IMG_6170_jpeg-3730592.JPG Been there. Pretty cool place, food wasn't great, but great theme. Heads up, you don't get to go up in the tower unless you book it ahead of time and pay the tour fee. |
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Originally Posted By ske714: https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/construction-begins-on-renovating-lunken-airport-terminal-into-a-boutique-hotel-bar-and-restaurant https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b950463/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1431x805+0+0/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F23%2Fe3%2F1c47c7fb472abd34adc190f68a09%2Fscreenshot-2026-01-12-at-2-19-11-pm.png CINCINNATI — Construction began Monday on the long-awaited renovation of the historic Lunken Airport Terminal into a boutique hotel, after years of delay. The terminal is a Cincinnati icon that has been empty since the longtime Sky Galley restaurant closed in 2020. The city-owned building was supposed to be revitalized years ago, but the Federal Aviation Administration rejected the first design as too tall. It forced developer Guy van Rooyen to reduce the project scale, from 55 hotel rooms down to 30, and prompted city officials to contribute a $2 million grant to finalize the new deal. “I get numerous calls every day about people’s memories at the Sky Galley, or at Lunken Airport Days,” said Anthony Cadle, a division manager in the city of Cincinnati’s Department of Community and Economic Development. “It is certainly a cherished asset … people love this property.” On Monday, van Rooyen’s crews began their investigative demolition of the terminal building. “Today is day one of construction. And the name of the game here is to peel back some of the layers of the building to relearn some of the history of it,” said Tyler Watkins, development director at The Salyers Group, which is leading the project, as crews cut 20 holes to expose the building’s original steel. Crews will remove anything that isn’t load-bearing or historically significant in the coming weeks, such as the Cincinnati police substation located inside the terminal. Construction set to begin by June. The Salyers Group transformed an old Coppin’s Department Store into Hotel Covington in 2016 and then added North by Hotel Covington and First District, a new café and gourmet market. “Not only are we going to bring back a restaurant, but we’re going to revitalize this entire structure,” Cadle said. “The developer is known for Hotel Covington, which largely … put Covington on the map. It really highlighted how unique Covington was. We expect the exact same for the East End.” The terminal will be transformed into a first-class hotel with space for weddings, ballrooms, a large restaurant and bar, outdoor patios and gardens, an in-ground pool with cabanas and valet parking. “The design plan includes the historic renovation of the actual existing terminal building, and then on the northern side … is a two-story addition that will happen on the rear of it,” Cadle said. “That will also include a small tower that will pay homage to the existing air tower … both (towers) will be these unique two-story units.” We’re in the area frequently and stay at Hotel Covington an it’s quite nice, far better than any hotel in Cincinnati. If that developer succeeds, that airport and Hotel will be amazing, and rejuvenate that area of Cincinnati. Additionally, there’s a boat dock and restaurant nearby that is also quite nice and worth a visit in the summer. |