Owners of former Colony Harbour Inn considering reopening in 2019
Meanwhile $2 million in renovations underway at Rodd Grand Hotel
The owners of Rodd Hotels and Resorts are examining the former Rodd Colony Harbour Inn in Yarmouth to see what will be involved should they decide to reopen the building next spring.
Mark Rodd, president of Rodd Hotels and Resorts, said Friday, Oct. 26, they are in the “early, early stages” of examining the building.
“As you know, it’s been closed for a number of years so there are some window and roofing issues that we’re looking at,” he said.
“We had some engineers here from Prince Edward Island this week and we’re looking at the scope of the project,” Rodd said.
He added after they analyze the work involved and the budget required the company would “see where it goes.”
“We are optimistic about opening it,” said Rodd.
“June or July is fast approaching and we want to be able to get our ducks in a row. If we’re confident we can hit some targets then we’re going to go from there.”
The 65-room hotel closed in January 2011, after operating for 40 years. Twenty people were working there at the time. At the time of the closure the company cited a slumping economy and no ferry service in its decision to close.
The ferry service did not operate between Nova Scotia and Maine from the years 2010 to 2013. Bay Ferries, which returned to the route in 2016, recently wrapped up its third season with The Cat, saying this year it had transported 50,185 passengers to and from Nova Scotia during its 2018 sailing season.
Early on after the hotel’s public closure in 2011, the hotel had been used a few times to house visitors in town for events because extra capacity was needed – such as when teams were here for the World Junior A Challenge.
The Colony Inn restaurant stayed open after the hotel closed, but it closed in 2013. Its 17 employees were moved to Rodd Grant Hotel.
The Colony Inn property was up for sale in recent years and has dropped in assessment value from $1,720,000 in 2008 to $210,000 in 2018.
In early 2017 furnishings and items inside the hotel were donated to SHYFT Youth Services, which provides services and assistance to homeless and at-risk youth. While based in Yarmouth, the services are provided to youth in Yarmouth, Shelburne and Digby counties.
Meanwhile, $2 million in renovations are taking place at Rodd Grand Hotel. Upgrades are planned to refresh and modernize guest rooms, fitness facilities, meeting spaces and common areas in that facility.
“We plan on closing down the sixth and seventh floor in late January, early February for interior renovations,” said Rodd.