On Tuesday, the Casper City Council gave final approval to the C.H. Bixby Hotel urban‑renewal project, a $26.5 million development that will bring more than 100 hotel rooms to the downtown and Old Yellowstone District. The project marks the first new downtown hotel in Casper in more than six decades.
Financing and Development Details
The hotel will be built by Sioux Falls‑based KAJ Hospitality and will operate under Hilton’s Tapestry Collection. Council members approved the use of tax‑increment financing (TIF) to cover eligible public costs, allowing future reinvestment of increased tax revenue back into the blighted site at Midwest Avenue and Ash Street.
Community Development Director Liz Becher said the TIF approval is the “biggest step of the process” and that a development agreement will be negotiated at a later council meeting.
Hotel Features and Community Impact
KAJ Hospitality co‑founder Aaron Johnson described the 118‑room boutique hotel as more than just lodging. Planned amenities include a full‑service restaurant and bar, a rooftop lounge, a coffee shop, and a walk‑up burger window aimed at pedestrians and downtown visitors.
Local business owners voiced strong support. The Drinkery’s Cory Poulos noted that existing parking lots are under‑utilized, while Brick & Bond representative Martin Axlund confirmed that two adjacent lots and street parking will meet the hotel’s needs. Representatives from The Gaslight Social, Wyoming Plant Company, the Downtown Development Authority, Visit Casper, and Advance Casper also praised the project as a catalyst for further downtown revitalization.
Economic Outlook
City officials project the hotel will generate more than $7.5 million in annual revenue once fully operational, create roughly 100 year‑round positions, and contribute an estimated $3.1 million in annual payroll. Construction is slated to begin in fall 2026, with the hotel opening in 2028.
Councilor Gena Jensen expressed pride in the project, saying the passion for downtown development and love for community “makes me really proud and humbled to be a part of this revitalization effort.”
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
