McCook Cobblestone celebrates grand opening

Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Cobblestone Inn and Suites officials and the employees of the new Cobblestone hotel in McCook officiate at the grand opening ribbon-cutting Tuesday afternoon. Holding the ribbon are Cobblestone representative Jeremy Griesbach, left, and John Porior, president of WHG; wielding the scissors is Natalie Alred, general manager of the new 54-room hotel in McCook. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

McCOOK, Neb. -- Brian Wogernese, founder and CEO of Cobblestone Hotels, asked those attending the ribbon cutting for the new Cobblestone Inn and Suites in McCook Tuesday afternoon how many had heard of Cobblestone five years ago.

Just a few in the hundred or so at the ceremony raised their hands.

"How about now?" Wogernese asked. Everyone attending raised a hand. "Yes!" Wogernese said, grinning and swinging for the bleachers with an imaginary bat.

Five-year-old Taya Dale, who was among the hundreds who attended the ribbon cutting ceremony and toured the new facility, checked out the hotel's indoor swimming pool. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

Wogernese thanked the McCook community for its support, and thanked city officials and Chris Wagner (who sold the land to the Cobblestone) for their help in the process of the hotel's development. The McCook hotel is Cobblestone's No. 14 in Nebraska. "Nebraska's been great to us," Wogernese said.

City manager Nate Schneider said he worked with Cobblestone officials for about two years to find a perfect location. "McCook needs more hotel rooms, to be able to provide good accommodations for travelers to and through McCook," Schneider said.

Matt Sehnert, president of the board of directors of the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce, thanked Cobblestone representatives for their investment in McCook. The purpose of the Chamber is to make McCook "a great place to live, work and play. This project helps when people come to play in McCook," Sehnert said.

Jamie Mockry, executive director of the Chamber, said the new Cobblestone will help bring bigger and better events to McCook. Mockry credited the McCook Economic Development Corp. for its "huge effort" in bringing Cobblestone to McCook.

Kirk Dixon, executive director of the MEDC, said, "The Cobblestone is a welcome addition to McCook. Where you stay is a big part of your experience in McCook."

Natalie Alred, general manager of the new Cobblestone, thanked everyone for attending the ribbon cutting, encouraging them to tour the new facility. She said, "You're going to love what you see."

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