A new hotel project led by Tom Walton is planned for Bentonville's downtown square.
The 100- to 200-room hotel will be built on the Tucker Corner site which now is the home of the Bentonville Chamber of Commerce. According to a Monday release, the project is in its early stages of planning, and construction is expected to begin sometime next year.
"This project will be ideally positioned at the heart of Bentonville's culinary and hospitality center, as well as the outstanding bike trails of the region," Walton said in a statement.
Tom Walton is the grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton and along with his brother Steuart has advocated for the improvement of the region's bike trails. The brothers also are at the forefront of a new arts space in the former Kraft Foods plant in Bentonville dubbed the Momentary expected to open in 2020.
-- John Magsam