MITCHELL, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) Bill Folkerts of Lake City Hospitality, one of the developers of the My Place Hotel in Mitchell, said that Mitchell was chosen as the site for locating the facility for a number of reasons. Mitchell is situated on I-90 with the tourist magnet of the Corn Palace to draw in visitors. Mitchell has excellent facilities including the ice arena, Caldwell Park, the Performing Arts Center, and the Corn Palace that draw people to town for overnight (or longer) stays. Folkerts also cited the superb work of the Mitchell Sports Authority in bringing events to the city. He pointed out the draw that is Dakota Wesleyan University and all of the events that the college puts on and brings in. In addition, construction projects like the soybean plant currently being built provide a pool of potential guests for a facility like My Place Hotel.
My Place Hotel operates like a regular overnight stay facility but with a difference, their rooms are equipped with full kitchens. As a result, 40% of My Place guests are long term residents. They include patrons like those construction workers who may be away from home for an extended period working on a project, like the new soybean plant, as well as people who are unhoused by a disaster or home improvements that displace the family for a time or a missed new home construction date leaving folks between houses who then need interim shelter before taking up residence in their new permanent home.
My Place Hotels of America is a South Dakota company based in Aberdeen. Chief Operating Officer Matt Campbell said that the My Place Hotel in Mitchell is the seventh My Place Hotel that has been built in South Dakota. The company has 72 properties in 30 states and continues to expand through their own properties as well as franchisees, like the Mitchell property.