Sept. 30–The 30-room boutique-style The Oxbow Hotel opened its doors to guests Wednesday in downtown Eau Claire.
Formerly the Green Tree Inn & Suites, 516 Galloway St., the hotel underwent a total overhaul under its new owners and showcases local art, music, food and outdoor activities.
"We wanted to be a gateway to truly experiencing the best Eau Claire has to offer," said Volume One magazine publisher Nick Meyer, who's among the hotel's local ownership group.
Other owners are Ben Richgruber, executive director of the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center; Zach Halmstad, JAMF Software co-founder and Lismore Hotel co-owner; Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon; and a dozen other community investors.
The Oxbow's restaurant and bar, The Lakely, will be opening Monday, serving "Midwestern modern comfort food" for breakfast and dinner, Meyer said. A couple weeks later, The Lakely will start featuring live musical performances.
Rooms come with artisan snack trays of Wisconsin-made foods and bathrooms are stocked with high-end body wash and shampoo. Woodwork and furniture throughout the hotel was crafted from local trees. Each hotel room has a record player with a large selection of albums available in the hotel's vinyl library.
Bicycle rental is complimentary with hotel stays and kayaks will be available to rent in the spring.
Half of the rooms are two-room suites while the rest are one bedrooms. A formal ribbon-cutting for The Oxbow Hotel is scheduled for Oct. 13.
Eau Claire-based Larson Companies is managing the hotel.
