The demolition of the former Highland Hotel at 3017 10th St. in Great Bend continues, said Great Bend Economic Development Inc. President Sara Arnberger. Now, they are preparing for the next steps for the property. 

“So, if you’ve driven by you have seen that the landscape is changing drastically,” she said, speaking to the City Council Monday night. “We do recognize that it’s bittersweet. There’s a lot of fantastic memories that have been shared with us of the hotel from the past. We definitely recognize those, but with what it’s become it was definitely a community safety hazard to keep that up. So demolition was the right path.”

Now, “we’re pretty excited and looking forward to the next phase of life on that land,” she said. “There are all kinds of exciting things in progress.”

In September 2022, Great Bend Economic Development announced it had purchased the one-time Highland Hotel property with plans to develop a new hotel on the site.

In August, the GBED Board approved a contract with Stone Sand of Great Bend for an undisclosed amount to raze the 60,000-plus square foot, primarily concrete building. It sits on a five-acre tract at a prime 10th Street location.