Main Street Mile Initiative Breaks Ground on 38-room Boutique Inn, Event Venue, and Guest Cottages

Hospitality projects are first in a $35-million master-planned community that will include 40 new homes.

The rural town of Upland, Indiana, home to Taylor University and long known for its Midwest hospitality, took a big step toward becoming even more welcoming today with the groundbreaking for a new boutique hotel, a wedding and event venue, and 14 guest cottages.

The University’s $100-million Main Street Mile Initiative, which was launched in early 2024 to catalyze the revitalization of Upland, is about to reach a major inflection point with this $35-million master planned community. The project is funded entirely by grants, private equity, and financing. 1846 Enterprises, the University’s economic and community development affiliate, is leading these efforts.

Andrea Masvero, executive director of 1846 Enterprises, said the new hospitality neighborhood adjacent to Taylor will address two pressing needs in Upland: comfortable accommodations for the thousands of visitors, many with Taylor affiliations, and housing.

Currently, there are no hotels in Upland, requiring visitors to stay in surrounding towns or in houses in Upland that have been converted into short-term rentals. The hotel will offer a closer and more upscale alternative. 

“This will be a win-win-win,” Masvero said, “first for Upland and its economy, second for Taylor, and especially for the visitors and future residents who will have new ways to experience the hospitality that has long made Upland so special.” 

In addition to the hospitality components, this fall the master-planned community intends to begin construction on 16 townhomes and 24 duplex villas to be offered for sale, with plans to complete all aspects of the master-planned community by 2028. 

To fund the project, 1846 Enterprises established an investment fund. Leveraging Taylor’s network, the full $12 million in private equity required was committed, and financing was secured—all in just five months.

“We would not be able to achieve this pace without the support of the Taylor network,” said Masvero. “We have been encouraged by all those who have stepped up to invest for a relatively low return to create an outsized impact for Upland. We all view this as a way to serve our community and our guests.”

Serving as the project developer, 1846 Enterprises has gathered an A-List of consultants and firms to execute the projects, including: 

• Civitas Strategies, a division of the Indianapolis-based Veridus Group, is coordinating economic development and planning.
• Luminaut, through its team in Indianapolis, serves as the architect for the inn, event venue, and guest cottages.
• General Hotels Corporation, based in Indianapolis, will operate the new hotel.
• The Dasis team, bringing specialized hotel construction experience that includes the Disney Vacation Club Resort hotel and branded properties worldwide.
• Context Design and HWC Engineering are leading site planning and engineering.

Masvero said the projects also benefit from two visionary consultants: 

• Rob Parker, of Wisdom Transfer, is cofounder and former CEO of Trilith, a renowned master planned community designed for “Creatives, Artists, Storytellers and Makers.” He is the past president of the National Town Builders Association and the current chair of the Seaside Institute.
• Bruce Thompson, founder of Urbaneer Living, is a leading voice for exploring how housing impacts wellness, especially for those in the “third chapter” of life. He is currently working with Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, to leverage the latest research and partnerships to build a prototype tech-enabled home that supports the health of its occupant.

The new hotel will offer 36 standard rooms and two suites. It will include both indoor and outdoor event spaces for weddings and other special events, as well as a café that could, over time, expand into a full-service restaurant.

In addition to offering accommodation for visitors to Taylor University, Masvero envisions the hotel as a hub for corporate events, conferences, and retreats, as well as a welcoming stop for travelers between Fort Wayne and Indianapolis.

“The inn will be located near Taylor, but open to the public. Upland has many reasons to visit, including legendary Ivanhoe’s shakes, space camp at NearSpace Education, area festivals, and the upcoming Cardinal Greenway connection. We hope visitors from far and wide will experience this unique destination,” Masvero said.