Over five years after it was first announced, a significant travel plaza and shopping development looks like it is nearing a groundbreaking event in far west Emporia.
Brownstone 3 Development Vice President of Operations Darrin Dodge tells KVOE News Pilot has closed on the travel plaza half of the project. A groundbreaking date has not been announced, but Dodge says construction could be done by the end of 2025 if work begins between now and early July.
The new Pilot travel plaza is being built less than a half-mile east of Emporia’s long-operating Pilot Flying J. Dodge says Pilot and Pilot Flying J are sister companies.
Plans for the shopping development are tentatively set, although the tenant list is still developing. Construction for that component will follow the travel plaza.
Besides a travel plaza, the development is designed to bring a hotel, food court, sit-down restaurant and upscale RV park to the area immediately south of the southern roundabout connecting US Highway 50 to Interstate 35 and the Kansas Turnpike.
The plan was first discussed in January 2020. When it was first mentioned, the development was considered a $30 million to $40 million investment with around 100 jobs. The current figure involves a $50 million investment.
