Discussed for years, groundbreaking is tentatively set to take place this week for a new travel plaza in far west Emporia.
Brownstone 3 Vice President for Operations Darrin Dodge says the ceremony is set for 1:30 pm Thursday onsite. The travel plaza will go up just south of US Highway 50 between Graphic Arts and Overlander Road. Pilot, a sister company to Pilot Flying J immediately to the west, will serve as the flag for the travel plaza.
Dodge says the travel plaza will be constructed first, with work ending by mid-spring 2026. Other aspects of the overall development, including a hotel, food court, sit-down restaurant and upscale RV park, will be built at undetermined times later.
Groundbreaking moves a nearly six-year process closer to completion. The plan was first divulged to the public in January 2020. Dodge says this is a roughly $50 million investment.
