An Oskaloosa hotel has changed name and ownership. Comfort Inn has now become EverSpring Inn & Suites, after the location was purchased by Blue Sage Hospitality.

Blue Sage Hospitality is a Midwest hotel management company based out of South Dakota. In early November, the company purchased the former Comfort Inn here in town.

"We basically fell in love with it from day one, it just kind of hit all of our criteria. It was obviously a great market. Oskaloosa, it's got a ton of very diverse generators, lots of great businesses, summer events, college town, a lot of good energy,” says Blue Sage Hospitality Partner Kyle Schock.

Schock says real estate and hotel firms often see a market like Oskaloosa as a high risk area. But Schock and his partner John Pesicka have a different take on it.

"We really like the hotel, it's a great location right off the highway,” Schock says. “One of the main things we look at is demand generators. In Oskaloosa there were many. There are tons of events through the summer, even with Knoxville and Pella that Oskaloosa benefits from. There's obviously a great health care facility, there's a wonderful college, very positive, young, energetic vibe to the city, great business."

The company has previously worked on two different properties in small towns in Nebraska. Meanwhile, here in Osky, exterior repairs are already underway at the EverSpring Inn & Suites.

"We've replaced a good chunk of the parking lot that was getting old and cracked. And some improvements to the exterior of the building. We've re-caulked it, re-sealed it,” Schock says.

And Schock says, repairing the interior of the building is next, including finishing upgrading suites such as this one and revamping the lobby.

"We're going to start with the lobby. We're going to completely re-do the lobby. Take the front desk area and open it up. We're going to add new seating, new flooring, freshen up all the walls, add new artwork,” Schock says. Moving from there, we'll be tackling the rooms. Everything's going to get brand new carpet, artwork. We're going to replace some things that are outdated, get new linens on there."

Schock added that EverSpring Inn & Suites is not planning on making changes to its rates despite the upgrades and repairs.

Schock says there's no specific timetable for when the repairs will be completed. But he expects the project to continue until it's finished over the next few months.