MPRINT: Hotel Madelon to anchor new Starkville district
A comprehensive master plan has been recently completed for a new 15-acre district featuring a boutique hotel, restaurants and retail stores on the land between the MSU campus and the Cotton District, developers announced Aug. 20. It is to be named the Crossroads District.
The Crossroads District will feature and be anchored by a 122-room Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel. Construction of the hotel is set to begin in October, and plans call for it to open in the summer of 2027.
“This transformative project is about creating an exciting, vibrant hub that reflects the spirit of Mississippi State University while providing incredible opportunities for entertainment, innovation, and collaboration,” MSU President Mark Keenum said. “We are proud to deliver a development that will serve our students, faculty, staff, alumni, local community, and state of Mississippi for generations to come.”
Hotel Madelon, as it will be known, is being designed to celebrate the legacy of MSU and the culture of Starkville. Named in honor of the university’s original fight song, the hotel will be positioned on a prime site along University Drive. It will include a full-service restaurant showcasing local flavors, a rooftop bar offering campus views, and an overall design that will attract both visitors and locals.
“We’re expanding some of the most attractive elements of our community, focusing closely on the parts that bring people here, and bring people together,” said John Rush, president and CEO of the MSU Foundation. “It will be something new students will want to be part of, and something alumni will be excited to return to. This development really does represent a tremendous leap. Not many college communities will ever get to found and grow an exciting district like this, with opportunities like these, in a location as perfectly situated as this.”
Tribute Portfolio hotels are known for their story-driven designs, offering boutique experiences rooted in the personality and history of their destinations. Hotel Madelon will combine MSU’s traditions, Starkville’s arts and culinary scenes, and the region’s rich cultural heritage into its design and guest experiences.
The hotel will be managed by Charlestowne Hotels, a leading hospitality management company known for operating distinctive, award-winning properties across the country. Charlestowne brings decades of experience in collegiate hospitality to the role
Groundbreaking for Hotel Madelon, the signature property set to anchor the newly-created Crossroads District between the Mississippi State campus and Starkville’s Cotton District, is set for Oct. 23 at 1:30 p.m. Those attending should park at The Mill at MSU to be shuttled to the site.