LEXINGTON, Ky. — Hattiesburg, Miss. based The Thrash Group announced Monday the grand opening of Origin Lexington, a new 76,000-s.f. independent hotel located at mixed-use destination The Summit at Fritz Farm in Lexington, Ky.
The development team celebrated its opening with the hotel “locals” (the name for hotel employees), Pyramid Hotel Group and Bayer Properties, the developer of The Summit at Fritz Farm. This marks the second hotel to open under the Origin Hotel brand, following the opening of Origin Red Rocks in Golden, Col. last fall.
“The opening of Origin Lexington marks a homecoming for my family as this community is where my siblings and I were raised. We are proud to be part of the rich culture woven throughout the bluegrass,” said Walker Thrash, partner at The Thrash Group.
During the festivities the Origin hotel team unveiled its nonprofit partner, the Lexington Humane Society, which was selected through Origin Gives, a program encouraging employees to give back to their communities by collectively supporting one nonprofit annually. The organization was presented with a check for $2,500.
The 120-key boutique hotel offers guests a casual and authentic experience focused on highlighting the local culture and community.
Each room, ranging in size from the King Classic to the Premier Suite, features a luxury bathroom and upscale personal amenities. In addition to overnight accommodations, Origin Lexington includes a 2,100-s.f. meeting and event space with seating for up to 200 guests.
Origin Lexington is also home to 33 Staves, a chef-driven restaurant serving seasonally crafted, authentic Kentucky cuisine along with a thoughtfully curated list of local artisan bourbons and specialty cocktails. The name 33 Staves represents the number of wooden stave pieces needed to form a full-sized oak barrel used to age bourbon. The restaurant includes a private dining room that can host up to 30 guests for intimate gatherings.
The design throughout the hotel celebrates the equine community around every corner. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by a two-story mural of a young woman wearing a vibrant Derby hat, topped with red tulips and a horse’s head. The artwork pays homage to the history of Lexington as the thoroughbred capital of the world and was designed by award-winning artist Carlos Gamez de Francisco. Additionally, a small, ever-changing maker’s market filled with custom-made souvenirs from local artisans is located near the check-in desk.
33 Staves features a focal barrel wall exhibiting previously used Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels stacked upon reclaimed rickhouse wood beams from the Jim Beam Distillery. Also located within the restaurant is an oversized blue “grass” neon sign encouraging Instagram-worthy photos. The bar sits at the heart of the hotel and restaurant, exuding an old-world feel as if it has been there for years and the hotel was built around it.
Upstairs, the hotel has many interesting nods to the local culture, including green industrial-style lights at each room door that give hallways the feel of a train station at night. Tones of green mirroring the rolling landscapes of Lexington combined with natural wood tones and other neutrals are used in guest rooms while the University of Kentucky shade of blue is featured in common spaces such as the stairwells and gym.
Honoring the importance of community, health and comfort, Origin Lexington provides a variety of amenities to create an experience guests will want to repeat. Wellness amenities include free in-room yoga kits provided in partnership with lifestyle clothing brand prAna; access to local curated running routes through the RunGo App; and The Gym, a state-of-the-art fitness center with cardio equipment, TRX and more. In addition, Origin Lexington is dog-friendly, plus, in-room tents and sleeping bags are available upon request for guests’ children to enjoy.
The hotel also offers a variety of packages and adventures for guests to immerse themselves within the local culture, including the hotel’s “Do List,” a collection of local experiences curated by the hotel locals who know the ins and outs of Lexington, from the best places to eat to local attractions and more.
To connect guests to the community and offer a true taste of the area, the Origin hotel team has formed several local partnerships with businesses to enhance overnight experiences, including Cherry Seed Coffee Roastery, the hotel’s official coffee partner; Southern Barker who is curating dog packages for guests; and Taylor Made Farm, a leading thoroughbred farm that will host private tours for guests at a discounted rate.
“The goal when designing Origin Lexington was to create an environment that inspires our guests to seek new experiences within the hotel footprint and beyond,” said Thrash. “Origin is a place for locals and travelers alike to gather and create new memories.”
This past weekend ahead of the opening festivities, Origin Lexington hosted Make-A-Wish Kid Rylan as its first official guest, offering him a behind-the-scenes look at the hotel. Rylan also got to serve as sous chef for a day alongside 33 Staves’ executive chef Bret Hall and prepared a meal for his family before their departure on Sunday.
Origin Lexington is located at The Summit at Fritz Farm, Lexington’s only mixed-use development with 60 retailers and restaurants, the state’s first food hall, office space, multifamily apartments and green space for community programming. It is in close proximity to the Blue Grass Airport, the University of Kentucky and Keeneland Racecourse.
The team behind the hotel includes The Thrash Group as the developer, contractor, architect and interior designer; and Pyramid Hotel Group as the hospitality group overseeing hotel operations.
For more information about Origin Lexington, visit https://originhotel.com/lexington/.
Add Comment