Welcome to the Hotel Kilbourne

SANDUSKY — It's check in time for Hotel Kilbourne.Sandusky's newest business, and the only downtown lodging option for visitors, debuts Friday night.A nine-room boutique, offering breathtaking views of Sandusky Bay and downtown, represents the finished product of a nearly two-year reclamation project undertaken by married couple Nikki Lloyd and Ryan Whaley.After investing about $1.2 million, they salvaged two blighted West Water Street buildings.Both also believed they filled a major void existing in the community."I had so many people asking me about, 'Where do I stay downtown?' or 'There is no place to stay around here,'" said Whaley, who also runs public relations firm Green Door Mediaworks. "An investment like this is certainly a risk but it's calculated, and it's also apparent that downtown needs a hotel."Sandusky's ongoing renaissance — a collection of new businesses, amenities and activities washing ashore onto the waterfront city in recent years — helped convince them to pursue such a venture."This is definitely something that Sandusky needed for the downtown to continue to thrive," said Lloyd, who serves as a city commissioner. "The businesspeople now have somewhere to stay during the week. Tourists also can take advantage of all the amenities we have in downtown."Hotel Kilbourne also features two full bars, including one on the rooftop."Where can you find a rooftop bar on the water anywhere around here?" said Whaley, who also operates Volstead Bar with Lloyd. "In many ways, this will be a destination of its own, which I think everyone will like."After an initial three-day soft opening, Hotel Kilbourne will close on Monday and won't reopen until Aug. 22. Sometime within a few weeks, Lloyd and Whaley plan on hosting an open house to the public, showing off their property. Hotel Kilbourne's offerings• 9 total rooms, broken down by:— 2 lake view rooms with 2 king-size beds— 2 lake view rooms with 1 king-size bed— 2 city view rooms with 1 king-size bed— 2 city view rooms with 1 king-size bed and pullout couch— 1 penthouse with a Murphy bed, pullout couch, wet bar and doubles as an event space• Each room has a bathroom with a walk-in shower; flatscreen, high-definition TV; luxury-brand soaps, towels and bedding; and Wi-Fi.• Rates range between $165 to $285 a night with the penthouse costing $395 a night. Rates will vary depending on demand levels.• Two bars, both open to the public and guests:— Moseley's Channel, named after the local shipping channel, on the ground floor— Moseley's Rooftop, beside the penthouse roomTo make reservations, contact reservations@hotelkilbourne.com or 844-373-2223 Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOurielHotel Kilborune, downtown Sandusky's newest business, and the only downtown lodging option for visitors, debuts Friday night. It's a nine-room boutique, offering breathtaking views of Sandusky Bay and downtown, representing the finished product of a nearly two-year reclamation project undertaken by married couple Nikki Lloyd and Ryan Whaley.