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Newest hotel opens doors in Marble Falls

MARBLE FALLS — They’re still leaving the light on, but this Motel 6 may even make announcer Tom Bodett speechless.

After almost 18 months of work, the budget hotel opened its doors Tuesday on the north side of town at 1400 Ollie Lane, just off U.S. 281 North.

The Marble Falls Motel 6 is one of the first in the chain to boast the new Phoenix package, General Manager Mance Bowden said.

"It’s a new prototype Motel 6 is using," he said. "It’s more upscale. Every room has hardwood floors. There’s a 32-inch flat-screen TV in each room. We have granite or marble countertops in the bathrooms."

The motel boasts 83 rooms — 43 with queen-size beds and 40 with double beds.

"We got our certificate of occupancy this morning and started taking reservations before noon," Bowden said. "So it’s been a pretty exciting day for us."

Bowden said the new facility offers other features that people may be surprised to see in a Motel 6.

"It’s probably not what most people expect when they think of Motel 6," he said. "There are no ‘outside’ rooms. Everything is inside — all the room entrances. So it’s more secure."

While the hotel includes more amenities, Bowden said it’s still priced for the average person looking to get to the Highland Lakes for a day, a weekend or even longer.

The facility, owned by Rick Patel (who also owns a hotel in Burnet), fits into the Texas landscape quite well with its new features, the general manager said.

And with more people discovering Marble Falls and the Highland Lakes, Bowden said the new hotel makes a great addition to the community.

"Marble Falls is a destination location, and people coming here want a place they can stay that offers them nice features but is still priced within their range," he said. "And here in Marble Falls, through spring, summer and early fall, you know you’re going to be full."

Already customers are finding their way to the new hotel’s reservation line. Bowden said half the rooms are already booked for the Burnet Bluebonnet Festival April 9-11.

"And we just opened today," he said.

For more information on Motel 6, go to www.motel6.com or call (830) 265-6565.

Bodett and his trademark folksy tone helped make the motel chain famous, beginning with commercials in 1986, his official Web site states.

The new Motel 6 is just the latest hotel to open in Marble Falls, which has seen a small boom in overnight-destination construction.

A LaQuinta Inn & Suites opened in July 2008 at U.S. 281 and FM 2147, and a Comfort  Suites is under construction just south of the LaQuinta, also on U.S. 281.

daniel@thepicayune.com