The Town of Vinton is looking forward to a spring, summer, and fall filled with ribbon-cuttings
on several construction and renovation projects expected to be completed in the next few
months.
First up will be the grand opening of the Vinton Community Park on the hilltop behind the
Vinton War Memorial, scheduled for April 2. Preparation for turf is completed and Pour in Place
is scheduled to arrive on March 4. That will put contractors G & H down to just a punch list.
The Vinton Extended Stay America hotel project is moving along steadily with exterior
waterproofing and interior electrical and plumbing rough-ins underway. Exterior cladding
(plyboard) installation and seams have been sealed. Roofing underlayment (plyboard) and initial
roof membrane for waterproofing have been completed, and the site is now considered “under
roof.” The blue which passers-by now see on the outside of the building is an additional
weatherproofing and moisture barrier. The building will not be blue when complete– it will have
a brick and stucco façade when finished.
Windows and doors will be in soon, completing the “dry-in” phase of construction, where
everything interior is secured from the weather and elements.
Mechanical (WVAC), electrical, and plumbing rough-ins are underway within the building.
Interior flooring underlayment and interior wall framing are underway. In the next several
months progress will appear to be slow on the exterior, as work moves to the interior and items
“behind the walls” are installed.
Once complete, hopefully in the fall of 2026, the hotel will have over 90 rooms, serving visitors
to the Lancerlot, Rosie’s, sports tournaments, and regular family gatherings and vacations.
Work continues on the Gish Mill renovation and redevelopment project, which will transform the
historic site into a mixed-use development with retail, a restaurant, a deck dining area
overlooking Glade Creek, and lodging in the original silos. The town will benefit in more ways than one with this project. Not only will it gain a new revenue source, but nearby residents will
be getting upgraded and extended waterlines in a project with the Western Virginia Water
Authority. That project is expected to be completed in late summer. Gish Mill will tentatively
open in Spring 2027.
Wasena Skate Park, which is not located in Vinton, but the town contributed to its funding, plans
a ribbon-cutting on March 13.
Not glamourous, but long-awaited restrooms at Wolf Creek Greenway will be celebrated with a
ribbon-cutting opening on April 21.
And finally, the Vinton Wat Memorial renovations are moving along on schedule. While there
have been some visible signs of the improvements outside with shrubbery and stairs removed,
most of the work is inside the building at this point. Interior building demolition is 95%
complete. RL Price is currently roughing-in the electrical work– marking locations, pulling
wires, and setting outlet boxes. Plumbing for the kitchen drain is complete, as is plumbing to the
work area on the second floor. The water is off at this point, awaiting testing.
In the coming two weeks, wallpaper will be removed, along with gypsum in the ballroom, and
floors in the basement for structural steel. An alternate boiler has been reviewed, approved, and
ordered.
The War Memorial is considered by many to be the heart and soul of Vinton, a place for private
and public events, such as the annual– and always spectacular– Fourth of July celebration.
Vinton Director of Cultural Placemaking and Events Mandy Adkins says not to worry, the
Fourth of July extravaganza is still scheduled for the front lawn of the War Memorial.
In case you aren’t from Vinton, Public Works has just finished installing new Gateway signage
to help you find your way to all the places and happenings in the town.
