Hospitality growing in Gatesville

GATESVILLE – Central Texas Hospitality House, a nonprofit group that serves the needs of family members of prison inmates, announced on plans to build an 18,000-sf center on five acres near the Woodman State Jail.

In addition to more space, the new center will provide overnight lodging for family members who have traveled long distances to visit incarcerated loved ones.

Phase I of the project will include an 8,000-sf building with another 10,000 sf of outdoor space. Phase II of the project will add an activities room and covered pavilion.

The center will have 19 bedrooms with community hallway baths, a double kitchen with food available for preparing meals, a dining area, children’s indoor and outdoor play areas, a common area for day visitors, a laundry room, a two-bedroom apartment for the facility manager and a bedroom for a social work intern/assistant.

The group has set a goal of $850,000 for the project, Wise said, and so far $250,000 has been raised, according to Charlie Wise, a volunteer with the organization.