BOUNTIFUL—A new Towneplace Suites by Marriott is underway next to Culver’s in Bountiful on the lot that was previously J&L Nursery. The hotel is replacing the Holiday Inn Express across the street that was taken over by the state for the I-15 expansion.

Mohammad Islam, CEO and Bountiful Mayor Kate Bradshaw turn dirt for a new Towneplace Suites by Marriott going in next to Culver’s. Photo by Becky Ginos

 The 52,402 square foot hotel will have 87 rooms and include an indoor pool and other amenities. Wright Development is the developing company and Somerset Construction, which is a subsidiary, will be working on the project.

“When we lost our building a couple of years ago I got notice from UTA,” said Mohammad Islam, CEO of the company that owns and operates the hotel. “So the first thing I did was look for land to replace it. We got lucky that our friend Wright Development bought this land.”

They didn’t have any hotel experience, he said. “They wanted to build apartments here, then they reached out to me and we became partners. Then I bought back the land.”

Islam said they are very proud to be in the city. “People are nice. Customers are good people and all the employees are much better to manage. We are hoping to do more.”

As construction began the crew found some remnants of the nursery. “We were digging down over to do the foundation and we were finding concrete nine feet or so down,” said Wright Development Superintendent Ryan Smith, whose family owned J&L. “I talked to my dad and he said my grandpa was always trying to push the creek over and so he poured that concrete to do it.”

Smith said it used to come into this property a little bit so his grandpa just slowly pushed it back more and more. “Every now and then it floods now because of its sharp end.”

Seeing the property used in this way Smith said is cool. “My grandpa always wanted to build a hotel here which is fun. It’s a small world.”

Completion is anticipated for February 2027, he said. “That’s what we’re shooting for. Hopefully it’s another good winter next year like we had this year.”

“We’re really excited to have this hotel,” said Bountiful Mayor Kate Bradshaw. “We haven’t had a hotel I don’t think since the Bountiful Hotel and saloon days. We have a lot of events that come through the recreation district or other things and people need somewhere to stay and we want to make sure that they have an option to stay in Bountiful. As they’re doing I-15 projects the city is happy they can still have a local option.”

Bradshaw said she’s glad to see the lot built on. “As someone who grew up in Bountiful, it was just the J&L Nursery. So since the nursery closed and this property kind of sat for a bit it was great to see Culver’s come in. It’ll be wonderful to see this other piece fully activate and help build out this kind of edge on the north end.”