News Release

MADISON — The $22 million transformation of Madison’s Eagle Cotton Mill into a hotel and conference center has won Indiana Landmarks’ new Renaissance Award, recognizing the revitalization of long-decaying historic properties.

Built in 1884, the mill had been vacant for decades when it landed on Indiana Landmarks’ 10 Most Endangered list in 2013. But that bleak picture changed when a consortium of partners including Riverton LLC, the City of Madison, and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation put together a plan to revitalize the mill as an amenity designed to boost the entire region. Today, the Eagle Cotton Mill is a regional destination for tourists and conference groups and an economic powerhouse in the city’s National Historic Landmark District.

Overlooking the Ohio River in the city’s historic downtown, the cotton mill is the last large historic industrial building remaining along the city’s waterfront. When architect and developer Ron Bateman retired to southern Indiana four years ago, the mill’s prime location and solid construction caught his eye.

Though Bateman initially envisioned the building as apartments or condominiums, city officials led by then-Mayor Damon Welch advocated strongly for a hotel to support the city’s growing tourism industry. After more than two years assembling the necessary partners and financing, the team broke ground on the project in 2019.

Remarkably for a large, complex project conducted during a global pandemic – when supply chain issues and worker safety concerns complicated construction – the rehab wrapped up only a couple of months behind schedule and 1% above budget.

“It takes incredible vision to look at a place like the Eagle Cotton Mill and say, ‘I can transform that,’” says Marsh Davis, president of Indiana Landmarks. “Our first Renaissance Award winner is an exemplar of the vision.”

In July of 2021, the former mill opened as an 85-room Fairfield Inn and Suites boutique hotel and conference center. It’s the first Fairfield Inn housed in a historic building, and designers embraced the opportunity to incorporate elements of its industrial character. Original timber beams support the soaring ceilings, and more than 200 huge windows – designed to match the appearance of the originals—illuminate the interior.

Indiana Landmarks presented the award to Ron Bateman at the statewide organization’s annual meeting and awards ceremony earlier this month.