Plans to transform the former Walkerton Jail into a hotel-style business have fallen through.
Bruce County Council received word that CHEROS Enterprises is pulling out of lease negotiations with the county, halting plans for a jail-themed hotel called Jailbreak Inn, which had been tentatively planned to open this summer.
Warden Mitch Twolan declined to discuss the issues that caused the deal to fall apart but adds they must now look at options for the 148-year old county-owned jail.
He says staff have been instructed to come back with recommendations on the next steps, adding he hopes other groups will renew their interest in the property.
"After today's news, there might be some groups who come back out, so that's part of the process. We don't know where it's going to end, but at the end of the day, this business opportunity is not going to happen and it's very unfortunate," says Twolan.
Twolan says it costs county taxpayers about $12,000 per year for minimum upkeep of the jail property that has gone largely unused since it closed in 2011.
