A new chapter for the ‘Gem of the Plains’: Cottle Hotel restoration begins

From “abandoned” to “alive.”
COTTLE HOTEL Renovation work has begun on the Cottle Hotel in downtown Paducah, a 1929–30 gem that has sat unoccupied for decades. | COURTESY PHOTOS
COTTLE HOTEL Renovation work has begun on the Cottle Hotel in downtown Paducah, a 1929–30 gem that has sat unoccupied for decades. | COURTESY PHOTOS

The skyline of downtown Paducah is seeing its first major shift in years, and for once, it’s not the West Texas wind. The Hicks-Co Plains Project officially kicked off demolition and restoration efforts this week at the historic Cottle Hotel, signaling a massive step forward in the revitalization of the town’s historic square.

The news, shared by the project leaders alongside photos of crews beginn…