Years ago, Wade Creekmore read an article about the impact learning chess has on a child’s life and it planted a seed that has grown into something larger than anyone could have imagined.
Wade started the Franklin Chess Center to make learning chess available and free to every child in Franklin County, Mississippi. As the program grew and those children traveled all over the country winning competitions, he decided they needed a local place to host their own international competitions. The idea for The Lake Okhissa Lodge grew out of that after many conversations, visioning sessions, and engagement from different organizations, including Hyatt Hotels Corporation. As of this week, Hyatt and the Scenic Rivers Development Alliance have announced the planned debut of Okhissa Lake Lodge as the first Destination by Hyatt brand hotel in Mississippi. Expected to open in 2027 on Okhissa Lake in Franklin County, the hotel will invite guests to experience 190,000 acres of the Homochitto National Forest in Mississippi through one-of-a-kind outdoor programming, amenities, as well as dynamic culinary offerings. The design for the Lodge, which will attract visitors of all types from all over, is inspired by iconic National Park lodges, and includes a grand lobby for guests to gather and unwind, traditional resort amenities, outdoor areas for fishing, beaching, and kayaking, and, of course, ample space for chess competitions. WBA Architecture, in partnership with DLR Group, is excited to work with SRDA and Hyatt to bring this vision to life.
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