CADA welcomes Lakeland Event Center to Calvert City

Photo by Jody Norwood
Calvert Area Development Association guests have lunch at the Lakeland Event Center.

 

If you’re looking for a place to train employees or host an event — from weddings to conventions — then Calvert City might have your best venue.

Staff at Lakeland Event Center met with guests Friday at an event sponsored by the Calvert Area Development Association. After weeks converting a former private school into a 7,200 square foot event destination, the center is nearly complete.

Chelsy Solomon, who manages the facility, said her uncle and grandfather purchased the building and decided to capitalize on the area-wide need for space.

“We debated a long time on what we wanted it to be,” Solomon said. “It’s not only going to be available for rent, we’re going to have public events, too.”

Solomon said she envisions events like a breakfast with Santa, a veteran’s recognition and possibly crafting classes.

The center’s location could be one of its biggest assets, sitting at the intersection of U.S. Highways 62 and 95. It’s also less two miles from Interstates 24 and 69, and the Calvert City industrial complex.

The main room is 3,200 square feet with an adjoining kitchen area able to handle catered meals and a secondary room that can be partitioned into two smaller rooms. A hallway separates an operations office, a room available for rent on a monthly basis, meeting room, bathrooms and a classroom complete with two-person desks, ideal for workforce training.

Converting the former school wasn’t an easy task. Flooring has been almost entirely replaced, walls added, bathrooms remodeled and the kitchen area redone.

The Marshall County Chamber of Commerce will welcome Lakeland Events Center on Tuesday with a ribbon cutting. On Friday, CADA members welcomed the newest addition to the city.

“This is a great asset to Calvert City,” said CADA president Cindy Riley. “We are so excited they agreed to be here.”

The center fits into CADA’s efforts to bring events to the city. CADA helps organize Kites Over Calvert, Ameribration, the annual Christmas parade and is planning cycling events once trails are completed sometime next year.

Elena Blevins, CADA secretary and marketing director for the Kentucky Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau, said this would help area municipalities plan events, along with private groups.

“Large meeting space is always in need,” Blevins said. “We get several large fishing tournaments throughout the year and they need a place to hold their meetings. I’m really excited to see it. I think it’s going to be really popular with weddings.”

Solomon is still developing the center’s web site, which will allow users to book rooms based on available dates and times. For those interested in booking now, they may phone her at 270-906-0166, or email info@lakelandeventcenter.com.

The center will host the annual first responders appreciation dinner on May 12.

For anyone interest in joining CADA, the group meets on the fourth Friday of each month in the Calvert City Public Library.