Historic Parkersburg hotel for sale

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. -- The Blennerhassett Hotel, a Parkersburg icon, is up for sale.

The hotel's general manager, Cecil Childress, confirmed the news Tuesday.

Sam Ross bought the hotel in 2002 and spent millions of dollars in renovations. Ross is the retired chief executive officer and chairman of SBR, the former parent company of Simonton Windows.

Childress says Ross no longer needs the hotel since he has sold SBR. But Childress says he expects the building to remain a Parkersburg fixture.

According to the hotel's Web site, it was built in 1889 and is a member of the National Trust Historic Hotels of America.

Keith Burdette, head of the Wood County Economic Development Authority, says the hotel has been a critical part of downtown development.