Comfort Inn Grand Opening Marks Major Milestone in Star Bond Development
December 22, 2025
The grand opening of the new Comfort Inn on December 22 marked more than the debut of an 81-room hotel on Colby’s east side. It represented the first major, visible milestone of the city’s long-anticipated Star Bond district and a turning point in Colby’s economic trajectory.
Community members, city leaders, and project partners gathered inside the hotel’s modern lobby as the doors officially opened to the public. By mid-afternoon, roughly 60 people filled the space, including members of the Woofter family, local business owners, and residents eager to see the first completed project tied to the Star Bond initiative. The atmosphere was celebratory, but also reflective of the long road required to bring the development to fruition.
Developed by Mike Woofter and partners, the Comfort Inn is the first domino in what city officials and developers describe as a broader wave of progress planned for the district. The hotel features 81 guest rooms, a fitness center, indoor pool, meeting room, marketplace, and a complimentary hot breakfast buffet. Designed with a clean, contemporary aesthetic, the lobby sets the tone for what city leaders hope will become a new gateway for visitors entering Colby.
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Colby Mayor Lee Leiker was the first to check-out a room during the event, underscoring the city’s direct involvement in bringing the project across the finish line. City leadership played a critical role in approving and supporting the Star Bond district framework that allowed the project to move forward.
“This is the first project out of the gate, and it shows what can happen when the city and private developers work together,” Leiker said during the opening, emphasizing that the Comfort Inn is only the beginning of a much larger vision for the area. According to city officials, additional projects are planned within the district as bonds continue to be sold and infrastructure investment expands.
Woofter described the opening as both a moment of excitement and relief after years of planning, financing, and construction. With significant resources tied up throughout the process, seeing the lobby fill with community members and hearing positive feedback validated the effort behind the scenes. He credited the City of Colby for its cooperation and willingness to embrace a development model that required patience and long-term thinking.
The hotel’s arrival is expected to have an immediate impact on Colby’s local economy. Increased lodging capacity positions the city to better accommodate travelers, youth sports tournaments, business meetings, and regional events. In turn, those visitors bring additional traffic to restaurants, retail businesses, and service providers throughout the community.
Beyond the economic metrics, the Comfort Inn stands as a symbol of Colby’s evolving identity. For decades, development in the area moved incrementally. The Star Bond district represents a more ambitious approach, one that city leaders believe will permanently reshape the community’s landscape and opportunities.
As guests filtered through the lobby on opening day, the sentiment was clear: this project is not an endpoint, but a starting line. With the Comfort Inn now open, Colby has taken its first tangible step into a new chapter of growth—one that city leaders hope will attract further investment, modern amenities, and long-term vitality for generations to come.
