- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Real Estate
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation plans to reopen the Two Trees Inn in Ledyard, Conn. in spring 2026, reviving a tribally owned hospitality property that has been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tribe announced it has selected Waterford Hotel Group, a Connecticut-based hotel management firm, to operate the property. Waterford will manage pre-opening activities, including staffing, training and operational planning, and will oversee day-to-day operations once the inn reopens.
Built in 1993, the Two Trees Inn is located near Foxwoods Resort Casino and other Mashantucket Pequot tourism assets, including Lake of Isles golf course and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center. The reopening is part of the tribe’s broader effort to reactivate hospitality infrastructure and support employment tied to regional tourism.
“Waterford Hotel Group has been a valued partner to our region for many years, and we are pleased to work with them on the reopening of Two Trees Inn,” Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, said in a statement.
The tribe did not disclose the size of its investment associated with the reopening. The property’s closure during the pandemic eliminated lodging capacity and associated jobs, and its return is expected to restore employment and increase room supply serving Foxwoods and southeastern Connecticut visitors.
Waterford Hotel Group President Michael Heaton said the appointment reflects the firm’s experience operating independent hotel properties and its long-standing presence in the region.
“This appointment represents Waterford’s continued growth in the independent property sector,” Heaton said.
For tribal leaders and enterprise executives, the reopening highlights the role of tribally owned hotels as complementary assets to gaming and destination tourism. For local and state stakeholders, the project represents continued recovery in the regional hospitality sector, with implications for suppliers, service providers and neighboring communities.
