As colleges across the Southeastern Conference continue to mobilize to boost the quality of life for current and prospective students, and visitors, Mississippi State and its host town of Starkville are taking steps to connect the university to the city to enhance the guest experience.
The university has unveiled a master plan for a 15-acre district featuring a boutique hotel, restaurants, and retail stores on the land between the Starkville campus and the Cotton District. Aptly named the “Crossroads District,” the development will be anchored by a 122-room Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel. Construction of the hotel is set to begin in October, and the facility is slated to open in the summer of 2027.
The development was made possible by the state legislature giving the land qualified resort status. A collaboration between the university and West Side Funds Inc., a for-profit affiliate of Mississippi State’s Foundation, was the driving force behind the plans being drafted.
“This transformative project is about creating an exciting, vibrant hub that reflects the spirit of Mississippi State University while providing incredible opportunities for entertainment, innovation, and collaboration,” Mississippi State President Mark Keenum said. “We are proud to deliver a development that will serve our students, faculty, staff, alumni, local community, and state of Mississippi for generations to come.”
University officials and city leaders alike believe that restaurants, retail, and residential developments along University Drive have long made the area attractive and that increasing the number of businesses in those economic sectors makes for an ideal fit, especially when undergoing a project along a street that connects the college campus to one of the city’s most vibrant areas.
“We’re expanding some of the most attractive elements of our community, focusing closely on the parts that bring people here, and bring people together,” John Rush, president and CEO of the MSU Foundation, said.
“It will be something new students will want to be part of, and something alumni will be excited to return to. This development really does represent a tremendous leap. Not many college communities will ever get to found and grow an exciting district like this, with opportunities like these, in a location as perfectly situated as this.”
Hotel Madelon, as the Marriott facility will be known, is being designed to celebrate the legacy of Mississippi State and the culture of Starkville. Named in honor of the university’s original fight song, the hotel will be positioned along University Drive and will include a full-service restaurant showcasing local flavors, along with a rooftop bar offering campus views.

Tribute Portfolio hotels are known for their story-driven designs, offering boutique experiences rooted in the personality and history of their destinations. Hotel Madelon will combine the university’s traditions, Starkville’s arts and culinary scenes, and the region’s cultural heritage into its design and guest experiences. The hotel will be managed by Charlestowne Hotels, a leading hospitality management company known for operating award-winning properties nationwide.
The project is being spearheaded by West Side Funds in partnership with:
- CAP Development Group
- Brasfield & Gorrie General Contractors
- Cooper Carry Architects
- KTGY
- The Saturday Crowd
- U3 Advisors
- CBRE Hotels Advisory
- CPLA Design+Planning
- Thompson Placemaking
- Charlestowne Hotels
- Neel-Schaffer Engineering
- Rich Perspectives
- Walker Consultants
“This partnership represents a defining moment for Starkville,” Mayor Lynn Spruill said. “We couldn’t be more excited about what’s to come.”
As the development progresses, future phases will establish a multi-faceted district offering year-round amenities for students, faculty, staff, residents, and visitors. Key highlights include:
- Entertainment District: A hub with local restaurants, curated retail shops, and dynamic entertainment venues that seamlessly connect the campus, Cotton District, and downtown Starkville, bridging the town and gown relationship.
- Cultural & Historical Landmarks: The development’s cultural centerpiece will include a new home for the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, bolstered by an ongoing private fundraising effort through the MSU Foundation. This facility will showcase MSU’s distinction as one of only six universities nationwide to host a presidential library, further enriching the cultural significance of the district.
- Seamless Connectivity: A planned pedestrian land bridge over Highway 12 will provide direct and safe access between the university and the development, enhancing walkability for students, residents, and visitors.
- Residential Living: On-site housing options, including unique faculty and staff residences, will add energy and year-round vibrancy to the district while supporting adjacent retail and dining establishments.
- Innovation and Research Hub: State-of-the-art office and innovation spaces will attract researchers, startups, and businesses, leveraging proximity to MSU’s world-class Thad Cochran Research, Technology, and Economic Development Park.
- Convenient Parking: A 700-space parking garage is planned to be located on the north side of University Drive near the district.
The district’s location between the university and the Cotton District is expected to be a coveted destination for the roughly 3.5 million visitors who flock to Starkville each year for ballgames, events, conferences, and other tourist attractions.