By AFRO Staff
Walt Disney Co. plans to build a 500-room hotel on 15 acres at National Harbor in Prince George's County, the Washington Business Journal reports.
Disney is reportedly paying $11 million for the land.
National Harbor, which is being developed by Fairfax, Va.-based Peter Cos, includes six hotels; more than a dozen restaurants and a large conference center run by Gaylord Entertainment.
"We're thrilled Disney has decided to invest in National Harbor," said Milton Peterson, chairman of the Peterson Cos, in a statement. "Disney is the top family entertainment company in the world, and its purchase is a great vote of confidence in the future of National Harbor and the Washington area as a top family tourism destination."
The hotel will not be on the same scale as Disney’s California and Flordia resorts. Instead, it will be a standalone building.
"As we began identifying possible locations to grow our business, the Washington area immediately jumped to the top of the list," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, in a statement. "National Harbor offers an array of entertaining activities for regional visitors, but it is also a family-friendly base camp, from which visitors from around the world can explore the stirring sights and inspirational stories of our nation's capital. We believe National Harbor has the unique opportunity to offer a new level of family-friendly hospitality."