PERRY, Iowa (AP) – The historic Hotel Pattee in Perry that abruptly closed earlier this summer now has a new owner.  Des Moines television station KCCI reports that Jay and Denise Hartz, of St. Louis, have bought the building and plan to reopen it by the end of October.  The couple plan to first clean the 40-room boutique hotel and make some repairs.

Mayor Jay Pattee says the development is “a huge deal for Perry.”  Jay Hartz said several Perry residents invested a total of $500,000 to reopen the hotel.  The hotel underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation in the 1990s, but closed in 2006 after losing money. A new owner re-opened it in 2008.

Its previous owner, Leisure Hotels, said it was forced to close the hotel in August because of financial difficulties.