NEWPORT-A long-time Newport business will be auctioned off this Thursday.

Mountain Crest Inn, at 1010 Cosby Highway, will be auctioned at 1 p.m. Thursday by Thompson Carr Real Estate and Auctions of Sevierville.

Mountain Crest Inn had served as the Holiday Inn for 40 years but changed its name with the start of 2009.

Among the features of the facility are 2.75 acres, 97 units, a restaurant and lounge, heated indoor pool, conference room and exercise room.

The motel's fortune's grew with the advent of Interstate 40 construction in the 1960s. Holiday Inn was the first to have an indoor heated pool and recreation area.

Annette Mason has been the former Holiday Innkeeper and is current manager/operator of the Mountain Crest Inn.

During the years it played host to many community, church, and special events, such as the chamber of commerce and partnership banquets.

It is host each week to the Newport Kiwanis Club and Newport Lions Club, who have assembled at the facility for decades.

Kiwanis President Rodney Buckner said he was concerned with the pending sale the club would have to leave, but finding a new location for Tuesday lunch meetings would be difficult.

A preview of the property is scheduled from 2 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Plain Talk will report on the outcome of the sale in the Sunday, Nov. 22, edition.