Our Owner - Turner Woodard

Turner Woodard, owner of The Stutz Business Center, made headlines in March 2010 when he bought The Canterbury Hotel, a historic landmark located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis on South Illinois Street. Woodard is an Indianapolis native who has carved a niche in tourism and commercial development through "adaptive reuse," which simply stated means he renovates or alters properties into something new and special that becomes a productive destination in the community.

Woodard is passionate about preserving the heritage and history that has made Indianapolis great. In the early 1990s he bought the Stutz auto factory, "We cleaned it up, lit it up and painted it up no changing its character," says Woodard. Today it is a bustling business incubator that's home to some of the city's top entrepreneurs.

The Canterbury Hotel is Woodard's most recent passion. Since the purchase in 2010, he and his team have implemented operational, marketing and interior design updates with a simple goal - to bring the 12-story, 99-room jewel-box style hotel back to a new glory. Late last year, Woodard reopened the restaurant, renamed it Turner's and hired a new chef. It has quickly earned a reputation as a wonderful, new downtown eatery. Woodard and his team are now busy working with designers to update all of the hotel rooms for Superbowl 2012 guests.

When he needs to get away from the hustle and bustle of Indianapolis, Woodard heads to Wasatch Lake, a 300-acre country retreat that boasts eight lakeside rental cabins. He calls it "the getaway that's not far away" because it's just an hour from Indianapolis yet offers his guests a relaxing environment to fish, canoe, hike, swim, play tennis, bird watch or just do nothing at all. He purchased it in 1996, and in typical Turner-style, had the cabins renovated to include all the luxuries of home for his guests.

"It's a great mix of Hoosier hospitality properties," says Woodard. "Away from home our guests enjoy city life at The Canterbury and Turners, or they can just get away from it all at Wasatch Lake-two great Indiana properties with loads of history and amenities."

When not working with his properties Mr. Woodard loves collecting classic cars and racing his beloved vintage sports cars! When not pursuing these hobbies Turner enjoys playing tennis with his family or painting with enthusiasm.