West Fork Whiskey Co. announced on Wednesday that it plans to build a $10 million, 35,000 square-foot facility on 12 acres on the northeast corner of 191st Street and Horton Road in Westfield, across from Grand Park.
The project, designed to be a family-friendly destination, will feature a 5,000 square-foot event center, retail space, a 4,000 square-foot restaurant with a cocktail lounge, a speakeasy, as well as additional production and aging space for the company’s distillery.
According to project developers, the new West Fork Whiskey facility will be one of the largest craft whiskey distilleries in the country, and company officials say the project will be one of the largest agritourism experiences in Indiana.
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“We’re looking to change the regional and national perception of Indiana as a whiskey-producing state while creating an approachable and interactive experience,” said Blake Jones, Co-Founder at West Fork Whiskey. “This project is an incredible opportunity for our team to provide visitors a complete whiskey experience beyond our downtown tasting room, which will include facility tours, tasting classes, and a variety of educational components.”
Westfield Mayor Andy Cook said, “We built Grand Park to create a commercial tax base. and when companies like West Fork decide to invest here, it shows this strategy is working for our city. We want innovative and community-minded companies like West Fork to bring their energy to Westfield. I am excited that they want to grow roots here.”
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered West Fork Whiskey Co. up to $450,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired. In addition, the Westfield City Council will consider additional incentives in the form of tax abatements on both real and personal property.
The new facility is expected to break ground in 2021.