Our Story

The Champion Coated Paper Company began in 1894 with nine employees under Cincinnati businessman Peter G. Thomson, who repurposed his land along North B Street to build a paper coating plant that quickly expanded despite fires, floods, and economic challenges. By 1910, the mills spanned 27 acres and were the largest coated paper operation in the world, continuing to grow through the 1920s and thriving through World War II. After decades of mergers and change, International Paper acquired Champion in 2001, and the mill closed in 2011. In 2018, restoration began, transforming the historic site into Spooky Nook Champion Mill and ushering in a new era.

Champion Coated Paper Co. shaped Hamilton’s identity for generations as a major employer and industrial leader, anchoring the city’s economy and community pride. Its closure in 2012 left the once-bustling mill silent, with massive buildings standing abandoned for years. Inspired by their success in Pennsylvania, the Beilers reimagined the site, transforming it into Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill, the Champion Mill Conference Center, and the Warehouse Hotel. Today, the revitalized campus fuels new growth while honoring the mill’s rich legacy through preserved architecture and historic details.

Spooky Nook quickly became a destination in the Lancaster area, drawing amateur and professional athletes from across the country to its world-class facilities. The United States women’s national field hockey team even chose Spooky Nook as its home base until 2020. Building on that momentum, founders Sam and Melody Beiler set their sights on expanding beyond Pennsylvania and ultimately chose the historic Old Champion Paper Mill site in Hamilton, Ohio.

Construction on the Hamilton campus began in October 2018. Today, Spooky Nook Champion Mill stands as Ohio’s second-largest convention center and the largest indoor sports complex in the United States, offering more than 1,000,000 square feet of integrated sports, events, and hospitality space.