BROOKINGS — Motorists rolling into Brookings from the west on U.S. Highway 14 will be seeing a new hotel where a sort-of landmark used to stand: Gone is the Sonshine Inn name, and in its place is The West Lodge (Stay Your Way).
Its new owners are Brett Murray and Katie Murray, and they’re undertaking a complete renovation of an establishment that could, in the kindest of words, be called down at the heels.
“The major thing is that this is happening here,” Katie said of the planned restoration work. And she has a first-hand memory of what at that time would have been a “motel.” She was 5 years old: “My first memory of Brookings was coming right into this parking lot. We came from the highway and pulled right in here, because it was one of only of a few places to stay at the time.”
Built in 1953, the facility has been a part of Brookings history, operating under several different names, including Brookings Motel and Super 8. At one time there was a swimming pool on the property.
“The plan is to keep it the same model,” Katie explained. “We still want to do an extended-stay hotel; but we want to get it cleaned up, fixed up and have it look nice.
“We have started work on the two-story section, so we have that closed off, but we are still using the rest of the rooms for the most part. Technically, there are 37 rooms, but there is a part of the lobby that (the previous owners) were using as their own.
“There are three (rooms) over in the round-top building and we don’t really use that anymore. It’s a pretty old building. We’re not comfortable having people in it.”
In spite of what’s going on, business has been pretty good, she noted: “This past week we had zero vacancies. We have about eight (customers) that are monthly and probably another eight to 10 that are weekly and the rest fill in as nightlies. I think we’ll keep a similar plan with the same setup: a third that are longer term; a third that are weekly; and a third that are monthly. We see a need for that.”
The Murrays are property managers and they see a need for The West Lodge, noting that Brookings doesn’t have much by way “of short-term rentals, especially furnished ones.”
As to how long the renovations will take, Brett Murray said, “Roughly one year, but we have to see what the skeleton looks like, how good some of the buildings actually are. We’ve got semi plans, but they’re changing and moving as we come up with different issues for the buildings.”
“Right now we’re going to fix up the two-story building,” Katie added. “That building is from the ‘70s so it’s a little newer than the L-shaped building. We’re not sure how much we’re going to have to work on over there.”
Brett, a contractor, explained that the electrical system and plumbing are “in pretty rough shape. We might have to renew all of that. Some of the electrical caught me off-guard. There are panels that I’ve never seen before.” He called the system “all over the place.”
One factor that will bring The West Lodge into the 21st century is a state-of-the-art system for booking a room and checking in: no more key on a numbered plastic fob-like holder to be hung on a wooden board when not in use.
Katie has designed a website for The West Lodge. To get information about its future and view some historic photos, log on to thewestlodgesd.com.
— Contact John Kubal at [email protected].
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