News

Motel space in Bottineau questionable

By Alicia Wicklund

05/22/2012

Motel availability appears to be an issue for some in the Bottineau area, especially when planning for a large number of guests. It’s uncertain if it is yet a big enough concern yet to host an additional hotel or two.   

The city of Bottineau has three hotels, the Super 8, Norway House Motel and Restaurant and the Turtle Mountain Inn. Lake Metigoshe has Twin Oaks and the Quilt Inn and Suites.

One couple getting married this summer looked as far as Devils Lake and Rugby to find hotel lodging for guests.

Alpa Patel, owner of the Turtle Mountain Inn, said as of May 18, they had six different weddings booked for weekends only.

“We’ve picked up only a few weddings,” Patel said.

Yet, the main demand right now are oil companies booking the entire hotel, Monday through Friday for a month, including setting up their office in the breakfast room.

As for if the Bottineau area could use an additional hotel or two, Patel said, “If the oil companies keep getting closer, yes, we will need more. Right now I feel everything is OK.”

Patel said June through October are the busiest months at the Turtle Mountain Inn, with an 85 to 95 percent occupancy rate for the 29 rooms.

Connie Irey, manager of the Quilt Inn and Suites, said this time of year is busy, but there are times when not every weekend is full.

“Throughout the summer we are just about full,” Irey said. “Weekdays we are full too with construction and building houses.”

Irey said their occupancy rate is great, yet that could change from morning to night.

However, a winter lacking snow showed an effect on the occupancy rate.

“We didn’t have a lot of snowmobilers,” Irey said.
At the time of the interview, Irey said they did not have any oil workers.

“But that could change,” she said. “The oil workers that were here last fall were also here in March, but they have already left.

As for weddings, reunions or business trips that require a large block of rooms to be booked, Irely recommended calling up to a year ahead of time.

“I think people really enjoy the beauty of the lake and the option to use our conference room,” Irey said. “There are walking paths, a convenience store close by and several other activities. It’s really a nice location and customers keep coming back.”

The Quilt Inn and Suites has a total of 44 rooms.
Yet the question still poses whether or not the area could use another hotel. Twin Oaks Manager Andrew Rennich said he could maybe see Lake Metigoshe needing another hotel, but he felt in the winter there would be a lot of vacancies.

“It would be tough to fill another hotel during the winter,” Rennich said.

But during the summer weekdays, Rennich said a room can open up here and there.

“Weekends are usually booked in the summer,” Rennich said. “We also get overflow from the other hotels in the area. We try to accommodate in the summer. The hotel market is up and down due to the seasons.”

HOUSING

Yet, the issue delves deeper than the availability of motels.

Penny Nostdahl, auditor for the city of Bottineau, said almost every day she receives a call for a rental list.

“The availability of housing is really tight,” Nostdahl said.

She explained she has talked with a few realtors and one had mentioned they listed a house one day and then sold it the next.

CAMPING

An alternative to staying at a hotel would be spending the night at a campground or RV park. An option right in Bottineau would be parking for RV’s at Tommy Turtle Park, which hosts 16 full hook-ups that include electricity, water and sewer.

“It’s open to travelers and visitors of the Bottineau area,” Brian Knudson said, manager of parks and arena for the city of Bottineau park district.
Yet, they do not take reservations.

“It’s on a first come, first serve basis,” Knudson said. “The park has an information sign that explains fees, rules and regulations of the RV campground. The payment is on the honor system and campers self-register.”

According to Knudson, the park board is considering putting limitations on the number of night’s campers can stay; yet no formal action has been taken.

He explained the number of RV’s in the campground has increased over the past two summers.

“We have had campers this past April that we haven’t had traditionally,” Knudson said. “June through August are typically our busy months. With construction in general, there is more demand for RV camping spots, not just for oil workers.”

As of May 1, Tommy Turtle Park was about 60 percent full.

Carbury Dam Recreational area is an option for camping with 15 plugs ins and electricity, but no water or sewer. There are two picnic shelters that are equipped with electricity, and two others without.

“It’s on a first come, first serve basis,” Melonie Bowers, caretaker of the area said. “We take no reservation. After a 12-day stay, campers must move.”

Yet, reservations can be made for a large shelter located on the north end of the park. Parties can also reserve the beach area.

Bottineau County Fairgrounds has also had some limited spots in the past, but according to David Hoff, president of the Bottineau County Fairgrounds, they are not into having camping at the fairgrounds on a daily basis.

“We do from time to time have people camping on the fairgrounds,” Hoff said. “We don’t do it on a regular basis, but have done it for RV groups that come into town or other special events.”  

Additional campgrounds and state parks also add to the options for places to stay.