Voyageur Motel has a new roof and a new look.
Jerald and Sandy Netland, owners of Voyageurs Motel, said recent heavy rains put a sag in the rubber matted, flat roof. The sag pulled at the end of the mat and allowed water to leak in, causing damage to a few of the ceilings.
The hotel insurance covered the cost to patch the roof and repair the damage, but the Netland’s wanted to ensure that the incident wouldn’t repeat itself and force another repair to the 36-year old hotel.
They decided to put up another third of the repair costs to build an A-framed steel roof on top of the flat rubber roof. It has an eight-foot rise and an 11-foot facade facing Highway 53 that holds the hotel sign.
The sign also includes green trees and they chose a taupe background to contrast the red and white of neighboring Dairy Queen and Radio Shack.
Sandy created the design on her computer and they hired Jason Whitbeck Roofing and Remodeling to do the work.As long as they had to make a major repair, Sandy said they wanted to go ahead with the new roof.
Jerald said he saw it as a chance to give the hotel a noticeable improvement. He said the remodeling is appropriate for the prime location and hopes that it inspires similar projects along the corridor.
“We just decided to go ahead and fancy it up a little bit,” he said.
The Netlands took ownership of the Voyageurs Motel in July 2007.
Jerald recently retired from the freight business and moved back to the Falls with his wife Sandy. He also worked for nine years at the mill.
Jerald Netland said the first years of business have been surprising and experimental. He started by keeping Voyageur open year round and rents units by the month during the winter. He anticipated anglers and recreational travelers from around the state would fill his rooms.
They have, however he is hosting more contractors and world travelers than he expected.The hotel was built in 1972 and eight rooms and a separate roof was added in 1976. He plans to color coordinate the new roof when he re-shingles next year.
They have a full live-in basement and reduced the available rooms from 25 to 21 to make room for an exercise room and administrative areas.
