New hotel will offer rooms with a view

Bill Dritshulas' family has been involved in the Havre business community since 1909, when his grandfather opened a creamery on 1st Street.

Now his family operations include Great Northern Inn and the Duck Inn complex. One of the company's biggest expansions is scheduled to be completed this fall when Havre Inn and Suites, a hotel with 68 rooms and suites, will open on the hill west of the city.

Visitors to the hotel will be able to see a panoramic view of the badlands to the north, downtown Havre to the east and the Bear Paws to the south.

The hotel will feature a historic theme, taking advantage of the Wahkpa Chu'gn Buffalo Jump. A large buffalo jump sign is in front of the hotel. That will be surrounded with trees and benches, giving it a park atmosphere, Judi Dritshulas said. Inside, there will be a mural with a buffalo that appears to be walking out of the mural as it is chased by a Native American on a horse. Pictures of historic Havre will be displayed throughout the building.

The new hotel is part of his belief in the future of Havre, Bill Dritshulas said.

The city has four large hotels, he said, and many smaller motels.

But frequently tourists are turned away.

"We are at about 90 percent occupancy during the summer," said Judi Dritshulas. For all practical purposes, she said, that means the hotel is full.

Often that means they have to send people to other Havre hotels, she said. But just as often they have to send visitors to hotels in other communities.

The new hotel is designed to cater to tourists, business travelers and foreign travelers, especially Canadians. It will also be opened as a location for weddings, meetings and conventions, she said.

The family laughs when they hear that some people are afraid the hotel will slip down the hill.

"People have no idea how much money went into geological studies to make sure this was safe," Judi Dritshulas said.

Like the Great Northern, this hotel will be affiliated with Best Western, an organization that the Dritshulas family believes offers them a nationwide connection and the creativity to design a hotel special to Havre.

Best Western has a long history in Havre. When the company first opened in the 1950s, the old Shanty Hotel was one of three Best Western hotels in the country.

When the new project is open, the Dritshulases will move on to their next project.

Char's Restaurant will be expanded, and then Boot Hill Plaza next to the new will be enlarged. There will be room for new businesses and Murphy's Pup will be expanded.

Murphy's is already full, Bill Dritshulas said, and the opening of the hotel will bring in more business.