Weiser Motel and RV Park features a whole new look

The Weiser Motel and RV Park, formerly known as the Indianhead Motel, is under new ownership of Josh and Crystal Shearer. The motel has undergone extensive renovations featuring a whole new look for visitors to enjoy when they stay here in Weiser.
 The Shearers moved to Idaho  in 2014. Prior to that Josh owned an architectural sign company creating a variety of signs for new schools, hospitals, apartments with his father for 25 years and Crystal was teaching high school math for 11 years.
 The couple had started renovating properties but when they moved to Idaho, they decided to make renovations their full-time job with the hope that this would help them have the freedom of self-employment and more time to spend with their children. Over time, renovation TV shows became popular, making renovations more difficult, and the Shearers transitioned into Airbnb ownership.
 Two years later in November 2019, the Shearers were presented the opportunity to buy a motel in Cascade. It needed partial renovation to be finished and would then be similar to a string of Airbnb’s under one roof, so they decided to take the chance and try it.
 Once they finished with The Cascade Lake Inn, the Shearers started looking for another motel and RV park project to work on. They found the Weiser Motel by accident. Josh saw it on a map and called the owner. They got along from the first conversation and began talking about what it would look like to buy the property.
 “Cal, the previous owner, is a wealth of knowledge. He has been a fun person to get to know throughout this chapter in our adventure story,” Shearer said.
 The Shearers have put their renovation skills to work and have made a lot of changes already to the look and feel of the motel. They have replaced all the carpet with luxury vinyl planks. They added larger towel racks, painted the ceiling white to brighten the rooms and changed out all the lighting with brighter, newer fixtures and added all new wall heaters.
 They also upgraded amenities in the rooms. Along with all new bedding, each room is now equipped with mini fridges, microwaves, k-cup coffee makers, and all that customers will need to make their coffee the way they like it. Each room has a new television equipped with Roku and a Netflix account. Each bathroom will have high end soaps and make-up removers. From the silky sheets to fluffy towels, the goal is simple luxury. As a special added touch, each guest is welcomed to their room with candy from Weiser Classic Candy.
 “We want each of our guests to feel like this is a special place when they arrive. We want them to feel like this was more than just a convenient place to stop, but more a boutique motel that makes you feel good when you are here,” Shearer said.
 The Shearers said that the renovation of this property has been fun. They decided to focus on Idaho as the motel’s theme. Every room is filled with Idaho artwork from postcards to canvas scenery prints above the beds.  
 The biggest challenge was figuring out how to upgrade some of the older amenities on the property. Other renovations they have done in the past have included knocking out walls, moving electrical, adding outlets as needed, and even moving plumbing when needed, but since this building is built with cinder block, most of that was not possible.
 While there were challenges, the greatest reward of this process for the Shearers has been the people that they have had the pleasure with which to work on the project. For the Weiser Motel, in addition to having their children work on a few things, they also had the help of John Purvis who brought his knowledge of all things electrical to make the new heaters possible and Cal Monis, the previous owner, who stayed on site to help with existing reservations. Monis’ 34 years of running the motel was evident as he was able to offer insight to many of the projects.
 The Shearers said they are particularly proud of the Motel’s new sign. They designed it, created each piece, and assembled it together. It took Josh weeks of bending, building, and painting, but when the couple were finally able to install the new sign and Purvis finished the wiring, so they were able to turn the sign on for the first time, it was very exciting. All their past jobs and experiences came together to create success and it was a great moment.
 The Shearers plan to update parts of the RV park in the spring. There are no septic hookups, so they will not offer long term parking, but they will be laying gravel for the parking spaces, updating the electrical pedestals, and a few other details. There are bathrooms with showers for RV guests to use as well as snacks, soda, and ice machines. They will also be adding a few more amenities for the RV guests such as corn hole boards and other outdoor items to check out.
 The Motel opened under the new ownership officially on Nov. 1, 2020. Manager Laura lives there year-round and takes care of rooms and the guests. The motel is now completely open and the RV park will be open in April 2021.