July 13–Renovations at The Hilltop Lodging, Cuisine and Spirits in Pullman are nearly complete, and its 56 new rooms are open for business.
New carpets and tiling were put in on the first floor, and new earth-toned wallpaper was added to the lobby. Existing rooms were updated to match the new ones.
A new restaurant and bar area, built to seat 90 people, has a section just for breakfast. Barb Wachter, who owns the hotel with her husband, Ron, said it is nice to finally have a designated area to serve hot breakfast to guests. She said breakfast was previously served in the lobby.
Wachter said she is amazed with how far the hotel has come from the 18 bungalows she started off with 40 years ago.
The rooms have been designed in a modern black and brown pattern, and the grand architect of this new design is none other than the proud owner of the building herself.
“I had a lot of fun decorating this,” Wachter said. “Yes, it was a challenge, but I enjoyed adding my own touches.”
She said the reason for the hotel’s success is the endurance she and her husband have shown in their dedication to the business.
Along with The Hilltop, the Wachters own a catering business, Porky’s Pit Barbecue, which they operate out of the same building.
“My husband and I understand business,” Wachter said. “When we started the project, we just couldn’t quite get everything, and I had someone pat me on the arm and say, ‘Oh, why don’t you try again in a couple of years? Things will be better then.’ “
“I went home and I told my husband that, and I said, ‘That’s ridiculous for her to say that to me when we know we can do this,’ ” she said.
The addition to The Hilltop Inn is a continued realization of a dream, Wachter said. She said she and her husband think it is a legacy of Pullman.
“We had a vision for this building, and the best part is we did it together,” she said.
She said her favorite of the 115 total rooms in the building is one she is decorating with the 12 existing Lentil Festival posters she has collected, in addition to posters of multiple performance groups who have stayed in the hotel. She said she hasn’t finished decorating the room yet but plans on getting to it soon.
Wachter said The Hilltop was famous for the purple chairs it had in the old restaurant. She said the chairs are not gone but have been recovered and put in the lobby.
Three paintings, which Wachter said were made specifically for the hotel by the late local artist Alfred Dunn, also decorate the walls of the business.
“They are priceless,” Wachter said. “I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
She said all 19 members of her family and more than 400 other well-wishers came to The Hilltop’s recent open house to support her and her husband during their big day.
Information about The Hilltop Lodging, Cuisine and Spirits is located at 928 NW Olsen St. in Pullman.
Restaurant hours are 4-10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, while lounge hours are 3 p.m.-midnight Monday through Saturday.
Information can be found online at www.hilltopinnpullman.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hotelonthehill.
Erik Fink can be reached at (208) 883-4686, or by e-mail to fink7635@vandals.uidaho.edu
