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A Palace of an Inn in Ymir
Thursday, June 14th, 2007 by GetawayBC.com
Freshly scrubbed and open for business, an historical hotel beckons to the nostalgic and adventuring public.
Royal treatment begins in the Ymir Palace Inn, affectionately referred to by area residents as the “palace”.
The hotel name was changed from the Grand Silver Palace Inn when Belinda and Ross White purchased the building in 1998.
At the time, several hotels in the area had the name “Grand” in their titles. The Whites shortened the name and added ‘Ymir’ to the title. The official hotel name had to be researched as no sign decorated the hotel when they bought it.
From 1993 to 1998, Tom and Melody Schilling owned the hotel and used it mostly for storage.
Records show ten people have owned the famous old building since it was built in 1896. Records also show that while it was created to house the miners, it competed with other hotels that did not survive.
The only three remaining historical buildings are the palace, the Ymir Hotel and the old church, which has since been bought and converted it into a home.
When the Whites took over, they realized this project required more than a little TLC. Both husband and wife had a hand in renovations and proceeded to unmask the building’s regal and rustic beauty.
“I love to work with wood and crafts. I am good with my hands,” Belinda White said.
Ross White, a millwright, has a family background in carpentry. He and his father built hunting and fishing lodges in Ontario.
It was important to them to keep the original appearance. Even the ornamental brackets for the extensive front porches and central staircase remain the same.
Keeping up to code took some doing, but persistence paid off and now they have three floors to offer to the general public and tourists alike.
On the first floor there are two suites, with bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom and a lounge.
The second floor has a washroom, office, commercial kitchen, dining room and lounge plus living quarters for Ross and Belinda.
The third floor has three bathrooms shared by five bedrooms with another bedroom that has ensuite facilities.
A business called Essensia Spa also occupies the third floor offering visitors a relaxing massage.
The renovations to the building have not stopped the couple from doing hotel operations over the years. Visitors take it all in stride and word-of-mouth has brought many family reunions to their doorstep.
Winter season is their busiest presently when they partner-up with Wildhorse Cat Skiing offering visitors a seasonal package deal. Many Italians, Germans and Americans have discovered them and have been delighted with the local history.
Belinda has big plans for the future including opening for retreats. Her past waitressing and catering experiences introduced her to other caterers she plans to use.
This means upgrading the kitchen to commercial status, which is next along with landscaping and a roof over the entrance.
“Our palace is where adventures begin and relaxation sets in,” Belinda White said.;