New owners, new Powder Springs Inn

RICK MACDONNELL

The Powder Springs' cosy MacKenzie's is a great place to enjoy breakfast before hitting the slopes of Revelstoke Mountain Resort. MARK SEREDA/SnowSeekers

REVELSTOKE, BC — When Emma Kirkland took over ownership of the Powder Springs Inn Nov. 1, 2008, things were in a state of disrepair, to say the least.

"Paint was chipping off the walls, some beds didn't even have headboards anymore," said Kirkland. "It wasn't what we wanted."

Originally from England, Kirkland moved to Revelstoke from New Zealand. She had managed hotels there for the previous six years, but was lured to Revelstoke by her sister, who told her that the Powder Springs Inn was looking for a new owner. 

"When I moved here, I just thought the beauty of Revelstoke was awesome. I remember saying, 'This was exactly the right move.'"

Walking distance

In the 14 months since taking over ownership, Kirkland has put the Powder Springs Inn through extensive renovations. 

"We have 54 rooms now, as well as indoor and outdoor hot tubs. There's also two masseurs on site, tanning beds, on-site laundry, and every guest receives complimentary passes to the aquatic centre, which is just two blocks away."

The Inn also houses two restaurants: MacKenzie's, a breakfast nook, and The Last Drop, an English-style pub. 

Without a doubt, the Inn's most loved service is its on-site ski guide. "Fly is our complimentary ski host. Hotel managers don't always have the time or the knowldge to speak to guests about the mountain, about the conditions." Fly maintains an office off the lobby of the Inn, and takes out between one to 10 guests every day for a guided tour of Revelstoke Mountain Resort.  

"This is his second season. The guests love him. He meets them at 11 a.m. at the top of the gondola and takes them to wherever they're capable of going."

Award-winning

All of Kirkland's hard work has started to pay off. The Powder Springs Inn was recently named Business of the Year by the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce and was nominated for three other awards: Community Support, Tourism Excellence, and Businesswoman of the Year (Kirkland).

"That was a great honour. It really means a lot after all the work we've put into this place."

If you're looking for a reasonably priced accommodation during your stay in Revelstoke, definitely check out the Powder Springs Inn. "We're a downtown accommodation, so it's handy to everything. Our team really does its best to make you feel at home. You'll be well looked after and you have almost everything you need on site."

Related Articles

Resting up in Revelstoke

REVELSTOKE, BC — Local history plays an important role in Revelstoke Mountain Resort which has a skiing link that dates back to the late 1800s.