New owners to use motels as employee housing

SEELEY LAKE – This past January, The Resort at Paws Up (Paws Up) purchased The Wilderness Gateway Inn and the Seeley Lake Motor Lodge on Highway 83. They are excited to use both properties and the RV Park behind the Motor Lodge to provide a high-quality living space for year-round managers and seasonal employees and enhance their long-term investment in the local community. While the current plan is employee housing, they are contemplating seasonal public availability as long as it improves the community.

Paws Up Managing Director Steve Hurst said the Resort has been using both properties for employee housing for a few years. He explained that the previous owner approached Paws Up about purchasing the motels because the most recent owners elected to cease operation.

"It will allow us to employ more people in the Seeley community, have them live closer than Missoula and in a community we love," Hurst wrote in an email.

Hurst said as Paws Up continues to grow, they want to positively impact the lives of their employees and the community. Not only will employees be living in both buildings, they also will have access to the RV Park, which Hurst said is already almost full. By living in Seeley Lake, he feels the employees will enjoy spending their time and money in the neighboring community and at local businesses.

"We are so invested in this that we are currently going around to area businesses and purchasing gift certificates for our employees to use and get to know the businesses we already frequent and enjoy," Hurst wrote.

Hurst said Paws Up is developing a plan to improve the visual appeal of both buildings so Seeley Lake can be proud of them occupying the space. They are also working on a long-term plan that considers the wider impact of their operations.

"Any long-term plan will be with an eye on positively contributing to the Seeley community we love," Hurst wrote. "This purchase was not planned for us but a unique opportunity. We are still considering long term plans while also considering other overnight facilities like Double Arrow [Lodge], The Lodges at Seeley Lake, Tamaracks Resort and Montana Pines amongst others and how they can continue to thrive and grow."

Hurst continued, "We look forward to increasing our connection with the Seeley community we have long been a part of and hope to be a positive part of the lives of the people in our shared community.  We have received so many proud responses to the purchase that we are very excited to share in the community more going forward."