Demolition of the dilapidated Bruce Spruce Motel in Twisp is underway.
Buildings being torn down to make way for mixed-use project
By Ann McCreary
A Twisp landmark — some people might say it is more accurately described as an eyesore — will soon be gone.
Crews have been tearing down the Blue Spruce Motel at the south end of town over the past two weeks, clearing the property for future commercial development.
Hank and Judy Konrad, owners of Hank’s Harvest Foods, bought the property last year with the goal of providing a place for entrepreneurs and business owners to set up shop.
“It will be for young people who want to start their own businesses,” Hank Konrad said. “It’s the responsibility of guys my age.”
He said the 1.8-acre property had been under contract to an investment group, but the group’s plans were not moving forward.
Konrad envisions retail outlets as well as light industry like automotive repair or supply shops — “whatever best fits the need here,” he said. In addition to new businesses, it may also accommodate existing businesses that want to relocate, he said.
Konrad said he has a concept for the appearance of development on property, but not a specific design. He has seen examples of attractive commercial centers elsewhere that have clean, simple exteriors using brick facades and different colors of metal.
“Our design will evolve,” he said.
Demolishing an eyesore
Demolishing the dilapidated Blue Spruce Motel alone will be an improvement, Konrad said.
“Even if it’s just bare ground and graded and made nice, that would be a benefit for right now,” he said.
Four detached buildings were part of the Blue Spruce Motel property.
A couple of people lived at the hotel, and Konrad said he assisted them in finding new accommodations.
The motel has been out of business for a few years, and the unattended property attracted transients. He said demolition crews found drug paraphernalia on the property.
Demolishing the old motel and cleaning up the property will benefit the entire town, said Twisp Mayor Soo Ing-Moody.
“It has been a blight on the community and I’m thrilled it’s going to be cleaned up,” Ing-Moody said.
“Within the past five years the town has had numerous issues of an illegal nature with that property,” she said.
Twisp has embarked on an economic revitalization initiative, and Ing-Moody said she has “had conversations with different property owners and businesses throughout town over the years” to encourage them to make improvements to their properties.
“It’s a win-win situation for the town and for property owners,” she said.
Recycled materials
Much of the building material and furnishings from the Blue Spruce Motel have been recycled, such as metal roofing, lumber, refrigerators and bed frames, Konrad said.
“I put up a sign that said ‘Free,’” and people showed up to take what they could use.
“Over 50 percent of it is being reused,” he said. “I don’t like to see things wasted.”
The old motel had four small, detached houses and 26 rooms, Konrad said. The property also held nine vehicles, a motor home and a trailer that had to be removed, he said.
The Blue Spruce Motel had the dubious distinction of being the location of the last murder in the Methow Valley.
A well-known sound producer from Seattle who was visiting the Methow Valley was killed in July 2009 when he mistakenly tried to open the door to the wrong room at the motel and a man inside the room shot him through the door.
Konrad said he is in no rush to develop the property, and said he wants to do it right.
“It depends how many people commit. I don’t want to own the buildings, but I’ll build them,” Konrad said.
He is hopeful the economy will “pick up a bit” to encourage new development.
“The valley sometimes struggles. I know that. I came here with nothing,” Konrad said.
“I want to be careful who I deal with and what type of businesses go in there,” he said. “Anything you’re willing to work at, you’ll make it.”
