Luxury with a view

Waimarino Bulletin, 26 July 1988, Page 10

Luxury with a view

" : s"", M O U N T A I N VIEW M O TE L Luxury with a view

The owners and managers of an Ohakune motel have begun a project to take advantage of one of the best features of the site - the view of Mt Ruapehu.

The town's oldest motels, Mountain View Motels in Moore Street, have a new section of luxury units that have bay windows facing the mountain. Most of the old parts of the motel face away from the mountain but

at the end of the long term development for the site the whole aspect of the motel will be turned around. Now the complex has five different standards of accommodation in a bunkhouse, cabins,

budget motel units, standard motel units and in the new luxury units. Total number of beds in the complex is now 99. The four new units have a number of unusual features including double doors

between units which can be unlocked to provide intemal access. This would be an advantage for, say, two families travelling together. The doors could be opened for them providing combined space. Other features of the units include ski lockers, individuai drying rooms, FM and AM radios, remote control TVs, in house video. One of the units features a waterbed. Managers Kevin and Jean McKillop say the main reason for installing ski lockers and drying rooms is for better security for guests, as well as convenience. As well as building the new units the six standard units have been renovated and redecorated. The next stage of the development will be to remove the central buildings which house the recreation room and cooking facilities for the bunkhouse and cabins and install a swimming pool, barbecue area, children's play area, new recreation room, new indoor spa and a sauna. Kevin and Jean say the timetable for the developments depends on the ski season. A further stage will be to build seven units backing on to Moore Street. They will have mezzanine floors and be built with a northerly aspect to take advantage of the views ofRuapehu and the sun. They will look out on a courtyard between the units and the recreation area. The development may see the replacement of the standard units, which are now 18 years old. An important aim of the development is to unify the complex. At present the motel is made up of several styles of building. The tudor style of the new units will be carried through the complex. Parts of the present complex date back to 1899, when the main street of Ohakune was Burns Street. What is now the recreation block and budget units were shops and businesses from that time.

Jean and Kevin McKillop have a share in the motel while Jean's sister and brother-in-law, Bruce and Maureen Metcalfe of Hamilton own the major share. Kevin, who is an Ohakune builder, built the four new units. The standard units were upgraded by carpenters fforn the Metcalfe's

Hamilton construction company. The Metcalfes bought the motel in 1985 and Jean came to Ohakune to manage the motel in November 1985. Jean met and married Kevin in Ohakune and they now have a seven month old baby, Ashley. The idea to build a pool and children's play area is to cater to

- . 1. ; the family and to attract summer trade. This next stage will start in summer if the ski season goes well. Mountain View Motel has a ideal location for the accommodation business. It is right in town and close to many public amenities and on the main road close to public transport.