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Triple Play teams up on hotel project

Hayden's Mayor Ron McIntire was on hand during the press conference at Triple Play to announce the expansion of the facility and the proposal for a hotel next door.Hayden's Mayor Ron McIntire was on hand during the press conference at Triple Play to announce the expansion of the facility and the proposal for a hotel next door. (Kathy Plonka/Kathy Plonka/ / The Spokesman-Review)
By Becky Kramer beckyk@spokesman.com(509) 459-5466
Hayden's Mayor Ron McIntire was on hand during the press conference at Triple Play to announce the expansion of the facility and the proposal for a hotel next door.Hayden's Mayor Ron McIntire was on hand during the press conference at Triple Play to announce the expansion of the facility and the proposal for a hotel next door. (Kathy Plonka/Kathy Plonka/ / The Spokesman-Review)

HAYDEN — Triple Play is teaming up with Holiday Inn Express to create a 7 1/2 -acre hotel-and-entertainment complex on U.S. Highway 95.

The hotel will feature an indoor water complex with a wave pool, multiple slides and hot tubs. It will connect by sky bridge to Triple Play, a family-entertainment center.

The four-story hotel is scheduled to open by late spring next year. Allpro Inc. of Richland will build and own the $7 million to $10 million hotel and water complex.

With 90 rooms, the Holiday Inn Express will be the first sizable lodging facility in the city of Hayden. Its proximity to Triple Play will give both businesses a boost, their owners said at a press conference Thursday.

John Geddes, Triple Play’s owner, said he’s been interested in recruiting a hotel for some time. The entertainment center attracts families from as far away as the Tri-Cities and Missoula, Mont., he said. The pool complex will strengthen Triple Play’s draw, and the hotel will be a convenient place for families to stay overnight, he said.

“You’ll be able to walk directly from the hotel into our building,” Geddes said. “The kids can go have a good time.”

Triple Play’s presence, meanwhile, helped sell Allpro on constructing a hotel in Kootenai County.

“There’s the whole perception of this being a resort area that doesn’t do very well in the winter months,” said Jack Nelson, Allpro’s chairman. “This will make a difference in our weekend occupancy. We expect to be full every Friday and Saturday night.”

The Holiday Inn Express franchise has a strong following among business travelers. About 10 years ago, the franchise began building pool complexes to attract families on the weekends. The concept developed in the Midwest’s Wisconsin Dells, another resort area.

“There are about 20 indoor water parks, and they all do very well,” said Brett Nelson, Allpro’s president.

The Holiday Inn will be one of the closest hotels to Silverwood Theme Park, which opened a 12-acre water park last summer and is adding three new rides this season. Geddes said the two water complexes are more likely to help each other than to compete.

“Silverwood is wonderful, and it’s good for Triple Play,” he said. “This will be a nice addition for families that are staying at Silverwood.”

Triple Play is located at 175 W. Orchard Avenue, just off of Highway 95. The hotel and pool complex will be built on adjacent land to the east. When the hotel isn’t full, the pool complex will be open to the public for a fee.

“We’re seeing a lot of changes in Hayden,” said Hayden Mayor Ron McIntire, who attended the press conference. “It’s growing up.”