A new bed and breakfast has opened just west of Yorkton.
Windy Acres Inn is the long time dream of Ken and Joanne Maduck.
"This has been our retirement plan for years," said Ken, adding they have previously owned an outfitting business and have been involved in the restaurant and catering trade for years, so a B&B was a natural. " We've been in the hospitality business for over 40-years now."
Ken said the idea of a B&B also seemed like a good business plan for retirement.
"The city was needing more accommodations," he said, adding, there is flexibility in running such an establishment such as Windy Acres Inn. "We can kind of book at our own pace. It's a perfect semi-retirement sort of thing."
The couple said their experience in the hospitality is a huge benefit because a key aspect of a B&B because they are interacting with those that stay there.
"Here in the kitchen you're talking to them," said Ken.
"You learn their likes and dislikes, where they're from, what they do," added Joanne.
" If you have the people skills that's half the battle," said Ken.
The B&B is ready to serve everyone, with the potential to have 24 visitors all in their own beds.
"It's open to everybody," offered Ken, adding a lot of bed and breakfasts are set up more with seniors in mind. He said they hope to attract work crews, hunters, travelers and sports team among their clients.
"We do have a wheelchair accessible room," he added, which has the wider door, and amenities geared to someone in a chair.
The couple have 20-acres, having built the house specifically as a large B&B.
The building is two levels, each having 5,544 square feet. The Maducks live in one wing, with the rooms on the other, centered by a common kitchen, living area.
Ken explained they are 12 bedrooms available to patrons, each with two double beds, and their own attached bathrooms. Rooms come with 32-inch televisions too.
Patrons also have access to a large common area on the lower level, which offers amenities such as pool table, ping pong table, fireplace, and adjoining children's playroom and work-out room.
There is a laundry room specific to patron use as well.
Joanne said this summer work will focus on landscaping the yard, seeding grass, planting trees, and adding some additional things for patrons to enjoy, including playground equipment, and a large fire pit.
Ken said that is one of the appealing aspects of a B&B, unlike a hotel where you have a restaurant as the only real social area, they can have people sitting on a deck "watching the geese flying all over."
"And hearing the frogs," continued Joanne.
Building the B&B had its challenges, primarily those associated with bad weather. The couple began the home in July 2010 digging the basement, which Ken added was regularly flooded with water that summer as rains were common.
"It was a pretty wet year," he said with a smile. "It was frustrating I tell you."
Ken said every time it rained "we'd lose two-three days," adding when they could get back to work "it was a day to pump out the basement."
But the work did get done, and there was lots of it.
"The basic frame is out of logs," said Ken. "We got the logs from Northern Saskatchewan already milled."
The log work required 900-pounds of eight, and 10-inch spikes to put together, and another 300-pounds of screws.
The home required 980 sheets on interior gyproc. There are 64 doors, and 24 bathrooms.
For those wanting to book a room they can call 786-5050, or email [email protected]
You will be able to learn more about the B&B at their website www.windyacresinn.ca
