The financial cooperative that owns Creighton’s Prospector Inn is switching tactics in a bid to finally sell the vacant motel and restaurant complex.
Swan Valley Credit Union has removed its listing with a local real estate firm and will instead have the property marketed specifically at businesspeople and entrepreneurs.
“We are looking to list with a commercial real estate broker here right quickly to try and expand our reach, so to speak,” said Blaine Campbell, chief lending officer with the credit union.
Campbell said the credit union has received one offer for the building, vacant since its abrupt January 2015 closure. The offer was not accepted.
“We’d love to sell it and, you know what, I’ve had a lot of people from up there [in the Flin Flon area] comment that they need [another] hotel,” he said.
The Prospector Inn was recently listed at $1.2 million. Asked whether the credit union will lower its asking price, Campbell could not say.
“All I can say is we are open to offers,” he added.
The removal of a “for sale” billboard sign outside the building last week prompted some residents to wonder whether the business had in fact been sold.
Creighton mayor Bruce Fidler is optimistic that a buyer will be found.
“I think one is there. You’ve just got to have the right timing and hit the right clientele,” he said. “I feel that it will be up and operating hopefully in the near future. I’m quite optimistic of that because it is a good facility and to have it sitting empty, I think pretty much any businessperson can see that the opportunity is there.”
Fidler has taken it upon himself to spread the word of that opportunity.
“Any place where I’m out of town and talking to different people, I’m always letting different businesspeople know that we do have a facility in the town that’s been vacant for a little while now and that it’s up for sale and available,” he said, “and we would like to see somebody come and take it over and bring that service back to the community.”
So has Fidler elicited any interest?
“I’ve had a couple of people just comment that it’s quite interesting, but so far nothing has developed from that, unfortunately,” he said.
Fidler said the closure of the motel has made it “a little more difficult” for the community to host events that involve out-of-towners, but he’s not aware of anything being cancelled.
The closure also cost Creighton a number of full- and part-time jobs.
“It’s a loss for our community, not to have it operating,” said Fidler.
The Prospector Inn opened in 1988 as RJ’s Motel and Restaurant.
