New managers at local motel

"It was a lot of prayer," said Darren Moore on what led him and his wife, Royce, to move to Ekalaka and manage the Midway Motel. The couple says that they were looking for a new adventure and that "everything just fell into place quickly."

"It was just meant to be," Royce said.

Royce (Bonsell) Moore graduated from CCHS in 2015. Darren went to school in Baker and has been working at Baker Metal for the last 16 years. The two were married in 2019 and made their home in Baker.

Darren is currently continuing to work at Baker Metal and now commutes everyday from Ekalaka. He said that they wanted to find a new adventure and considered moving to a few other places, like Bozeman, before finding the opportunity to manage the Midway.

"We knew we wanted to go somewhere and we already go to church in Ekalaka," Royce said. "It's just nice to be back around our community. We're excited."

Aside from the motel, the couple also enjoys building and creating things together. One item of furniture they brought with them from Baker is a large bar-height table top that they made together. Darren built the frame from metal. The top is wood, decorated with wood burning that Royce did by hand, and surrounded by rocks and a colored epoxy that shines from built-in LED lights.

So far, Moore's say they are really enjoying the hospitality business.

"It's really interesting," said Royce. "Especially when people who come back stay here. A lot of them give little tidbits of Ekalaka history."

Speaking of history

James Munro started building all the concrete blocks that were used to construct the Midway Motel building in 1948. It took over two years for Munro to finish construction of the motel. He then ran it for a short time before it sold to a man named Bowman.

In 1957, Joe Schallenberger purchased the Midway and had the business up until 1979, when Dick and Barb Elmore bought it. Then in August 1982, Arley and Sue Beach bought the business and ran it until December of 2014 when current owners and former managers, Buck and Toni Kratzer, took over. Darren and Royce Moore officially started managing the motel on May 1st.

For inquiries about the motel or to book a stay, contact Royce Moore at (406) 775-6619. The Midway Motel is located at 129 Mormon Avenue, right when you pull into Ekalaka.