ABOUT US
DOWNTOWN INN, your home away from home - in Wenatchee
Our story
Welcome to the DOWNTOWN INN - Wenatchee
The newly refurbished Downtown Inn is a significant Wenatchee landmark. This motel at 232 N. Wenatchee Ave, originally designed and constructed in 1961 by TraveLodge, was built during the height of the roadside motel era.
During the 50"s & 60's, more middle-class Americans were purchasing automobiles and taking to the open road for vacation than ever before. Affordable motels that offered easy guest room access from the parking lot were popping up all across the country. TraveLodge was among one of the first lodging "chains" in America, welcoming weary auto travelers all around the country.
TraveLodge marketed itself as a budget "motor-hotel" chain that offered clean and functional accommodations at rates lower than other chains. TraveLodge also emphasized that its "mo-tels" were centrally located in or near downtown areas in order to be convenient to local restaurants, churches, theatres, shopping areas and tourist attractions.
By 1997, the owners of this TraveLodge Wenatchee re-branded itself to the less known, less costly EconoLodge, a Choice Hotels franchise, as that hotel chain’s budget economy brand. Then some years later became the Rodeway Inn due to more incentives for the franchisee.
Recently purchased just a couple years ago, the motel’s new ownership chose to spend money on improving the guest experience rather than paying franchise fees and decided to drop the franchise tag. Known today as the Downtown Inn, this independent motel has undergone extensive cleaning, refurbishing, and received a much needed facelift going into the 2020's.
Most of all, the Downtown Inn built a new culture, true to its roots, with the same 1960's hospitality delivered by the original TraveLodge, providing to each and every guest "clean and functional accommodations at affordable prices, centrally located in downtown Wenatchee."
We have made a number of tasteful updates, with more in the pipeline. We cherish our old town ambience but also strive to provide a simple, clean, modern, and functional room experience. If you have ideas on how we can further differentiate our Inn, we would greatly appreciate any feedback.
Thank you for choosing the Downtown Inn!
More Guest Reviews
"Thank you, we really enjoyed our stay. The kids loved the pool, we enjoyed being close to everything, and the room as very nice. Very Clean. We were pleased, Well done!"
- Chen
"This place is great. Highlight of our trip! The staff are warm and inviting, and the room was nice too. Great hot water and water pressure. The wi-fi was the best I have ever had, at any hotel. Very impressed. I am glad to have found this place. I would recommend to everyone."
- Cooper
"What a value. I was concerned about the low rates, as sometimes you get what you pay for, not in this case. The Downtown Inn was a nice surprise! I am bringing my entire family next time."
- Joseph