Family brings cozy comfort to K2 Inn

SANDPOINT — Weary travelers seeking a place to lay their head have new recourse when the K2 Inn reopens its doors this month.

After a long period of closure, new owners John and Audrey Sosoka and their daughter, project manager Cathie Wasick, hope to have the doors open by Nov. 15, just in time for the onset of the ski season. To meet that target date, they are working around the clock renovating the 18-room facility.

“We’re really putting our heart and soul into remodeling the inn,” Audrey Sosoka said. “A lot of pedestrians approach us and ask what we were doing with the place. They were sad to see it neglected.”

The Sosokas and Wasick are completely renovating both the interior and exterior of the building. Since the facility was shut down with no maintenance over the winter, it suffered extensive damage that needed to be repaired before tending to aesthetic improvements. The Sosokas and Wasick assembled a team to remove mold, repair winter-damaged pipes and restore the inn to a functional state.

That essential task complete, they’re now focused on upgrading the accommodations from the business’ past iterations. The hotel will now feature suites complete with kitchenettes. They’re also setting up convenient week and month rates. Wasick says the only thing they aren’t upgrading is the price point, citing competitive rates as essential to their business model. 

“Of course, out-of-town skiers can stay up at the lodge in Schweitzer, but that can get expensive,” Wasick said. “We’re keeping prices very competitive here.”

And the rates aren’t all the inn has going for it. Location is also an advantage. K2 Inn is within convenient walking distance to downtown Sandpoint. Guests will be able to grab dinner at a restaurant or let the good times roll at a bar with only a five-minute walk afterwards. In addition, K2 is only a block away from Bonner General Hospital, offering the visitors of sick Sandpoint residents a convenient place to stay.

With their experience in the hotel business, Wasick and the Sosokas should have their tactics in line for turning K2 into a success. Their family also owns the S & W Motel in Ponderay and the Country Inn in Sagle. They’ve made those businesses work with their emphasis on fair rates, quality service and additional perks like pancakes breakfasts or Country Inn’s RV parking.

 Although the Sosokas and Wasick are happy with their other hotels, however, they aim to give the K2 Inn a personality of its own. They’re working to establish a rustic, homey atmosphere. The fireplace in the lobby and a front porch go a long way in establishing that aesthetic. Their excitement in seeing the community’s response to the inn drives them to meet their Nov. 15 opening date.

“Hopefully it will serve the community well and meet visitor needs,” Wasick said, “whether that be coming to town for some skiing fun or maybe seeing the birth of a new grandbaby.”