Country Home Assisted Living to become Country Inn Hotel in Malta this May

On May 1, 1997, the Country Home in Malta opened its doors as an assisted living facility for the people of Phillips County and beyond. On May 1, 2015, the Country Home will re-open as the Country Inn, a 12-room hotel with a few twists.

County Home owner Dwayne Murray recently sold the business –side of his business to the Hi-Line Retirement Center in Malta. Currently, restoration is underway to covert the assisted living facility into a different sort of business.

"We are going to convert this into a small hotel." Murray said last Friday. "Right now we are doing some real basic construction like taking handrails down and putting some new carpet in, but we aren't making any real major changes."

Murray admitted that there isn't a real need for more motel room in the area, so he has decided that the Country Inn will offer guests a continental breakfast and, to try and be different, will also offer its guests a Soup and Sandwich Bar at night which will be included in the cost of an overnight stay.

"That will only be available to guests and we won't be open to serve food to the public," added Murray.

Murray said that the Country Inn will also feature walk-in coolers for hunters to put their meat.

"It will be a little bit more of a home environment than a usual hotel," said Murray.

Since he sold the business side of the now former Country Home, Murray said he was left scratching his head on what to do with the huge building.

"I need to do something with the building and I don't see a real market for it right now," Murray said. "I thought this would be a neat project to do with my granddaughter (Bethany Jaynes, a recent Malta High School graduate.) I think she is pretty excited about the deal. Other than turning it into a big house, this was the only practical idea I have."

A few months ago, Murray decided that he would get out of the senior care business and sold his business to the Hi-Line Retirement Center (HLRC) in Malta. A popular question since then is "how much did he sell it for?"

"To me, I don't think that it is necessary to disclose the offer on my side of things," Murray said. "From the hospital side of things, that is up to them to decide how to handle it. The only thing I can say is that they got a very good deal. For buying a business, I offered them the best deal I could afford to . I'm not a public corporation, I'm a private individual so I did feel obligated or that it is appropriate for me to disclose my personal finances."

When Murray sold the Country Home business to HLRC, his mother – who was living at the Country Home – was moved to the HLRC. Murray said he is happy that the HLRC is available to the people of Phillips County, his mother included.

"I go have coffee with her over there each morning," he said. "When I go over there the place is always clean. The place always looks good and the staff is always courteous. I have absolutely no reservations about recommending people there because I think they do a really good job. I think they have a really good facility and my mom is happy there."

Murray, originally from Great Falls, came to Malta in 1991 and worked at the Phillips County Hospital as a staff nurse for three years. From there he went on to work at what was known as the Good Samaritan (now the HLRC) where he served as the Director of Nurses at that facility for three years.

So now Murray and his granddaughter will join the hospitality industry, but before that there are some items leftover from the assisted living center which will be auctioned off on Saturday, April 11. The event will be hosted by Cliff Rustad of Hi-Line Auction with a slew of items up for bid. The event will be held at the site of the Country Inn – one mile south of Malta near the Marian Hills Golf Course – and Murray will be providing a free barbecue lunch to the pubic the day of the event.

"I've got a whole-hog roaster that I built a few years ago so I am going to roast a pig and then auction off the roaster," Murray said. "It will be a free barbecue and celebration to see all the families and friends and people who have been involved here over the years. People should stop by and have a free lunch."

Murray said that pulled pork sandwiches will be served, along with other typical picnic goodies, and lunch should start around noon.

As far as he and Bethany and their new future at the old Country Home, Murray said he looks forward to the possibilities.

"I think it will be great," said Murray. "I guess the challenge will be not to be in charge and be the boss all the time. I know she will do a great job and we are looking forward to the future."