Idaho Hotel — Hotel in Melba

Silver City really is a special place. I'd been wanting to go there since reading about it in a tourist brochure on a trip to Idaho years ago and was so pleased to finally make it last week. Here's what I would have liked to know in advance and hope it's helpful for others:||||For context, we went on a Thursday in mid-July.||||The Road -- I've driven on many unpaved roads in my time -- including the long gravel driveway at my childhood home -- and this one is in very good shape. It gets a bit rocky closer to town, so you have to go slow there, but the rest of it is really good. We had an SUV, but I think with some careful driving in certain spots, you could do it in a regular car or van (but not an RV). We encountered a few ATVs on the road in and out, but it was easy to see them coming and everyone gave a wave. We also saw a few cows in the road closer to town, so keep an eye out for them. If you are concerned about the road, you might take a look at some of the videos on YouTube for a sense of what it looks like.||||The Town -- As others have said, Silver City is not a museum or an amusement park, so you won't get to go in buildings or see people dressed in old timey clothes or anything like that. It's sort of frozen in time, with some houses still lived in as summer retreats. Wander the dirt streets and take it in. The school house is really striking and the pretty church watches over from the hill. The wood on the Masonic hall is beautiful. The cemetery tells a lot of stories. I would recommend picking up one of the town history books at Pat's What-Not Shop for reference, as there aren't many signs around town.||||The Hotel -- We were the only guests on the Thursday night we stayed. There wasn't a family dinner option available that night, but we were super happy with the short order menu -- grilled cheese and a burger were just what we wanted. And yes, the pie is delicious -- marionberry lemon was our favorite! Breakfast the next day was tasty as well. We sat in the dining room and looked out over the school house and church. Make sure to read through the binders the menus are on for fascinating historical tidbits. As far as rooms, some are more up-to-date than others, but they are all clean and comfy. The floors have a great atmospheric creak to them. We LOVED sitting out on the upstairs porch in the evening and looking out over the hills as the cows mooed and the birds fluttered all over the place. Very peaceful. The best thing about the hotel, though, was the staff. They were all incredibly welcoming and friendly and made the stay really wonderful.||||Silver City is unique and probably not for everyone, but if you are intrigued by the thought of a living ghost town hidden in the hills of southwest Idaho, read up on it and start planning your trip. You're in...

We've been waiting for the perfect time to visit this historic hotel from the 1860s and were finally able to make our dream come true this summer! This place was definitely the highlight of our trip. If you don't book a room here and have a family-style dinner with the other guests, you haven't experienced Silver City--especially when you can't go inside most of the privately owned buildings. So book a room and plan on staying overnight! We indulged in a delicious tri tip dinner on a Saturday night, followed by a homemade slice of peach pie. We called ahead of time and reserved our dinner spots when we booked the hotel stay. Everything you buy at the hotel, like meals, snacks, and drinks are put on your room tab and settled upon leaving. We loved how friendly and knowledgeable the hosts were. Roger and Jerri were down-to-earth and respectful to every guest there. Upon arrival, we received a brief tour of the second floor where our room was located, including the shower and toilet rooms which were clean and up to standards. The third floor is off limits, due to the gradual collapsing of the hotel. Yes, the hotel is in its original state, which means there's peeling wallpaper, old-fashioned decor, crooked floorboards, and doors without locks, but we felt this added to the true western experience. Our room window could not be closed so we did hear travelers and guests talking outside and pulling up to the hotel in ATVs, but we didn't care. We were having a blast! I would not recommend this hotel to snobby, city folk who need modern amenities. This is for thrill seekers and adventurers who are laid back and relaxed, with an appreciation and respect for history. As far as this hotel being haunted, we did not feel any supernatural presence. There were a few guests who were psyched out before they even went to their rooms, so the dimly lit hallways added to their paranoia. This hotel is solar powered, with one outlet in the entire hotel, so don't come expecting to use electronics. It's a good idea to bring extra water and snacks for those in-between meals munchies. The dining room boasts a good-sized menu for breakfast and lunch, but dinners are by...

I called a week prior to arriving and made a reservation. I confirmed with them twice that my reservation was set and they assured me it was. They never mentioned needing a credit card over the phone, but when I called the day before arriving, they were rude and said they didn't remember talking to me and didn't have my reservation because I didn't give them a card. They did have an available room, so it ended up being fine.

I knew I was going to a very old hotel and I knew there was limited electricity. However, old or not, a certain amount of upkeep is necessary. I've stayed in many very old hotels before with good experiences. The floors are about to fall in, the wallpaper is all peeling off the walls, the linoleum is peeling up off the floors, the stairs feel like they are about to collapse (they warn you before you walk up them), the carpet is filthy, and the hotel generally is not very clean and is very junky looking. Also, nowhere to charge your phone so bring a good car charger or portable battery. The bed was comfortable and the sheets were clean.

Also, they offer family dinner, which you have to order a week in advance. That is fine. However, they only offered us vegetarian or shrimp, $23/plate for either. I cannot eat shellfish, and they would not offer an additional meat, even one week in advance. Additionally, they refused to let me heat up food or refrigerate food. There is no where else to eat in town, therefore, some accommodation would have been greatly appreciated. They do offer food until 4pm, not sure why they couldn't have just cooked a burger for us for supper. We took PB&J.

Lastly, they are simply not friendly. They don't greet you, they laugh and talk with others instead of checking you in, they never bother to speak to you. They don't act excited to have guests.

It's sad. The Idaho Hotel and Silver City could be super neat...but. right now, it's trashy and rundown. I'd skip. Visit Boise National...