Wachters step back from Pullman Hilltop

Ron and Barb Wachter are taking a step back from the Hilltop, an inn and restaurant they’ve owned and operated for 39 years.

Instead of looking for a new manager or selling to a franchise, the Wachters decided to hire a team to manage the Hilltop. Of the six proposals they received, Coast matched their needs the closest. Owner Ron Wachter mentioned that good managers aren’t easy to come by, and he feels it is worthwhile to be a hotel managed by someone who can successfully manage several others.

Coast has been making some improvements to the property. With a $500,000 capital budget they are remodeling five themed suites into family room suites to better keep with current trends.

New signs and a new computer system are also among the upgrades.

Originally operated by Al Kircher, the Hilltop was once a 16 room motel with a 45 seat restaurant.

Ron remembers driving truck as a teenager and stopping at the Hilltop to eat. He came to the Palouse from Eugene, Ore., to manage a fertilizer company while in his 20s, after having ‘played banker’ and realizing he wasn’t fit to work under others. He has since left that original company, but continued in the field.

In 1979, the Wachters were attending a Cougar event and learned the motel was for sale. They put together a group of 10 people to get enough money together and bought the property. Over the years they eventually bought out their co-owners.

Barb Wachter was a school teacher who had subbed in Colfax, Colton, Pullman and Uniontown when the couple realized they would, or rather she would, have to run the business.

About 20 years ago they replaced the old rooms with 59 new rooms. Then the restaurant was closed for a time about three years ago when they tore down the old restaurant and built a new restaurant which can seat about 120 and remodeled those older rooms and added another 56. The Hilltop is now ‘about as modern as you can get,’ with amenities like wi-fi and hot breakfast. The Hilltop also has ‘the best view in town’ and great parking.

At the end of November a grand re-opening and open house will be held at what will be known as The Coast Hilltop.

The Wachters are looking forward to seeing a lot of old friends at the grand re-opening.

Now with the Hilltop being managed by Coast, a west coast hotel group, the Wachters can focus some of their attention on other pursuits.

Ron started his own fertilizer company in 1984, which was sold about five years ago. He is now building another.

“The most boring thing is doing nothing,” said Ron. They are also building storage units in Oregon.