Bright, clean, and newly renovated, Miniota Motor Inn is the place to stay when in the area. Marco Zhong and Michelle Loubert are the hospitable proprietors who took over ownership in 2015 from a Miniota family.
The family continues the motel’s traditional family ownership style, doing all the work themselves. However, they are finding they need to hire help, which they are looking to do. Michelle cooks up amazing Chinese fare along with other menu items for takeout only, at present.
We need help,” Michelle says. With Covid restrictions, they had to downsize. Now, with a roomy restaurant, they hope to once again serve eat-in and coffee customers.
“Now it just seems we’re busy,” - Michelle
When Zong and Loubert took over the Miniota Motel, they recognized they would need to renovate. They took advantage of being shut down by pandemic restrictions and in 2021, Marco undertook renovations himself, often working until 11 pm. Everything in the rooms is upgraded, including new beds.
Miniota is a tidy town with many homes upgraded, and nearly a dozen houses newly built over the last decade. In the 2021 census the town’s population had increased by 23.1 % to 282 people.
With wild game in abundance around the scenic valley, the motel has long been the sleep stop for hunters in the fall.
“Now it just seems we’re busy.” Michelle marvels, “From January, people already phone in to get their room,” she says of the fall run of hunters who come yearly.
The motel has also become popular for those who attend Miniota’s sports events and family get-togethers. “When people have weddings, socials … we have two [occasions] already booked for the family and friends to stay.”
The Zhong (and Loubert) couple originated in Guangdong (formerly Canton). This coastal province of southeast China borders Hong Kong and Macau. There, the rice noodle is popular says Michelle.
Miniota Motor Inn updated its large menu recently. “The end of last year we created a new menu. Combo E is very popular.” It feeds one person and includes an egg roll, five crispy coated shrimp, ginger beef and your choice of chicken fried rice or rice noodles, all for $16.
But the menu is large and includes many Chinese dishes as well as the ever-in-demand poutine, burgers, salads, the steak sandwich, fish and chips…
The Motel is located on Highway 83; 177 Miniota Rd. S. For food or lodging call 204-567-3776
