Doubletree wants river enthusiasm to flow

The Sheraton- Spokane Hotel crowned the new Opera House and Convention Center when developers built the 15-story structure in 1974. A brochure from that year said the hotel would provide guests a “Playtime in a year ‘round woods and water paradise.”

They were so captivated they walled off most of the hotel’s Spokane River frontage with a truck loading dock.

An appalled Dean Feldmeier, the general manager of what is now the Doubletree Hotel Spokane, has plans to reintroduce the hotel and river. And, as president of the Spokane Hotel-Motel Association, says he wants that organization to explore how it might join the renewed surge of community enthusiasm for its waterfront.

“That river is a huge asset,” says Feldmeier, joining a chorus that includes backers of the University District just upstream from the Doubletree, and promoters of downstream whitewater parks.

There may be a bit of irony in the fact the brochure rack in the Doubletree lobby contains several promoting recreation on rivers in Idaho and Montana while the Spokane flows by just yards away.

Not that the Doubletree is alone on the downtown riverbank. The Courtyard by Marriott, Oxford Suites and two Red Lions — Inn at the Park and River Inn — share the waterscape, as well. But, unlike the Doubletree, they at least kept tractor-trailers out of the scenery.

“Totally unacceptable,” says Feldmeier of his obnoxious truck stop.

The Doubletree is using construction of the new Convention Center Exhibit Hall on its east side to rethink the way guests can enjoy the river, he says. “We want to show off one of the best features we have, the river and the Centennial Trail.”

For the last 30 years, only some patrons of Spencer’s Restaurant had a ground-level view of the river. Even the old free-standing indoor pool was screened off by a fence. If a guest wanted access to the waterfront, they had to walk around the hotel.

“You almost could not get to the river,” Feldmeier says.

The fence and pool have been replaced by a temporary parking lot that will eventually give way to a new pool and landscaped, multi-tiered deck that will incorporate a fire pit and spa. Feldmeier envisions guests around the hearth watching the sun set. Gates will provide access to the Centennial Trail.

How to replace the pool was one of the biggest questions. Although indoor pools can be used year-round, Feldmeier says a larger outdoor pool open to the deck, river and afternoon sun would be a better tradeoff.

“I think it will be a home run,” he says.

The exact configuration has not been determined, nor has the budget. Feldmeier says some of the costs will be paid by the exhibit hall contractor.

A walkway connecting the convention center and exhibit hall will pass over the deck area, but Feldmeier says the elevation — about 15 feet above the ground — should minimize the loss of views from the deck as well as those for guests in rooms on the lower floors.

The loading dock will not be moved, but at least it will not remain the hotel’s waterfront centerpiece.

Feldmeier says the makeover should be finished in 2007. “I wish we could get it done right now.”

Meanwhile, he has begun discussing with Hotel-Motel Association members how they might become more involved with the river.

“We’re not fully engaged,” he told a business breakfast organized by the Lands Council, the area environmental group that hopes to bring more people to the river, and a cleaner river to the people.

“We take for granted there aren’t rusted cars in the river,” Feldmeier says.

Oh, and that old Sheraton-Spokane brochure? It does have a somewhat familiar ring to it:

“For your next meeting, or your next westering adventure, at last there’s something different — standing tall in this unspoiled, uncrowded discovery-region of America’s evergreen Inland Pacific Northwest.”

Boil that down — westering? — you get “Near Nature, Near Perfect” circa 1974.