One buyer at the Black Knight Inn auction hopes to keep the spirit of JB’s Lounge alive.
Buyers started picking up items late last week that they had purchased from the Black Knight Inn – an online auction was recently held to sell off the contents of the hotel that is scheduled for demolition.
Robin Martel, co-owner of Canyon Ski Resort, was at the hotel Friday picking up silverware and other items used in JB’s Lounge, which was located inside the hotel, that they bought during the auction.
“We’re grabbing some kitchen stuff, some tables, some chairs,” said Martel.
“We’ve got a satellite auxiliary food and beverage area going up at the top of the hill this year to kind of spread the people out. We’re getting some more stuff to stock a trailer up there that’s a full service kitchen.”
The Black Knight Inn went into receivership six months into the pandemic and is being purchased by investors who have plans to demolish the eight-storey structure by next spring.
READ MORE: Red Deer’s Black Knight Inn will be torn down for re-development, say investors
Martel said the auction was an opportunity for Canyon to get a good deal, but “more importantly, we’re keeping the Black Knight Inn alive hopefully and moving it to another iconic location at Canyon.”
Rolf Amann, site manager at Camp Evergreen near Sundre, and his team were packing a trailer with several bedroom items on Friday.
“We have a lot of buildings, a lot of facilities – cabins and whatnot,” he said.
“We have guest groups that come in and youth groups. We have lots of rooms but not a huge amount of furniture, so this was an opportunity to get some furniture.”
The prices during the auction were “great,” Amann added.
“A lot of this stuff we’re getting for a really good value. It’s not terribly expensive,” he said.
“Our executive director was able to get four bedroom suites, so that’s the beds, nightstands, tables, chairs and so on. A juice maker too. There was more that we bid on, but only so many people can get stuff.”
Evan Carr, Bowden Hi-way Golf Course general manager, was picking up 50 chairs and 12 tables on Friday.
“We’re getting new tables and chairs for our restaurant. One of our board members had mentioned this and we thought, ‘Why not?’ It’s a good opportunity, there are good deals,” Carr said, adding the moving process went well.
“They’ve got good organization in there. Everyone knows where everything was for us to get.”