Hostel take over

imported
#1

hello all you kinderd spirits. i am considering moving to Franklin NC, i am getting work near there, and was wondering what people thought about the viability of me starting a hostel in town. i would model it as a cross breed of elmer’s/blueberry patch, it’s been a dream of mine for some time. do you think that there would be a niche for it, or do folks really like the microtel? please tell me your thoughts. miss janet, you would be terrific to hear from concerning start up hostels, ps i heard you have just about drove john boy out of buisness, :wink: thanks for all the thoughts.

the matt

#2

Well now that Rainbow Springs has been shut down, I’d say this area could certainly use a hostel. Could be a good opportunity. Franklin is a ways off the AT, but I think if you had a good thing going, the hikers would come. I didn’t go into Franklin (resupplied at RSC) but the biggest complaint from hikers was that things in town were too spread out. Offering shuttle service to PO, outfitter, grocery store, restraunts could be a very valuable service. Good luck!

A-Train

#3

The biggest thing was getting to town. franklin is a long way from town, and yeah it is spread out a fair bit. but we stayed in the motel which had a supermarket right across the road. i forget the name of it but its where everyone seems to stay… oh and that nice diner across the road too…

Bloody Cactus

#4

Rainbow Springs shut down? Again? If so that might be a pretty good hint as to the viability of a hostel in the Standing Indian area.

Gene

#5

ohh i remember franklin, what a lovely town.

giggler and wak-a-pac and I spent easter day there in 02 at the microtel, and at a wonderful easter dinner at the shoneys buffet. they even allowed us to set up our tents in the confrence room to dry out, as it wasnt being used. Plus, when i went to the post office, i met sean brysons mother ( he was a buffalo bill at the time), she works in the post office) was just a lovely town all over. i even think i sent my sisters birthday present home from that town. Anyway. not to take anything away from the town, but I thought part of the allure was hostels along the way. If you provided a well run establishment, you could do well but you may want to talk to some other people who run hostels to see what exactly is involved to be successful at it. But I certainly wish you the best of luck at it.

big boy

#6

Franklin, despite about a 10-mile hitch, gets a lot of hiker traffic even with Rainbow Springs open just before US64, and even without a hostel.

I should think with Rainbow Springs gone, Franklin would get even more hikers and a hostel there would probably do well. Not only would there likely be an overall increase in hikers going into Franklin, but no doubt some of those who would now go to a motel would go to a hostel instead to save $$ and be in a hiker environment.

Skyline

#7

I think you would do well in Franklin. I stayed there on 2000 and there were a lot of hikers wandering around. I liked the town.
Although it’s a little ways from the trail hitching in and out wasn’t a real problem for me.
Happy trails

Downunda

#8

i was hoping this thread was about a hostile take over. that would have been fun.

milo

#9

if you go to franklin stay at the haven motel. i forget the owners name but he is a great guy and would do more than you asked of him. i was there for two days and he told some great stories while he was driving us around.

Cory