A small-town couple turned a struggling Minnesota motel into a safe haven—where most guests say they’d have nowhere else to go. 🌐 #News #StPaulMN #Minnesota #UpliftingNews
ST. PAUL, MN — What began as a typical motel acquisition in 2018 has evolved into a lifeline for many facing housing insecurity in rural Minnesota. Seven years ago, Rick and Kelly Bestul took ownership of the King Motel, situated along State Highway 7 on Hutchinson’s west side. Initially intended to serve short-term travelers, the motel has since shifted toward a higher purpose as housing struggles in the region became harder to ignore.
From Roadside Inn to Refuge
Though officials in Minneapolis have reported a decline in homelessness across the city, the Bestuls noticed an opposite trend in their own community. As temporary guests began requesting longer stays, it became clear that these individuals weren’t just travelers—they were people with nowhere else to go.
Kelly Bestul shared that during summer months, some unhoused individuals resorted to tent living. But when cold weather arrived, the motel became their only viable option for shelter.
A Pandemic-Inspired Pivot
The couple’s awareness sharpened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they observed other hospitality properties reimagining their rooms as transitional housing. Inspired by those models, the Bestuls began restructuring both of their properties—King Motel and the more recently upgraded Queen’s Inn—into extended-stay shelters…