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Gold Hill�s landmark hotel gets a facelift Mail Tribune / Drew Fleming Bartender Jennifer Leonhardi walks through the newly remodeled Miner�s Roost bar in Gold Hill, formerly known as The Gold Hill Hotel for more than 100 years. Owners Anna and Pete Arnold changed the name to end some visitors� confusion � the place hasn�t rented rooms for 20 years. By Buffy Pollock GOLD HILL � The Gold Hill Hotel, one of the valley�s oldest landmarks, officially became The Miner�s Roost when owners Pete and Anna Arnold changed the building�s name for the second time in its 113-year history. The name change was something of a necessity since the "hotel" hasn�t rented rooms for 20 years. But the name wasn�t the only thing the owners changed. After more than a century of welcoming guests with blackjack, brew and "homestyle cooking," the century-old hangout now sports a slightly different atmosphere than in years past � complete with new exterior, a brighter decor and Mexican food from the popular Guadalajara�s eatery. Lupe and Miguel Castro, owners of the Guadalajara chain, opened their third location inside the hotel Jan. 2. The restaurant area was recently refurbished with brighter walls, new carpet, lighting and ionizers to reduce smoke and odors. Anna Arnold said she wanted to "brighten-up the place." Lupe Castro said the remodeling made opening the new location appealing. "They were very cooperative and were remodeling the place so we were able to redo the restaurant part to suit us," he said. The tavern and social gaming area will stay the same, but offering "good Mexican food right next door" is a welcome addition, Arnold said. Castro said their new location was beneficial to the hotel and restaurant. "They needed a little more traffic for the bar and we have a good following. We�ve gotten a lot of good feedback from people that are glad we�re in Gold Hill," he said. But leasing the restaurant was just one of many improvements. The hotel�s owners began remodeling the building�s exterior in September. Even though the couple has spent "the last 20 years on the inside," improvements to the building were long overdue, Arnold said. "It was time to do the outside," she said. With one early exception, the hotel�s previous 41 owners made no improvements to the building, which still had its original siding when Pete Arnold purchased it in 1979 � 10 years after leaving his job as a casino pit boss in the Caribbean. He met Anna when she applied for a waitress job, and the couple soon married. A.J. Barlow, a section foreman for the Oregon and California Railroad at Gold Hill, built the hotel in 1887 and added an expansion for a bar area two years later, the only known changes to the inside. The hotel was known as "The Barlow House" until Oscar Swacker purchased it in 1895 and renamed it The Gold Hill Hotel, which it remained until last month. Anna said the recent name change was needed because of the number of calls and walk-ins the "hotel" received for rooms. None have been rented since 1980, when the upstairs was remodeled into a living area. When it came to redoing the outside, Pete Arnold said beautification was a plus, but safety was the main reason for the changes. The building had not been built with cross-bracing, and sheer panels were added for strength. "If we�d had an earthquake, it would�ve folded up like an accordion. It�s been sitting here 100 years," said Pete Arnold. Aside from reinforcing the structure, the building got a facelift with new windows, a new front door, awnings in place of verandas and new siding. An identical style of siding was used so the building�s look didn�t change. "We didn�t want to lose the atmosphere of being an old hotel," he said. New siding will be hand painted in light yellow, dark green, wine and gold. Anna Arnold said she chose four colors to keep with the hotel�s "Italianate and Victorian style." When researching paint styles, she also asked for community input. "I asked the people because it�s part of their community. It�s been here their entire life. It�s a landmark." Arnold said the contractor, Russ Baker Construction, will complete the work sometime next month � hopefully in time for Guadalajara�s grand opening on Valentine�s Day. Guadalajara�s is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. The bar is open weekdays from noon to 2 a.m., and on weekends from 4 p.m. to 2.a.m. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.