The Story Behind Brooks Hotel: A Historic Wallace Stay Reimagined by Hand
A Family Legacy Reimagined in Wallace, Idaho
In the small mountain town of Wallace, Idaho, the Brooks Hotel carries a story that reaches well beyond its guest rooms. The 20-room property was acquired by Emily Nelson’s grandfather, Lance, in 1993, and decades later, Emily found herself taking on a challenge she never expected to become her life’s work.
What began in late 2019 as a decision to put a promising career as an intern architect on pause and take on the Brooks Hotel “just until it sells” became something much bigger. The property went through a difficult period, the COVID-19 pandemic arrived only months after she took over, and Emily responded by learning how to restore and rebuild the hotel herself.
Today, her approach is deeply hands-on, from finish carpentry and custom furniture to creating personalized recommendations for guests exploring Wallace.
The Brooks Hotel has been part of Emily’s family story for decades.
Her grandfather Lance acquired the property in 1993 after working as a miner. According to Emily, keeping the hotel operating was a constant struggle, with years of financial losses and repairs that often amounted to “duct tape, and dollar store fixes.” Eventually, the property was listed for sale but remained on the market for years.
When Emily first saw the condition of the hotel, she immediately recognized how substantial the project would be. The property had dated furnishings, worn carpeting, aging equipment and other signs of years of deferred maintenance. Even the 120-year-old roof was actively leaking.
Yet beneath all of that, she saw something worth saving.
It was a place her grandfather had helped raise her in, and she knew she would regret giving up on it.
From Architecture Intern to Hands-On Hotelier
Emily took over the Brooks Hotel at the end of 2019, intending initially to operate it only until it sold.
Then the pandemic changed everything.
Six months after she began, every reservation was canceled. The restaurant was restricted to takeout, the bar was closed and the property's apartments stopped paying rent. Emily was 23 years old and had no previous experience running a business.
Instead of walking away, she started learning.
She ripped out the dated restaurant carpet, learned drywalling and floor restoration, and worked twelve-hour days. Over time, she also began filming the renovation and sharing the story online. The response surprised her. People wanted to see the transformation and become part of the property's progression.
That experience ultimately helped Emily understand something important about the hotel: people weren't just interested in the finished product. They were interested in the story behind it.
Image Credit: Brooks Hotel
The Work Emily Still Keeps for Herself
Even as the hotel has evolved, Emily continues to personally handle some of the most hands-on work.
Finish carpentry and custom furniture builds are the tasks she refuses to hand off. She enjoys having her own touch in every room, using the work as an opportunity to be creative while ensuring the finished product meets her standards.
It's an approach that makes the Brooks Hotel's renovation more personal than a conventional hotel refurbishment. Emily isn't simply overseeing the work—she is physically involved in creating elements of the property herself.
A Hidden Floor With a Remarkable History
One of the Brooks Hotel's most intriguing stories is a part of the building most guests never see.
Although the hotel has 20 rooms, the building is only partially utilized. An entire second story—approximately 10,000 square feet—is currently gutted and unused, awaiting the time and investment needed for future development.
The space has an earlier history of its own.
The building was remodeled into the Brooks Hotel by Sam Brooks in the 1980s. Before that, the second floor served as mixed-use office space for mining companies and also housed a small medical center known as Hope Hospital. The space once featured 14-foot ceilings and large skylights used for medical purposes.
For now, the unfinished floor remains a fascinating piece of the hotel's past—and potentially part of its future.
Image Credit: Brooks Hotel
When a Guest Travels From Paris for Dante's Peak
Wallace has attracted visitors from around the world, and one guest in particular remains memorable for Emily.
He traveled all the way from Paris because of his love for Dante's Peak, the 1996 volcanic thriller filmed in Wallace.
Emily's family had been involved around the production and worked with the film crew and cast on several scenes. Her mother, Rachel, shared behind-the-scenes stories and photographs with the visitor, creating an immediate connection.
There was even a photograph involving Linda Hamilton—but with a humorous family connection: Emily notes that she was still in her mother's womb at the time.
The experience became an example of what Emily finds special about hospitality: people from dramatically different backgrounds can arrive in a small Idaho town and discover unexpected connections.
The Quiet Ritual After Guests Leave
When the hotel finally becomes quiet, Emily's first task isn't glamorous.
It's laundry.
She particularly enjoys folding the room towels, describing it as a favorite “mindless task” that allows her to rest her mind while still feeling productive. It also gives her quiet time to think about what's coming next, reflect on how the night went and consider what could be improved.
It's a surprisingly fitting ritual for someone whose role combines constant activity with an ongoing focus on improving the guest experience.
Image Credit: Brooks Hotel
What Running the Hotel Really Means
From the outside, operating a hotel in a destination like Wallace might look like a chance to enjoy other people's vacations.
Emily sees it differently.
She's constantly noticing what still needs attention: tables that haven't been cleared, beer supplies that are running low, food quality, plating techniques and bathroom cleanliness. At night, she's on call for late check-ins and on-site emergencies. During the day, she focuses on making sure guests are set up for a successful stay.
The personal nature of the experience is central to the work.
As Emily puts it, each guest's experience feels personal until the hotel can grow enough to afford—and trust—other people to take on some of those responsibilities.
Image Credit: Brooks Hotel
Yes, There Are Ghosts at Brooks Hotel—At Least According to Tradition
One of the Brooks Hotel's most charming traditions began with a flickering light.
Whenever a light flickers, Emily and her mother jokingly name one of the hotel's ghosts: Edith, Agnes or Jimothy.
When Emily and her mother are tired, they sometimes take a more sentimental approach, imagining that her grandfather Lance is signaling that it's time to wind down and get some rest.
It's an amusing tradition that also ties the hotel's present-day life back to its family history.
The Local Guide Guests Won't Find on a Brochure
Perhaps one of the most valuable things Emily provides isn't something that can be put into a hotel room.
It's her knowledge of Wallace.
Within 20 minutes of the Brooks Hotel, she can create a personalized weekend itinerary based on each guest's interests. That includes recommendations for the best food spots and what to order, tours that are worth seeing, trails appropriate for different experience levels and suggestions for how to spend the evening.
Her recommendations can include a secret speakeasy, historic architecture walks, dive bars and places to find something sweet.
For Emily, that's part of what distinguishes an independent property: guests can put the technology aside for a moment and get recommendations from someone who actually knows the town.
Image Credit: Brooks Hotel
A Hotel Built Around Connection
Ultimately, Emily hopes guests leave the Brooks Hotel with a very specific feeling.
“How charming! I don’t want to leave.”
She wants visitors to feel rejuvenated and reconnected—and ready to book another stay.
Repeat guests have already become part of the Brooks Hotel's story, including visitors who return for anniversaries, car-club gatherings and birthdays. Emily hopes the hotel can become a staple in the memories people make in Wallace.
And perhaps that's the most fitting description of the Brooks Hotel today: a historic Wallace property still being shaped by the people who care deeply about it, with its history, craftsmanship and personal hospitality all becoming part of the reason guests return.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brooks Hotel
Where is Brooks Hotel located?
Brooks Hotel is located in Wallace, Idaho, a small town that attracts visitors from around the world. Emily's recommendations for guests include historic architecture walks, local food and drink destinations, trails and other Wallace experiences.
How many rooms does Brooks Hotel have?
Brooks Hotel has 20 rooms, although the property is currently only partially utilized. An approximately 10,000-square-foot second story remains unused and has been gutted for potential future development.
What is the history of Brooks Hotel?
The building was remodeled into a hotel by Sam Brooks in the 1980s. Before that, its second floor included office space used by mining companies and a small medical center known as Hope Hospital. Emily's grandfather Lance acquired the hotel in 1993.
What makes Brooks Hotel unique?
Emily Nelson takes a hands-on approach to the property, including personally handling finish carpentry and custom furniture builds. She also creates personalized recommendations for guests based on their interests and knowledge of Wallace.
What can guests do near Brooks Hotel?
Emily creates personalized itineraries featuring Wallace's food spots, tours, trails, historic architecture walks, a secret speakeasy, dive bars and places to find sweet treats.
Does Brooks Hotel have a ghost tradition?
Yes. Emily says the hotel has a tradition of naming the ghosts whenever a light flickers, with names including Edith, Agnes and Jimothy. When she and her mother are tired, they sometimes imagine that her grandfather Lance is signaling that it is time to wind down for the evening.
What does Emily hope guests say after staying at Brooks Hotel?
She hopes guests leave saying, “How charming! I don’t want to leave.” She also hopes they feel rejuvenated and reconnected and want to return. Emily says the hotel now has many repeat customers who return for anniversaries, car-club gatherings and birthdays.
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