BOWDEN — A central Alberta woman says her project to turn the old United Church into an Airbnb has been a great success.
Rhonda Morison, a semi-retired occupational health and safety official originally from Innisfail, bought the church late last year. She’s lived in Bowden for about three years, now.
The church, constructed in 1903, is located two blocks south of the post office.
Initially, Morison wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with it. She just knew she didn’t want to see it bought by someone else and torn down.
Then the idea of turning it into an Airbnb came to her.
“I love Airbnb’s. I travel the world. I’ve done a lot of travelling in my life through my career,” she said during an interview with the Albertan.
During the first three months of this year, Morison turned the church into the Airbnb, named A Room With A Pew, with the help of a carpenter friend.
Three suites were created, including a master suite with a loft. Suites 1 and 2 also feature a common room. A 560 square-foot deck was added on to the building as well.
An open house was held in April and its doors were officially opened in May. Shortly afterward, Morison obtained her first bookings and hasn’t looked back since then.
Morison was asked if she had any experience running an Airbnb.
“I have run a small boutique hotel in Costa Rica which gave me a bit of a passion for doing this work, but no,” she admitted.
The stained glass and several of the church’s approximately 20 pews were kept, as was the piano. The hardwood floors were refurbished.
It’s furnished with several pieces of antiqued furniture.
A railing along a staircase to the loft features rebar. Other unique features include bar stools and deck seating utilizing old tractor seats.
Some of the church’s original 20 pews were included in the building. Others were donated or sold. Still others remained in the basement.
“I love designing and I just knew what I wanted and he knew how to make it," Morison said. I like to repurpose as much as I can. And then I refinish.”
Morison chose the name for the business after holding a little contest among friends on Facebook.
“I probably had about 30 or 40 entries. And of them, this was the one that made me just about spit my coffee out, laughing. And it was like, ‘oh, this is the right name.’ I just knew it,” she said.
Morison was thrilled with the support she received from the town and Red Deer County.
She was also pleased with the support and interest she received from local residents when the open house was held.
“I had over 200 people come through,” she said. “The people around are so happy that this is getting refurbished and livened up and used again.”
Morison is especially pleased with the effect of the stained glass.
She noted that was one main design rule – there had to be stained glass in each suite.
“When the sun shines through and I have the crystal chandelier, it puts that rainbow hue all over the walls,” Morison said. “It’s beautiful; it’s just stunning when that happens. But it’s a certain time of the day.”
Morison was asked if she planned to turn that basement into suites as well.
“No, I don’t think so,” she said. “No, too much. This is plenty.”
Besides, she noted, there are rules around parking that must be provided.
