Last open to the public in 2004, the Minam Motel near the confluence of the Wallowa and Minam rivers at the western edge of Wallowa County on the north side of Highway 82 again will be open for business early this summer.

New owners Grant and Lottie Richie purchased the eight-unit motel in February from Minam Asylum LLC, of Portland, co-owned by Gabe Fleser, Will Fleser, and Scott Thurston.

For the past two years the Richies have leased the Minam Store building across the Wallowa River and west of the motel, and now plan to merge the Minam Store with the Minam Motel.

Todd Honeywell, park manager of Oregon State Parks Wallowa Lake Management Unit that includes Wallowa Lake State Park and the Minam State Park, says the recent history regarding the Minam Store is complex.

About two years ago, says Honeywell, former Minam Store owner Jim Horn sold about two acres of land there plus the market to Western Rivers Conservancy, a nonprofit organization from Portland.

Oregon State Parks had an interest in buying the property and store because State Parks owns land all around the site, but was unable to reach a sales agreement with Horn. Hence, Western Rivers purchased the property with the intent of selling it to Oregon State Parks, which it did one year ago.

Under the original agreement, the Richies own the Minam Store business and the store name, but have leased the building for the past two years from two different landlords.

Honeywell understands Grant and Lottie Richies decision to purchase the Minam Motel and move the store there because State Parks cannot guarantee that such a lease agreement can be in existence for more than four or five years, he said.

Lottie Richie said two garages on motel property have been converted into a retail space and its from that location that the market will operate.

Under the new arrangement that soon will go into effect, rafts to float down the Wallowa River will be able to launch from either the east or west bank. The west bank would be on State Parks property and the east bank on property owned by the Richies and likely be limited to those who rent rafts from the Minam Store.

Rafting season from May until early August likely will be peak occupancy season at the Minam Motel, says Lottie Richie, although the couple hopes to attract seasonal steelhead fishermen as well.

Honeywell says meetings already are being held to determine the future of the former Minam Store building, still owned by Oregon State Parks. Options under consideration, he says, include putting the structure up for bid, having State Parks operate a business there, or tearing the building down.