NEW ULM — A longtime New Ulm motel was significantly damaged in a Thursday fire, but its owner hopes that half of its 24 units can reopen soon.
The fire was reported just after 3 p.m. at the 71-year-old Colonial Inn, 1315 N. Broadway St.
“The current occupants have been moved to another hotel,” said owner Ash Goyal. “And nobody was injured, so I guess that was positive news.”
Goyal, noting that the motel has sprinklers and a no-smoking policy, is unsure what caused the fast-moving blaze.
“I think it spread to almost 12 units,” he said.
A barrier separates that half of the property from the other half, which has its own boiler and electrical system.
“So hopefully half can be open after the power is restored … and those occupants will be able to return once we have clearance,” Goyal said.
Along with being thankful that there were no injuries, Goyal expressed his gratitude to New Ulm Fire Chief Paul Macho and his firefighters for extinguishing the fire and for their kindness to the motel’s guests.
“He has been extremely helpful. We would like to thank him for his dedicated effort.”
Brown County tax records place the value of the property at $242,700 with the building representing $131,000 of the total. Located on New Ulm’s northwest side, the 1953 motel markets itself as a lower-priced option for people looking to be “seconds away from a smorgasbord of downtown attractions and located just behind the famous Brown County fairgrounds.”