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(Anthony) ALL AROUND AMERICA,
THERE ARE HOTELS THAT ARE HURTING.
THEY'RE UNDERSTAFFED, MISMANAGED,
AND IN DESPERATE NEED OF A FACE-LIFT.
THAT'S WHERE I COME IN.
WHEN HOTELS ARE IN TROUBLE, THEY CALL ME.
BUT IN THE GOLD RUSH COUNTRY OF CALIFORNIA,
CAN I SAVE THIS FRONTIER HOTEL
BEFORE IT BECOMES A RELIC OF THE PAST?
CHECK IN RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS NUTS.
OH, IT WILL SAVE THE TOWN.
I HAVE SACRIFICED EVERYTHING.
THERE'S NO REASON FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO THIS HOTEL.
IT HAS NO REASON TO EXIST ANYMORE.
WHAT?
WAIT, THE HOTEL?
LOOK AT THIS, JUST CRAP EVERYWHERE.
I CAN GET PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER JUST FOR THIS COOL SPACE.
I HAVE TO SAY NO TO THIS.
(Anthony) THIS IS THE BIGGEST RENOVATION I HAVE EVER DONE.
I NEED YOUR HELP, TO COME TOGETHER
TO HELP HER SAVE YOUR HOTEL.
(cheering)
YES!
YOU SAVE THE HOTEL, YOU SAVE THE TOWN.
I'M ANTHONY MELCHIORRI,
AND AFTER 20 YEARS IN THE HOTEL BUSINESS,
THERE'S NO PROBLEM I CAN'T FIX.
I'VE TURNED AROUND
SOME OF THE MOST FAMOUS PROPERTIES IN AMERICA,
FROM BOUTIQUE HOTELS TO BIG CITY LANDMARKS.
I'M ON A MISSION,
AND I WON'T STOP UNTIL EVERY HOTEL YOU CHECK INTO
IS PERFECT.
♪♪
TODAY I'M HEADED TO HOTEL LEGER
IN CALAVERAS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
THE HOTEL IS NESTLED IN THE FOOTHILLS
OF THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS,
LESS THAN A 2-HOUR DRIVE FROM YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK.
IN THE MID-1800s,
THIS AREA WAS THE HEART OF CALIFORNIA'S GOLD RUSH COUNTRY.
TODAY, TOURISTS COME HERE
LOOKING FOR HISTORY AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURE.
THIS AREA OF CALIFORNIA IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
THE HOTEL LEGER
HAS 13 UNIQUE GUEST ROOMS,
A SALOON, A BILLIARDS ROOM, AND A POOL.
IT'S ONE OF THE OLDEST HOTELS IN CALIFORNIA.
ASHLEY CANTY PURCHASED THE HOTEL LEGER
IN 2004.
AFTER A BAD RECESSION
AND GROWING MAINTENANCE COSTS,
ASHLEY'S STRUGGLING TO RETURN THE HOTEL TO ITS FORMER GLORY.
IF I CAN'T HELP ASHLEY,
THIS HISTORIC HOTEL WILL TRULY BE A THING OF THE PAST.
I'VE INVESTED WELL OVER
A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND, PROBABLY, IN THIS HOTEL,
AND I STILL OWE MONEY TO THE ORIGINAL LENDER ON THE HOTEL.
IF WE'RE UNABLE TO TURN THE HOTEL AROUND,
WE WOULD HAVE TO CLOSE THE DOORS,
WHICH IS SOMETHING I REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO.
THE HOTEL LEGER IS SPECIAL.
IT HAS BEEN STANDING SINCE THE LATE 1800s,
AND IT WAS THE FIRST PLACE TO HAVE ELECTRICITY.
IT WAS THE FIRST PLACE TO HAVE TELEPHONES IN THE COUNTY,
AND IT'S ALWAYS KIND OF BEEN THE HEART OF THE TOWN.
THIS IS A CLASSIC GOLD RUSH TOWN.
GOLD WAS DISCOVERED NEARBY IN 1848,
AND WITHIN A FEW YEARS,
1/2 MILLION PEOPLE MIGRATED TO CALIFORNIA.
HUNDREDS OF HOTELS LIKE THE LEGER
SPRANG UP TO HOUSE THEM, BUT TODAY,
ONLY A FEW OF THOSE HOTELS STILL EXIST.
(Anthony) I JUST SAW TWO HORSES.
THAT IS COOL.
WELL, THIS REALLY FEELS LIKE I'M IN THE WILD WEST
IN THE MID-1800s.
WOW, LOOK AT THOSE DOORS.
THIS DOOR IS ONE OF THE COOLEST DOORS I'VE EVER SEEN ON A HOTEL.
LOOK HOW--
THIS DOOR IS SO HEAVY. THAT IS COOL.
I'M REALLY STARTING TO FEEL WILD WEST.
I THINK I'M OVERDRESSED.
SO THIS IS A SIGN TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE HOTEL.
IT'S A CALIFORNIA REGISTERED HISTORIC LANDMARK.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
IN 1851, A PROSPECTOR NAMED GEORGE LEGER
STARTED THE HOTEL IN A TENT, AND THEN MOVED IT
TO THIS OLD COURTHOUSE BUILDING A FEW YEARS LATER.
THIS IS THE FRONT DESK.
BUT I CAN'T CHECK IN.
MAYBE IT ISN'T THE FRONT DESK.
BUT I JUST LOVE THE WHOLE FEELING.
I DON'T LOVE THESE DEAD FLOWERS. THIS IS NOT GOOD PRESENTATION.
BUT OVERALL, THE TOWN, THE HORSES--
I'M REALLY STARTING TO DIG THIS HOTEL.
HEY, LADIES.
HI.
THAT'S MISS PENNY.
HI, MISS PENNY. YOU LIKE ME, DON'T YOU? I LIKE YOU, TOO.
I HAVE NEVER PULLED UP TO A HOTEL
AND GOT GREETED BY A BELLMAN THAT WAS A HORSE.
SHE'LL WALK IT UPSTAIRS FOR YOU.
OKAY. I HAVE TO GO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS HOTEL.
JUST RIGHT THROUGH THOSE DOORS.
YEAH.
THANK YOU. IT WAS A PLEASURE. BYE. SEE YOU LATER.
(indistinct conversations)
WHERE DO I CHECK IN?
WAY DOWN THERE.
THIS IS THE FRONT DESK?
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? WHERE DO I CHECK IN, ANYBODY?
RIGHT HERE. CHECKING IN?
I AM CHECKING-- I THINK I'M--
I'M FREAKING OUT, THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.
OKAY, LAST NAME ON THE ROOM?
REALLY, I CHECK IN HERE?
YEAH, YOU CHECK IN RIGHT HERE.
REALLY? SO IF I COME WITH MY FAMILY,
MY KIDS WOULD HAVE TO COME IN THE BAR?
THIS IS-- THIS IS NUTS.
I KNOW THAT OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF U.S. TRAVELERS SAY
THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AUTHENTIC HISTORICAL EXPERIENCES,
BUT CHECKING IN AT AN OLD BAR IS JUST CRAZY.
NO GUEST SHOULD HAVE TO FIGHT FOR A BARTENDER'S ATTENTION
JUST TO GET THEIR KEYS.
HAVING ALL THESE PEOPLE-- IS IT--THEY TURN OFF THE GUESTS?
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A PISSED OFF GUEST
YEAH.
IT DOES?
OKAY.
SO THIS IS JUST-- DOESN'T MAKE SENSE?
NO. JUST I DON'T THINK IT'S EFFICIENT.
ALL RIGHT. BUT I LOVE THE HISTORY.
I SEE IT SAYS "1851" UP THERE.
YES, THIS SPOT WAS ESTABLISHED AS A FRONTIER HOTEL,
AND IT'S ONE OF THE OLDEST HOTELS,
ONE OF THE OLDEST, LONGEST-RUNNING SALOONS
THAT'S COOL.
SO IN 1851, WERE THEY CHECKING IN AT THE FRONT DESK AT THE BAR?
I'M SURE THEY WERE.
SO I NEED TO CHECK OUT A ROOM.
ALL RIGHT, HERE'S YOUR KEY, ROOM 2.
I DO WANT YOU TO SHOW ME TO THE ROOM,
OKAY.
OKAY.
JUST POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
OKAY, YOU'RE JUST GONNA WANT TO GO RIGHT THROUGH HERE,
OKAY.
THE BARTENDER SEEMS NICE,
BUT THERE'S NO WAY HE CAN CHECK PEOPLE IN
AND SERVICE THIRSTY CUSTOMERS AT THE SAME TIME.
I'LL NEED TO DEAL WITH THIS.
BUT FIRST I WANT TO CHECK OUT A GUEST ROOM.
SO I'M GOING TO ROOM 2.
AFTER THE BARTENDER'S CHECKING ME IN,
I HOPE THIS ROOM IS NICE,
BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T NEED ANY MORE AGGRAVATION.
WOW.
I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS.
THIS ROOM IS BEAUTIFUL.
I JUST LOVE THE WAY, AS SOON AS I CAME INTO THIS ROOM,
THE OPEN--ALMOST LIKE A PRESIDENT WOULD STAY HERE.
TALL CEILINGS, BEAUTIFUL CHANDELIER,
ALL THE LIGHTS ARE WORKING.
I LOVE THIS COUCH.
JUST--IT'S PHENOMENAL. A LITTLE LUMPY.
IT'S NOT NEW. THIS IS AN ANTIQUE.
SMELLS A LITTLE HISTORIC, THOUGH.
BUT I LOVE THE WAY IT LOOKS,
AND I'M NOT OFFENDED BY IT.
I MAY BREAK MY OWN RULE.
I TYPICALLY DON'T LIKE BEDSPREADS,
BUT YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S NO STAINS ON IT.
IT'S LIGHT.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS HERE IN THE 1800s.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE BED.
THIS IS WHY I'M A HOTELIER. THESE ARE ROOMS--
I DON'T LIKE COOKIE-CUTTER ROOMS--
THESE ARE ROOMS THAT YOU HOPE YOU CAN ONE DAY DISCOVER.
SOMETHING DOESN'T ADD UP HERE.
THE ROOMS ARE REALLY NICE,
AND THE BAR DOWNSTAIRS IS PACKED.
HOW IS THIS HOTEL LOSING MONEY?
I'M GONNA GO BACK DOWNSTAIRS
TO SEE IF I CAN GATHER ANY INFORMATION THAT MIGHT HELP ME.
SO ARE YOU A GUEST HERE,
OR YOU'RE A RESIDENT OF THE TOWN?
I'M A RESIDENT OF CALAVERAS COUNTY.
OKAY, I MAY BE ON TO SOMETHING HERE.
AFTER TALKING TO A FEW MORE PEOPLE,
TWO THINGS ARE IMMEDIATELY CLEAR--
EVERYONE HERE IS LOCAL,
AND THEY ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PLACE.
ONLY HEARTBEAT.
BEFORE CELL PHONES, THIS IS WHERE YOU GOT YOUR MAIL.
THIS IS WHERE YOU GOT YOUR PHONE CALLS.
SANTA CLAUS WOULD COME HERE ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
THERE WAS A BIG CHRISTMAS TREE IN THE CENTER.
SO IT'S PRETTY SERIOUS THAT I HELP HER SAVE THIS HOTEL?
OH, ABSOLUTELY. IT WILL SAVE THE TOWN.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE HAPPENING.
THIS IS THE HUB. THIS IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF THIS TOWN.
SO IF I TOLD EVERYBODY IN THIS BAR RIGHT NOW
I'M CLOSING THE HOTEL NEXT WEEK, WHAT WOULD THEY SAY?
EVERYBODY WOULD BE VERY, VERY SAD.
THIS IS A BIG, HUGE FAMILY THAT WILL FALL APART.
I THINK I'VE FOUND THE PROBLEM.
THESE LOCALS ARE PACKING THE BAR,
BUT ARE NOT STAYING OVERNIGHT,
AND THE HOTEL BUSINESS IS BASED ON SELLING ROOMS,
NOT DRINKS.
IT'S THE NEXT MORNING,
AND THE FIRST THING I NEED TO DO
IS TALK WITH THE OWNER ASHLEY,
WHO SEEMS TO BE RUNNING A SALOON RATHER THAN A HOTEL.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
SURE.
SO I DID MEET SOME OF THE TOWN PEOPLE LAST NIGHT,
YES.
BUT-- FORGET ABOUT THE BAR--
WHO IS COMING TO THIS HOTEL?
THIS TOWN USED TO HAVE 15,000 PEOPLE.
500.
YEAH.
THERE WERE 109 STORES ON THIS STREET,
AND RIGHT NOW THERE'S ONLY THREE.
THERE WAS TEN HOTELS, AND NOW WE'RE THE ONLY HOTEL.
IN THE LATE '60s, THEY BYPASSED THE HIGHWAY,
SO THE HIGHWAY USED TO BE RIGHT OUT OUR FRONT DOOR.
THAT WAS WHEN IT CHANGED. IT WAS A BOOMING HOTEL TILL THEN.
YEAH.
MM-HMM.
HOLY HOPPING SNOT, BATMAN, WE GOT A PROBLEM.
THE MAJORITY OF TRAVELERS SAY THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THREE THINGS
WHEN CHOOSING A DESTINATION--
SHOPPING, RESTAURANTS, AND CONVENIENCE,
AND THIS TOWN HAS NONE OF THEM.
NO ONE'S DRIVING ALL THE WAY HERE TO STAY HERE.
PEOPLE GO TO HOTELS BECAUSE IT'S CONVENIENT
MM-HMM.
RIGHT.
HOW DID YOU COME TO OWN THIS HOTEL?
AS A CHILD, I GREW UP IN THIS HOTEL.
MY MOM HAD WORKED HERE WHEN I WAS YOUNG,
AND IT WAS HARD TO SEE IT
IN SUCH BAD TIMES.
WE'VE PUT SO MUCH IN.
I'VE SACRIFICED THOUSANDS OF HOURS
AND EVERY WEEKEND OF MY LIFE FROM 30 TO 37.
UM, I HAVE SACRIFICED EVERYTHING.
ABOUT $800,000.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE BEHIND WITH THE LENDER.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE HOTEL CLOSES?
IT HURTS THE TOWN.
UM, THIS TOWN DEPENDS ON THIS HOTEL.
EVERYBODY EATS HERE AND BRINGS THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
I MEAN, IT'S THE CENTER OF TOWN.
SO THIS ISN'T ABOUT YOU, AND IT'S NOT ABOUT THE HOTEL,
IT'S BIGGER THAN ME.
IN THIS TOWN, IF YOU SAVE THE HOTEL, YOU SAVE THE TOWN.
MAYBE ASHLEY IS CONFUSED,
BECAUSE I SAVE HOTELS, NOT ENTIRE TOWNS.
I NEVER SAY THIS,
BUT I'M NOT SURE IF I CAN MAKE THIS HOTEL PROFITABLE.
THERE'S NO REASON FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO THIS HOTEL,
SO IT'S GREAT THAT YOU HAVE A DREAM,
BUT YOU'RE BEING THE FALL GUY
FOR A TOWN AND FOR A HOTEL
THAT HAS NO REASON TO EXIST ANYMORE.
I HAVE TWO CHOICES--
HELP YOU SELL THE HOTEL, OR HELP YOU SAVE THE HOTEL.
I FEEL LIKE I'M ABOUT TO DIE,
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I CAN'T HELP YOU.
I KNOW WHAT MY INSTINCTS ARE TELLING ME RIGHT NOW.
SELL THE HOTEL.
LOOK AT THIS.
NOTHING IS MAINTAINED.
WITH JUST CRAP EVERYWHERE.
THIS ROOM COULD BE USED FOR A MILLION DIFFERENT PURPOSES.
WHAT?! ANTHONY, I'M NOT TELLING YOU I CAN'T DO IT
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PLEASE YOU.
(sighs)
I'M HERE IN CALAVERAS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA,
WHERE I'M TRYING TO SAVE THE HISTORIC HOTEL LEGER.
UNFORTUNATELY, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 24 HOURS,
AND I STILL DON'T HAVE A PLAN.
THE HOTEL IS NICE, BUT IT'S LOCATED
IN A SLEEPY AND REMOTE TOWN WITH LITTLE TOURISM.
FOR MAYBE THE FIRST TIME IN MY CAREER,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
EVERYTHING IN MY BUSINESS SENSE
IS TELLING ME, CLOSE THIS HOTEL.
SELL IT.
THERE'S NO REASON TO BE IN THIS HOTEL.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT A MARKETING PLAN,
THIS IS NOT ABOUT PUTTING SOMETHING IN THE PAPER,
THIS IS ABOUT--WHAT'S THE REASON TO COME HERE?
THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOME REASON
FOR PEOPLE TO WANT TO COME TO THIS HOTEL.
I JUST HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT,
AND I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GONNA FIGURE IT OUT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST HOTEL PROBLEMS I'VE EVER FACED,
BUT I REALLY WANT TO HELP ASHLEY AND THE TOWN,
SO I'M GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AROUND.
MAYBE I'M MISSING SOME GREAT AMENITY
THAT WILL ATTRACT GUESTS.
I MEAN, THIS IS A NICE POOL. THIS IS A NICE AREA,
BUT LOOK AT THIS. THIS ISN'T SOMEBODY THAT'S TRYING.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS--WATCH. YOU COME OVER HERE,
YOU PICK THIS UP, AND YOU MOVE IT OUT OF THE WAY.
I MEAN, IF THEY DON'T KNOW ENOUGH TO PICK THIS UP,
WHY AM I HERE?
THERE'S NO MONEY INVOLVED. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF LABOR.
THE POOL'S NOT CLEAN, IT'S NOT FILTERED.
LOOK AT THIS.
THIS BARBECUE HASN'T BEEN USED IN YEARS,
AND RIGHT NOW, THAT'S HOW IT'S BEING USED.
WE'RE PUTTING TILES ON IT.
AND I GUESS THIS IS THE MAINTENANCE AREA FOR THE POOL.
THIS ENTIRE AREA--IF I'M A GUEST, I'M SEEING THIS.
THIS IS DISGUSTING.
LOOK AT THESE BUCKETS-- EMPTY.
THIS MESS IS A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN.
CLEARLY THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT AT THIS HOTEL
IS FALLING DOWN ON THE JOB.
NOTHING IS MAINTAINED.
THE SHRUBBERY ISN'T MAINTAINED.
THE TREES AREN'T MAINTAINED.
NO ONE'S GONNA COME OUT HERE, SIT, HAVE TEA
OR HAVE A DRINK, AND LAY IN THE SUN.
IT'S DISGUSTING. THIS I CAN WORK WITH.
THIS IS AN AMENITY THAT CAN DRIVE BUSINESS.
THEY JUST NEED SOME TENDER LOVING CARE.
EVEN WITH THIS POOL AREA CLEANED UP,
IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAVE THIS HOTEL,
SO I HAVE TO KEEP LOOKING AROUND.
OH, ANOTHER SET OF THESE DOORS.
THIS IS RIGHT OFF THE POOL DECK.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S OPEN. IT SHOULDN'T BE OPEN,
UNLESS IT'S SOMETHING A GUEST SHOULD EXPERIENCE.
A GUEST SHOULDN'T EXPERIENCE THIS.
THIS LOOKS LIKE SOME KIND OF STORAGE ROOM,
BUT I JUST CAME--I'M A GUEST. I OPENED THE DOORS--
THOSE ARE COOL DOORS, I'M GONNA OPEN THEM--
AND LOOK WHAT I CAME INTO.
IT'S NOT SAFE TO BE IN HERE, AND IT JUST LOOKS LIKE CRAP.
THAT MEANS THAT'S HOW YOU RUN YOUR HOTEL.
SO IT'S--I MEAN, IT'S A CRAP HOLE.
LOOK. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME ANYBODY USED ANY OF THIS?
LOOK AT THIS.
LOOK AT THIS WIRE. WHY IS THIS HERE?
THIS JUST TELLS ME NOBODY CARES.
SO YOU HAVE THIS HISTORIC HOTEL
WITH THIS ROOM THAT SEEMS SIGNIFICANT
WITH JUST CRAP EVERYWHERE.
THIS ROOM COULD BE USED FOR A MILLION DIFFERENT PURPOSES,
A DUMPING GROUND SHOULDN'T BE ONE OF 'EM.
THIS IS ANOTHER SPACE THAT COULD ADD VALUE TO THE HOTEL
IF IT WAS JUST CLEANED UP.
I'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT,
BUT RIGHT NOW, I WANT TO ASK ASHLEY ABOUT THIS ROOM,
BECAUSE I THINK IT HAS SOME POTENTIAL.
THE ROOM OFF THE POOL...
WHAT IS THAT?
WHAT JAIL?
THAT WAS A JAIL THAT WAS USED IN, UH, 1855.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES
REALLY?
NOW WE'RE ON TO SOMETHING. AN OLD JAIL NEXT TO THAT POOL
COULD BE A VERY UNIQUE EVENT SPACE.
OKAY, BUT DON'T YOU SEE,
HAVING A JAIL IN MY HOTEL IS KIND OF COOL.
YEAH.
AND I KNOW THERE'S A JAIL,
'CAUSE NOTHING ELSE IS BRINGING ME TO THIS TOWN.
AN HOUR AGO, I WAS READY TO GIVE UP ON THIS HOTEL...
I KNOW WHAT MY INSTINCTS ARE TELLING ME RIGHT NOW.
BUT NOW I SEE IT HAS POTENTIAL.
THE POOL IS NICE,
AND THE OLD JAIL COULD BE A GREAT EVENT SPACE,
PLUS, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE HOTEL IS IMPORTANT TO THE TOWN.
THESE ARE THINGS I CAN WORK WITH.
YOU'VE PUT YOUR LIFE, YOUR MONEY,
YOUR ENERGY INTO THIS PLACE.
I OWE IT TO YOU TO GIVE IT THE BEST TRY, SO I'M IN.
SO I DON'T EVEN WANT TO CONSIDER SELLING IT,
CLOSING IT, OR GIVING IT BACK TO THE BANK.
YES, THANK YOU.
YES, THANK YOU.
YES.
NOW THE REAL WORK BEGINS.
THIS HOTEL NEEDS A FEW UPGRADES
BEFORE I CAN GET ANYONE TO STAY HERE.
FIRST OFF, I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE
IS EVER CHECKED IN BY A BARTENDER AGAIN...
THIS IS THE FRONT DESK?
THEN I NEED TO CLEAN UP THE POOL
AND TRANSFORM THE OLD JAIL SO BOTH CAN BE USED FOR EVENTS.
NOW I'VE CALLED IN MY DESIGNER BLANCHE GARCIA
AND NOW YOU GOTTA SEE THIS.
IT'S A BAR.
RIGHT. THAT IS THE FRONT DESK.
YES.
YESTERDAY, I WAS GREETED BY TWO HORSES IN FRONT OF THE BAR,
THERE WAS 50 PEOPLE HAVING DINNER AND DRINKING,
AND THE BARTENDER CHECKED ME INTO THE ROOM.
DO I EVEN HAVE TO TELL YOU WHY THAT'S WRONG?
NO. SO THERE'S NO LOBBY?
BINGO.
THAT'S A STAIRCASE.
THIS AREA IS PART OF THE HOTEL--
JUKEBOX, BILLIARD ROOM.
THIS SEEMS TO ME
TO BE THE LOBBY OF THE HOTEL,
NOT THE BILLIARD ROOM FOR THE BAR.
THIS WOULD FEEL LIKE YOUR NATURAL POINT OF ENTRY,
AND THEN IT WOULD BE NICE
IF I COULD OPEN THIS WALL UP SO IT'S ONE BIG AREA.
SOMEHOW WE CHECK IN, IF I'M A GUEST,
YOU'RE ABLE TO GO UP TO YOUR ROOM,
YOU COULD HANG OUT A LITTLE BIT.
SO WHAT DO YOU NEED AS FAR AS A FRONT DESK?
A SIMPLE FRONT DESK
WITH A REALLY NICE FEELING. IT SHOULDN'T FEEL LIKE THIS.
NOW I HAVE TO TAKE BLANCHE TO THE JAIL,
WHICH IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT PROJECT,
BUT I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS,
BECAUSE IT'S A REALLY, REALLY BIG JOB.
AND SINCE IT'S TAKEN ME ALMOST A DAY AND A HALF
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP THIS HOTEL,
BLANCHE IS GETTING A LATE START.
BEFORE WE GO IN HERE,
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS BEHIND THIS DOOR?
UH, IT LOOKS VERY MENACING RIGHT NOW.
MENACING. WHY?
HOLY CRAP.
UNH-UNH. NO, I DON'T WANT TO.
YOU LIKE IT?
IT'S A STORAGE ROOM?
YOU COULD CALL IT A STORAGE ROOM.
THE MORE IMPORTANT THING IS, WHAT ARE YOU CALLING IT?
I CALL IT A ROOM WITH ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.
THIS ROOM IS ACTUALLY A FUNCTIONING STORAGE ROOM,
MAINTENANCE ROOM, PAINTING ROOM,
THAT IS RIDICULOUS. IT'S DANGEROUS.
MATTER OF FACT, YOU'RE WEARING THE RIGHT SHOES, WHICH IS GOOD.
WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE TAKING ME HERE.
ARE THOSE STEEL TOES?
THIS ROOM IS HISTORIC.
BACK IN THE MID-1800s,
THIS ROOM USED TO BE USED AS THE JAIL.
ABOVE US WAS THE COURTHOUSE, AND THIS WAS THE JAIL.
I HAVE TO GIVE PEOPLE A DESTINATION.
THIS IS OFF THE POOL.
THAT IS A GREAT LOCATION FOR AN EVENT.
I WANT THIS TO BE AN EVENT ROOM.
WHAT?!
ANTHONY, WE HAVE OPEN WIRES.
THERE'S PIPING EVERYWHERE.
WE'RE MISSING ABOUT A FOOT AND 1/2 OFF THE FLOOR
THAT DROPS DOWN TO THE FOUNDATION--PAST THE FOUNDATION.
YOU HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT.
I CAN GET PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER CALIFORNIA
TO COME HERE JUST FOR THIS COOL SPACE
THAT I COULD DO SOME WINE TASTINGS IN,
DO--MAYBE GET A WEDDING OUT OF THIS SPACE.
ANTHONY, I'M NOT TELLING YOU I CAN'T DO IT
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PLEASE YOU,
I'M TELLING YOU--LOOK AT THIS SPACE. HAVE YOU SEEN THIS SPACE?
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH STUFF
GOES INTO GETTING THIS EVEN UP TO PAR?
BOTTOM LINE-- CAN YOU GET THIS DONE?
I HAVE TO SAY NO TO THIS.
SO BASICALLY YOU'RE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK?
RIGHT. I FEEL LIKE I'M ON A TREADMILL. IT JUST DOESN'T STOP.
SHE FEELS IF SHE LETS YOU DOWN,
SHE LET THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN DOWN.
SHE'S LOST SEVEN YEARS OF HER LIFE.
ARE YOU WILLING TO HELP ASHLEY SAVE THE HOTEL?
I'M HERE IN THE GOLD RUSH COUNTRY OF CALIFORNIA,
TRYING TO SAVE THE HISTORIC HOTEL LEGER.
YESTERDAY, I DIDN'T EVEN THINK THE HOTEL COULD BE SAVED.
NO ONE'S DRIVING ALL THE WAY TO THIS HOTEL.
IT HAS NO REASON TO EXIST ANYMORE.
BUT THEN I DID A LITTLE DIGGING
AND FOUND SOME HIDDEN AMENITIES
WITH THE POTENTIAL TO ATTRACT GUESTS.
NOW I'VE ASKED BLANCHE TO RENOVATE THE FRONT LOBBY
AND AN OLD JAIL SPACE, BUT SHE'S AFRAID
THAT THE TWO HUGE PROJECTS WON'T GET DONE ON TIME.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH STUFF
GOES INTO GETTING THIS EVEN UP TO PAR?
I HAVE TO SAY NO TO THIS.
DESPITE HER RESERVATIONS,
BLANCHE AND HER TEAM HAVE STARTED ON THE LOBBY,
BUT NOW I NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT ALL THE RENOVATIONS ARE MOVING FORWARD.
LOTS HAPPENING.
HEY. WHAT'S GOING ON?
WE HAVE A CUT-THROUGH HERE
THAT WE'RE PUTTING THROUGH THIS WALL.
GIVE ME THE UPDATE ON THE FRONT DESK WINDOW.
WE'RE GONNA PUT A HOLE THROUGH HERE.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE METAL DOORS THAT CLOSE FOR SECURITY.
THIS WALL IS ABOUT 2 1/2 FEET DEEP,
AND IT'S THE NATURAL SEPARATION
BETWEEN THE OLD COURTHOUSE AND THE HOTEL,
SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT STILL HAS TO HAPPEN HERE.
YEAH.
GIVE ME THE UPDATE ON THE BASEMENT, ON THE JAIL--
WHAT'S GOING ON? WHERE ARE WE?
UH, ABOUT-- UH, NOTHING.
THAT SPACE IS GONNA COMPLEMENT THE POOL AREA,
SO I'M THINKING
THAT IT'S NOT LIKE A NICE-TO-HAVE, IT'S A MUST-HAVE.
ARE WE GONNA GET IT DONE, YES OR NO?
I DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW.
IF I GET YOU MORE PEOPLE, CAN YOU DO IT?
IT WOULD LITERALLY TAKE A SMALL ARMY.
EVENTS AND MEETINGS COULD ACCOUNT FOR A THIRD
OF TOTAL REVENUE IN MANY HOTELS,
SO I REALLY NEED BLANCHE TO GET THIS PROJECT DONE.
BUT SHE'S GOING TO NEED HELP, AND LOTS OF IT,
AND FOR THAT, I THINK I KNOW JUST WHERE TO TURN.
SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, WHAT'S OCCURRED TO ME
IS PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN HAVE JUST AS SPECIAL A RELATIONSHIP
WITH THIS HOTEL AS YOU DO,
SO I WANT TO SPEAK TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT GREW UP
OKAY.
DO YOU THINK YOU CAN PUT AS MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE,
OUT OF THE 500 AND SO PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE,
ABSOLUTELY.
WHILE ASHLEY TRIES TO GATHER THE TOWN,
I NEED TO DEAL WITH THE MAINTENANCE ISSUES
AT THE POOL AND IN THE OLD JAIL.
I'VE LEARNED THAT THE HOTEL ACTUALLY HAS A GENERAL MANAGER,
SO I'M GOING TO MEET WITH HER TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
TELL ME ABOUT THE POOL.
WELL, THE POOL, WHEN I CAME AROUND,
WAS A LITTLE BIT WORSE THAN IT IS NOW.
THAT SEEMS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
IT SEEMS TO ME THE MAINTENANCE IS, LIKE, A BIG PROBLEM...
FOR YOU.
DO YOU HAVE A MAINTENANCE PERSON?
NO, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A PROFESSIONAL MAINTENANCE PERSON.
NO MAINTENANCE PERSON?
NO WONDER THE POOL AND THE JAIL ARE A DISASTER.
NO HOTEL CAN OPERATE WITHOUT A MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT, PERIOD.
THERE'S ALL KINDS OF ISSUES IN A 160-YEAR-OLD HOTEL,
ON TOP OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY
TO GET THE STAFF TO HELP YOU, AND THEN THE PHONES ARE RINGING,
AND I GOTTA DO THAT, AND THE--
THE FOOD FOR THE RESTAURANT COMES, AND I GOTTA CHECK IT IN.
SO IT'S NOT THAT THERE'S JUST NO MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT,
THERE'S NO STAFF.
HOW CAN A HOTEL FUNCTION WITHOUT A STAFF?
SO WE'RE CLOSED TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS.
YES.
THIS IS THE OTHER THING THAT,
I PERSONALLY WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE,
IS HAVING THE PLACE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
THE HOTEL IS CLOSED ON TUESDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS?
WAIT, THE HOTEL?
IF I'M IN THE ROOM ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY,
YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.
SO IF I HAVE AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM,
EXACTLY.
YEAH, THAT'S A PROBLEM.
(sighs)
SO EVEN WHEN THE HOTEL HAS GUESTS,
THEY'RE NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF PROPERLY,
AND THIS IS HURTING THE HOTEL. AND IT'S KILLING KIMBERLY.
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET TO WORK IN THE MORNING?
I'M HERE AT 6:30 IN THE MORNING STARTING COFFEE FOR GUESTS--
I DON'T LEAVE,
SO BASICALLY, YOU'RE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK?
RIGHT.
YOU HAVE ZERO SUPPORT.
I CAN SEE IT IN YOUR HEART
THAT YOU'RE EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS PLACE,
YEAH.
HONESTLY, I JUST--I FEEL LIKE I'M ON A TREADMILL
TO MAKE A PLACE BETTER,
BUT IT JUST DOESN'T STOP.
SO NOW I HAVE TO FIND STAFF,
WHICH IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE ONE OF THE MOST
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS I'VE EVER COME UP WITH,
BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO MONEY. BUT BEFORE I CAN WORK THAT OUT,
I HAVE TO MEET ASHLEY AT THE TOWN HALL.
YES, I THINK EVERYBODY IS WAITING.
APPARENTLY, SHE WAS ABLE TO WRANGLE A FEW PEOPLE
WITH THE HELP OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER STEVE WILENSKY.
HI. ANTHONY.
I WAS ASKED BY ASHLEY TO COME
AND TO HELP HER TURN AROUND THE HOTEL LEGER.
I FEEL LIKE I AM
IN 1850 TOWN HALL,
BECAUSE WHERE I COME FROM, I KNOW 10% OF THE TOWN
WOULDN'T COME TO SAVE MY BUSINESS.
IT'S MORE THAN A HOTEL FOR US.
IT'S PART OF OUR FAMILY AND PART OF OUR LIFE.
THAT'S WHY I'VE ASKED ASHLEY FOR EVERYONE TO GATHER HERE.
THIS HOTEL REALLY-- SHE MAY OWN IT,
SHE MAY HAVE THE DEED TO THE HOTEL,
BUT IT REALLY COMES-- IT'S REALLY YOUR HOTEL. RIGHT?
BUT THAT HOTEL IS NOT IN GREAT SHAPE.
THIS HOTEL COMES DOWN TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS ROOM
DECIDING TO HELP HER--
NOT SAVE HER HOTEL, BUT SAVE YOUR HOTEL.
AND I NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE IT LOOK PRISTINE.
I NEED PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER,
'CAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE TEAM TO DO IT.
SHE FEELS GUILTY.
SHE FEELS IF SHE LETS YOU DOWN,
SHE LET HER FAMILY DOWN, SHE LET THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN DOWN.
SHE'S LOST SEVEN YEARS OF HER LIFE,
TEN.
TEN. TEN. TEN YEARS OF HER LIFE.
I'M ASKING, BY A SHOW OF HANDS,
ARE YOU WILLING
TO HELP ASHLEY SAVE THE HOTEL?
YES.
I'M JUST GONNA TELL YOU, ANTHONY, I, UH--
I GREW UP IN THAT HOTEL. YOU KNOW, I, UH--
MY FIRST EVER GIRLFRIEND IN SIXTH GRADE,
HER PARENTS OWNED THAT HOTEL. I LOVE THAT HOTEL.
IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES IN MY LIFE.
I MAY NEED YOU.
AND I'LL HELP ASHLEY HOWEVER I CAN.
CAN YOU BE AT THE HOTEL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00?
SECOND QUESTION--
DID YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST KISS AT THAT HOTEL?
YOU KNOW, I THINK I DID, ACTUALLY.
IF YOU HAVE TRACTORS, BRING TRACTORS.
IF YOU HAVE DRILLS, BRING DRILLS--I DON'T KNOW.
SO CAN I COUNT ON YOU TO BE HERE TOMORROW AT 9:00.
YES? YES?
YES? YES?
YES!
(cheering)
I'M REALLY FEELING THE LOVE
THAT THIS TOWN HAS FOR THE HOTEL,
BUT I HOPE IT TRANSLATES INTO SOME SERIOUS,
MUCH-NEEDED ACTION TOMORROW MORNING.
IT'S ALREADY DAY 3 AT HOTEL LEGER
IN CALAVERAS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
I'M ATTEMPTING TO TURN A STRUGGLING HISTORIC PROPERTY
INTO A FIRST-CLASS DESTINATION HOTEL,
BUT I MAY HAVE BITTEN OFF MORE THAN I CAN CHEW,
WHICH IS WHY I'VE CALLED ON THE ENTIRE TOWN FOR HELP.
ARE YOU WILLING
TO HELP ASHLEY SAVE THE HOTEL?
NOW IT'S TIME TO SEE IF THEY'LL ACTUALLY SHOW UP.
HI, HOW ARE YOU THIS MORNING?
GOOD, GOOD.
YES.
I HOPE--I PRAY, I HOPE.
OKAY, GREAT.
LET'S GO!
(cheering)
YEAH.
WOW.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S MORE PEOPLE NOW
THAN THERE WAS LAST NIGHT.
(cheering)
GARDENER.
ARTIST--MURAL WORK.
CARPENTRY!
ALL RIGHT! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING YOUR TIME.
THIS IS COOL, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH ALL OF YOU,
SO I HAVE SOMEBODY THAT MAYBE CAN BE ABLE TO HARNESS
ALL THIS ENERGY, SO GIVE ME A MINUTE.
BY THE WAY, THIS IS MY DESIGNER BLANCHE.
(cheering)
I--THIS IS A LOT OF PEOPLE.
YOU SAID YOU NEED PEOPLE, I GOT PEOPLE.
OKAY, LET'S GO.
SO NOW WE GOT--OKAY.
OKAY, WE'RE READY TO MOVE INTO TEAMS,
WE'LL DIVIDE UP INTO THAT BY SKILLS AND INTEREST,
AND, UH, GET GOING ON THIS THING.
WE'VE GOT 48 HOURS TO GET THIS DONE FROM BEGINNING TO END.
(all) YEAH!
FANTASTIC. LET'S GO.
IN ALL MY YEARS IN THE HOTEL BUSINESS,
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
THE ENTIRE TOWN HAS COME HERE
TO HELP RENOVATE THE LOBBY AND JAIL, CLEAN UP THE POOL,
AND ADD SOME SHINE TO THIS HISTORIC GEM.
SO WE HAVE ART DEPARTMENTS.
WE HAVE CONSTRUCTION CREW, LANDSCAPING DEPARTMENTS,
AND THEN WE HAVE THE TRADES THAT ARE DROPPING OFF MATERIAL,
SO WE HAVE FURNITURE DELIVERIES AND CARPET PEOPLE, SO AS LONG--
IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE PERFECT STORM,
AS LONG AS I KEEP IT GOING ON MY LITTLE PUPPET STRINGS,
IT'LL WORK PERFECTLY. ONE THING FALLS OUT OF PLACE,
FORGET IT. ONE THING.
♪♪
I BELIEVE THIS MASSIVE RENOVATION
IS GOING TO PUT THE LEGER BACK ON THE MAP,
BUT BLANCHE JUST TOLD ME ABOUT AN OLD-TIME EMPLOYEE
THAT DOESN'T AGREE.
HI, YES.
HI. NICE TO MEET YOU.
YES.
SO AS I UNDERSTAND IT THROUGH MY DESIGNER,
YOU'RE NOT HAPPY THAT WE'RE TAKING THE POOL TABLES OUT?
I WAS--I WAS UPSET.
I HAVE BEEN HERE 26 YEARS AS MANAGEMENT PART,
AND EVERYTHING FROM HOUSEKEEPING TO LIVING HERE.
IT'S DIFFICULT FOR CHANGE.
HOW MUCH MONEY DO THOSE POOL TABLES GENERATE IN A MONTH?
OKAY, WHAT IS IT?
IT'S THE OVERFLOW FROM THE BAR. ON BUSY, BUSY NIGHTS,
OKAY.
OKAY.
YOU'RE STILL GONNA HAVE 400 SQUARE FEET THAT YOU CAN USE,
I'M JUST TAKING OUT THE POOL TABLE.
I'M JUST TOO OLD FOR CHANGE.
DEBBIE THINKS THAT REMOVING THE POOL TABLES IS BAD FOR BUSINESS,
BUT I AM DETERMINED TO CHANGE HER MIND.
AS THE BOOKKEEPER, SHE NEEDS TO SEE THAT A PROPER CHECK-IN AREA
WILL HELP THE OVERALL PROFITABILITY OF THE HOTEL,
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION LATER.
BECAUSE THE SUN IS SETTING
AND WORK ON THE LOBBY HAS BARELY BEGUN.
THERE'S PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. LOOK AT THIS. LOOK AT THIS.
THIS IS COOL. THEY'RE WORKING REALLY FAST.
I'VE HAD A LONG DAY, AND YOU HAVE A SLEDGEHAMMER,
AND IF YOU'RE GONNA KNOCK THAT WALL DOWN, I'D LIKE TO HELP.
WELL, COME TO THE OTHER SIDE,
BECAUSE WE STARTED MARKING OUR TERRITORY.
GONNA BREAK SOME (bleep).
OKAY, WEAR YOUR GOGGLES.
YEAH, SAFETY GLASSES RIGHT THERE. SAFETY FIRST.
YOU READY?
NO, NO, NO, DON'T GO CRAZY.
OKAY.
RIGHT? FEELS GREAT. GET IT! WHOO!
WHAT?
ARE WE ABLE TO GET IT DONE?
I THINK THAT THESE ARE THINGS THAT CAN HELP YOU.
IN MY HEART, I BELIEVE THAT.
THE WORK HAS JUST BEGUN.
I'M IN CALAVERAS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA,
TRYING TO SAVE THE HISTORIC HOTEL LEGER.
THIS IS BY FAR MY LARGEST RENOVATION YET,
SO LARGE THAT THE ENTIRE TOWN
HAS VOLUNTEERED TO HELP.
♪♪
BUT IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN A FANCY FACE-LIFT
TO TURN THIS HOTEL AROUND.
THE LEGER HAS SOME BIG PROBLEMS
THAT WILL REQUIRE ME
TO FIND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS.
KIMBERLY, WHAT DO YOU NEED MORE THAN ANYTHING?
HELP.
WE NEED GUESTS, BUT WE CAN'T HAVE GUESTS
MM-HMM.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU HAVE TOLD ME
THIS COMMUNITY WILL HELP YOU.
YOU KNOW WHAT A CO-OP IS, LIKE, A SUPERMARKET CO-OP,
WHEN PEOPLE COME TOGETHER AS COMMUNITY AND THEY HELP?
WHAT I'M SUGGESTING THAT WE DO
IS WE DO SOMETHING CALLED GEORGE'S TEAM,
AFTER THE ORIGINAL OWNER GEORGE LEGER,
YEAH.
THEY'RE VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE SCHEDULED
TO COME INTO THE HOTEL ON A CERTAIN DAY
TO HELP YOU. ON GEORGE'S TEAM,
YOU WILL GET DISCOUNTS. YOU--AND YOU'LL DECIDE.
IF SOMEBODY WORKS HERE FOR A WEEK A MONTH,
ARE YOU GONNA CHARGE 'EM FOR A ROOM
NO.
NO. SO YOU COME UP-- YOU, WRITE IT DOWN--
YOU COME UP WITH A SYSTEM OF WHAT AN HOUR A WEEK GETS YOU,
WHAT THREE DAYS A WEEK GETS YOU.
I'VE NEVER SUGGESTED A HOTEL SOLVE
THEIR MANPOWER PROBLEMS WITH A CO-OP.
THIS IS VERY OUT OF THE BOX,
BUT I THINK IT FITS THE SPIRIT OF THIS SPECIAL TOWN.
NOW I HAVE ANOTHER IDEA THAT CAN PUT THE LEGER OVER THE TOP.
ARE THERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE,
COMING TO THIS TOWN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY TO DO BUSINESS?
WHO ARE THE PEOPLE
COMING TO THIS HOTEL MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY?
THE LOCALS. I HAVE AN IDEA,
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WILL NOT ONLY HELP--
IT'S A PRETTY BIG IDEA.
THE HOTEL LEGER HISTORIC PRESERVATION SOCIETY.
OKAY.
YEAH.
THIS WAS INSPIRED BY THEIR LEVEL OF COMMITMENT.
THIS IS A MEMBERS ONLY CLUB,
AND BY BEING IN THIS CLUB,
MM-HMM.
YOU GET DINNER, YOU GET DRINKS,
MM-HMM.
IT'S UP TO YOU HOW YOU WANT TO ROLL IT OUT.
(all) YES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE PRIVILEGED TO BE A PART OF.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT THIS?
NUMBER ONE PRIORITY-- GETS CASH IN THE DOOR.
I THINK THAT THESE ARE THINGS THAT CAN HELP YOU.
IN MY HEART, I BELIEVE THAT. IT'S MY SUGGESTION,
BUT I BELIEVE IT WILL WORK, BECAUSE OF WHAT I'VE SEEN.
MM-HMM.
THIS IS AMAZING. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED
TO STAY TRUE TO THE BUILDING.
THAT'S--AND THE BUSINESS AND THE TOWN.
RIGHT, RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT MY TWO BIG IDEAS
WILL GIVE THE HOTEL THE STAFFING AND MONEY IT NEEDS
TO OPERATE PROPERLY.
NOW I WANT TO CHECK IN ON BLANCHE
AND SEE HOW RENOVATIONS TO THE JAIL ARE GOING.
THIS IS ABOUT AS MUCH WORK AS YOU CAN DO
ON A HOTEL AT ANY ONE GIVEN TIME.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
ALL RIGHT?
YEAH, 'CAUSE I WAS GONNA PUT IT THERE,
HEY, STEVE.
HEY, HOW YOU DOING?
THE FIRST THING I NOTICED IS THE CONCRETE.
I MEAN, IT'S IMPRESSIVE
JUST THAT YOU GOT ALL THE CRAP OUT OF HERE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF ELEMENTS COMING IN
TO KIND OF GIVE A NOD TO THE WHOLE JAIL ERA
THAT THIS WAS USED AS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
IT'S GONNA FEEL KIND OF CURRENT AND JUST A COOL SPACE THAT IF--
IF YOU'RE GONNA BE AROUND HERE AND YOU WANT TO HAVE AN EVENT,
I'M IMPRESSED.
IT'S BEYOND IMPRESSED. IT'S OVERWHELMING.
I KNOW IT'S THE DETAILS THAT, YOU KNOW,
YEAH.
SO NOW WE'RE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL.
ARE WE ABLE TO GET IT DONE?
IT'S MY LAST DAY HERE IN CALAVERAS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA,
WHERE I'M TRYING TO SAVE THE HOTEL LEGER.
LITERALLY, THE ENTIRE TOWN IS HELPING TO TRANSFORM
THIS STRUGGLING PROPERTY
INTO A DESTINATION HOTEL.
BUT AFTER ANOTHER FULL DAY OF WORK,
THE LOBBY, JAIL, POOL, AND EXTERIOR PAINTING
STILL NEED FINISHING TOUCHES,
SO I NEED TO FIND OUT FROM BLANCHE
WHEN I CAN SHOW THE RENOVATIONS TO ASHLEY.
HEY, HOW ARE YOU?
WE ARE--HOW FAR AWAY?
IN HERE, WE PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT 20 MINUTES.
WE'RE GONNA FINISH IT.
IT MAY BE A LITTLE LATER THAN WE NORMALLY REVEAL,
BUT WITH EVERYBODY'S HEART AND SOUL IN HERE,
IT WASN'T BECAUSE OF LACK OF TRYING.
WE HAVE NEVER LET A HOTEL OWNER DOWN,
WE'VE NEVER LET ANY PROJECT DOWN AND NOT FINISHED,
AND WE'RE NOT GONNA START TODAY.
SO WHAT DO WE DO? BECAUSE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO--
WELL, WE HAVE THE BASEMENT, THE NEW SOCIAL ROOM,
WHICH IS THE OLD JAIL CELL, READY.
YEAH, WE CAN REVEAL IT NOW.
YEAH, WHICH WILL SAVE US TIME,
SO IT'LL GIVE EVERYBODY HERE TIME TO FINISH ALL OF THIS.
YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB.
I'M GONNA LET YOU GET BACK TO WORK.
YEAH, THEY DID GREAT.
THANKS.
WHILE BLANCHE FINISHES UP IN THE LOBBY,
I WANT TO SHOW ASHLEY AND COMPANY HER NEW JAIL SPACE.
SO EXCITED.
THIS WAS ALWAYS ONE OF MY BIGGEST WISHES AND DREAMS--
MAKE USE OF THIS ACTUAL SQUARE FOOTAGE...
AND BECAUSE IT'S THE HISTORICAL JAIL,
AND WE NEVER COULD SHOW ANYONE ANYTHING,
I THINK IT'S SLIGHTLY IMPROVED.
IT'S...
HOLY COW.
OH, MY GOD.
(Kimberly) IT'S AN ACTUAL ROOM.
OH, MY GOD.
BLANCHE DID AN UNBELIEVABLE JOB.
NO, I LOVE IT.
DEBBIE, COME HERE. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
(Ashley) THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
WOW.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.
UM, I CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THIS WORK WAS DONE
IN JUST A FEW DAYS.
THIS ROOM HAS JUST ALWAYS BEEN STORAGE
AND A WORKSHOP
AND PILES OF LUMBER AND OLD DOORS
AND PAINT AND JUST--
IT WAS JUST HORRIBLE.
YEAH, THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
AND I THINK IT'S BOTHERED ME THE MOST,
'CAUSE IT IS SUCH A PLACE OF HISTORY,
AND WE COULD NEVER BRING ANYONE INTO IT.
I CAN PICTURE RECEPTIONS AND WINE TASTING PARTIES DOWN HERE.
(Anthony) BLANCHE WORKED REALLY, REALLY HARD
TO ENSURE THAT THIS FELT
LIKE A PLACE YOU WOULD HAVE A WINE PARTY.
LET'S GO UPSTAIRS AND SEE ANOTHER INCREDIBLE RENOVATION,
PERFECT.
AND HERE IS YOUR NEW LOBBY.
OH, MY GOD.
OH, MY GOD.
THE BILLIARD TABLES ARE GONE.
NO.
NO, NO, NO, NO, WE DO NOT WANT 'EM BACK.
LOOK AT THIS MURAL. THESE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE FROM THE TOWN,
WOW.
I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE WORK ON SUCH A BIG MURAL
IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
THERE WAS ONE WOMAN WORKING EIGHT HOURS A DAY
FOR FOUR DAYS IN A ROW,
DOING NOTHING BUT WASHING PAINTBRUSHES.
WOW.
AMAZING. IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL.
YEAH.
YEAH.
THIS IS PERFECT. IT'S LIKE IF YOU NEED A GUEST TO WAIT,
THEY HAVE A PLACE TO WAIT INSTEAD OF THE BAR.
LOOK AT THIS PIANO.
THIS PIANO WAS DONATED BY A GENTLEMAN NAMED RAY SMITH,
ON BEHALF OF DISABLED VETERANS OF VIETNAM,
AND BECAUSE OF HIS PHYSICAL CONDITION,
HE WASN'T HEALTHY ENOUGH TO CONTRIBUTE MANUAL LABOR,
WOW.
THAT'S VERY VERY COOL.
I'M GLAD THEY LIKE THE MURAL AND THE PIANO,
BUT NOW THERE'S ONE LAST THING TO SHOW THEM.
OH, MY GOD, DEBBIE...
OH, WOW.
COME HERE.
ARE WE READY?
(bell dings)
I LOVE IT.
THIS IS YOUR NEW WHAT-- WHAT IS THIS?
CHECK-IN WINDOW.
UNLESS YOU WANT TO, YOU KNOW, KEEP IT AT THE BAR.
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
YEAH.
IT JUST MAKES SENSE.
SO YOU LIKE IT?
I CAN'T BE MORE GRATEFUL TO BLANCHE
FOR WHAT SHE'S DONE TO THIS SPACE.
IT--FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER,
THIS IS AN ACTUAL HOTEL WHEN YOU WALK IN.
NOW THAT I'VE REVEALED THE NEW HOTEL LEGER
TO ASHLEY AND COMPANY,
IT'S TIME TO THANK THE PEOPLE WHO MADE IT ALL POSSIBLE.
(cheering)
(Ashley) HI!
AMAZING. AMAZING.
I ONLY WISH THAT I LIVED IN A TOWN LIKE THIS,
I GOTTA TELL YOU.
I COULDN'T WAIT ANOTHER MOMENT.
I HAD TO COME OUT HERE AND SAY THANK YOU.
WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT YOU.
I MEAN THAT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS CROWD, THIS TOWN, THIS COUNTY
CAME TOGETHER THE WAY THEY DID.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST, BY FAR,
RENOVATION AND REPOSITIONING
I HAVE EVER DONE IN MY CAREER.
ASHLEY, DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS?
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE
AND EVERYBODY WHO ADDED IN. YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING.
(cheering)
BLANCHE AND ANTHONY-- THEY BOTH WERE EXCEPTIONAL,
AND OUR STAFF IS ON BOARD WITH EVERY SUGGESTION ANTHONY MADE,
AND BLANCHE DID SUCH AN AMAZING JOB
RESPECTING THE BUILDING.
I THINK EVERYBODY'S THRILLED WITH ALL THE CHANGES.
WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED AT THIS HOTEL,
I THOUGHT I MET MY MATCH,
BUT THEN I REALIZED THE SPIRIT OF THIS TOWN.
THE TOWN HALL MEETING WAS SOMETHING
I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED IN MY LIFE.
THE CROWD'S IN THE STREET TO SAVE THIS HOTEL.
THEY CARE LIKE I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY CARE IN MY LIFE.
SO, YES, WE HELPED THEM, BUT THEY HELPED THEMSELVES,
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS COUNTRY IS ABOUT,
THAT'S WHAT THIS TOWN IS ABOUT,
AND NOW THIS HOTEL HAS A FUTURE.
♪♪
Closed Captions provided by Scripps Networks, LLC.
Captions by VITAC.