A 1961 Travelodge transformed into a 39-room boutique hotel in Boise's Linen District, featuring mid-century design, Basque heritage, and a lively courtyard bar.
The Modern Hotel and Bar stands at the corner of Grove and 14th Streets in Boise's historic Linen District, occupying a former 1961 Travelodge motel that was brilliantly reimagined in 2007. The property carries a deep familial legacy, named in honor of a 1936 Basque boarding house opened in Nampa, Idaho, by Regina Echevarria, the grandmother of co-owner Elizabeth Tullis. Tullis and her brother Robert partnered with local architect Dwaine Carver and interior designer Kerry Tullis to transform the mid-century motor lodge into a chic, 39-room design destination. Rather than erasing the building's International Style bones, Carver preserved the classic two-story, exterior-corridor layout while introducing contemporary elements like climbing vines on metal trellises, geometric cutout patterns along the facade, and vibrant murals.
Inside, the guest rooms trade standard motel layouts for a minimalist, mid-century aesthetic defined by custom teak furnishings, George Nelson bubble lamps, and rich wooden accents. The 39 rooms and suites are individually styled, featuring walk-in glass-enclosed rain showers, William Roam bath products, and, in select studios, deep Japanese soaking tubs. Modern conveniences are integrated with playful, retro touches: instead of standard cable, the in-room televisions broadcast a curated loop of independent short films. For a sensory surprise, the public restrooms in the lobby feature a working record player stocked with a selection of 45 rpm vinyl singles for guests to play.
The social heart of the property is the Modern Bar and Restaurant, a lively neighborhood hub where culinary talent has shaped a menu of seasonal, Basque-influenced small plates and classic cocktails. The indoor dining space is anchored by a sleek, low-lit bar, but the experience flows naturally into the central courtyard. Here, the motel's original, long-defunct swimming pool was filled in and creatively repurposed into stone fire pits. Under string lights and the Idaho sky, this outdoor living room serves as a gathering space where locals and guests mingle, and where the hotel hosts its signature Campfire Stories storytelling series and live music performances.
Order a classic cocktail at the bar and head out to the courtyard fire pits, which were creatively built inside the motel's original, filled-in swimming pool.
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