July 03, 2012--There is room at the inn.

A 44-room hotel opened in Killdeer on June 22, and officials said it's just what the Dunn County city needed in the midst of growth caused by the oil boom.

"It's something that should have been there a couple years ago already, with the influx of people that we've had in town," City Commission President Dan Dolechek said.

Cobblestone Hotel and Suites, which features three whirlpool suites, 16 king rooms and 25 double queens, is a larger hotel for a town of less than 1,000 (Killdeer clocked in at 751 residents during the 2010 census) but Cobblestone specializes in smaller towns, Project Coordinator Alexander Samardzich said. All of the rooms have a mini fridge, microwave and coffee pot.

A hotel of this size coming to Killdeer is exciting, Manager Debbie Carter said, adding her hometown of Libby, Mont., isn't much bigger and that she prefers life in a small town after living in bigger cities like Spokane, Wash.

It is the third hotel the company has opened in North

Dakota, he said. Carrington and Langdon boast the other locations in the state.

"Cobblestone just fits perfectly into communities like Killdeer," Samardzich said.

Construction began Jan. 26 and crews were able to work through due to a mild winter, Samardzich said.

"It was pretty amazing how quick it went up, I guess," Dolechek said.

Anytime oil is concerned, there are risks involved, Samardzich said.

"I think this time around the oil is here to stay for quite some time" he said. "If it doesn't there's still a need for lodging in the area."

The hotel won't only accommodate oil workers and executives, but all sorts of community needs such as graduations, weddings and funerals, Samardzich said.

"The community really needs something like this," Carter said.

There is a pool room, meeting room, fitness room, guest laundry, full bar and extended breakfast, Samardzich said.

The Killdeer Cobblestone was at 46 percent occupancy Monday, 10 days after starting to take reservations, she said. Full occupancy is expected before the end of summer.

Cobblestone began a few years ago in Wisconsin, Samardzich said.

There are Cobblestone and sister hotel, Boulders Inn & Suites, locations in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Wisconsin, according to its website.

The Killdeer location is the latest opening, according to the Cobblestone website.

"We're anxious for a full

opening," Samardzich said. "We're anxious to get into it full swing."

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