Many regulars like to kick back their feet and relax at the Craven Motor Inn, while also indulging in the many specials they have at the tavern.
Opening in the late 1960’s the Motor Inn has been loved by many and a temporary home for travellers year round.
“The Craven Motor Inn was built in ‘68 or ‘69, I’m not sure who built it but it’s been doing great ever since,” said Mardell Taylor over a phone call.
Taylor has been working at the Motor Inn since 1991 and considers the many regulars she sees daily like family.
“Working in a small town is good, everyone that comes in is like family. We have residents that stay in the hotel rooms every year during Country Thunder”
“The people that come in make my job worth it, like I said everyone is like family. Getting done work is definitely high on my list of my favourite things” Said Taylor
Even with working in a village with around 250 people living in it, the Inn stays busy. Especially when Country Thunder is on.
“We have the same people staying in the hotel when Country Thunder comes, they have their hotel rooms already booked for when it comes next year, said Taylor
“When Rock In The Valley was around we didn’t get nearly as many people staying. Within 24 hours of Country Thunder being announced that it was coming back our regulars were already calling in asking if they could have their rooms for the next year.”
Country Thunder brings in many new interesting people according to Taylor. The Motor Inn really thrives during that time of year.
The Motor Inn Tavern not only offers a place to rest your head, customers that are like family, the VLTs, but fun novelties like the ‘You Cook Steak Pit’,
The steak pit is exactly what it sounds like. Customers come in with family and friends, sit down at one of the many cooking pits they have out back and cook steak.
“The you cook steak pit we have does very well, almost everyone from town comes in for it. It’s a novelty now, you don’t really hear of many bars, even small town bars doing that anymore. It’s like a tradition for us.
The Tavern offers new lunch specials every week, including fundraisers.
“We just recently held a fundraiser for the Silton dance community and we had I believe just over 80 people attend. Everyone in our community is always willing to help out even if it’s not in Craven,” said Taylor
Craven is a very welcoming community according to Taylor. She would recommend living and even working in a small community to anyone from the city. Taylor says the quiet life out in Craven and the entire community make everyday worth it.
