Calumet Inn - Hotel Hell Update - Open or Closed?

In this Hotel Hell episode, Gordon Ramsay visits Calumet Inn in Pipestone, Minnesota.

Calumet Inn is a historic hotel owned by two sisters, Rina and Vanda Smrkovski.

Calumet Inn was built in 1887.

It was named after the Native American word for Peace pipe.

The hotel was bought for them by their father, Jim Smrkovski.

After working in the hotel for six weeks, Rina found the work a bit much.

She left for Minneapolis and did not return for 3 months.

While Rina was away, Vanda, her younger sister, was left to run the hotel.

She doesn't get up from the bed before 3pm.

Vanda believes that the staff are just there for the money.

Despite having zero hospitality experience, Vanda and Rina think they know best.

They have removed the general manager, Mandy Thompson, of all her management duties.

With the girls in charge and no guests coming in, things have rapidly gone downhill.

Their parents have been forced move into the hotel.

They work there with their daughters to help keep the hotel open.

Their mother, Rita works 7 days a week to help them out.

She misses her home back in Minneapolis.

Gordon arrives at the hotel and compares the hotel’s entrance to that of a prison.

The entrance passageway was also dark and empty.

Gordon gets to the deserted front desk and calls out for someone to help him.

Mandy sees Gordon and apologizes as it is just her in the hotel at that time.

He meets with Rina and Vanda and they reveal that they aren’t happy with Mandy’s work.

They claim she doesn’t work up to their standards.

This is why they delegated her to waiting and front desk duties.

Gordon is shown to one of the hotel rooms, which he was checked into.

In the room he finds a moldy refrigerator and a rail for a wardrobe.

Vanda says that she is responsible for the bookkeeping, the front desk and sometimes the dining room.

Rina says that she is still confused as to what her role is in the hotel.

The sisters reveal that they stayed one night before purchasing the hotel.

They Gordon to the room she stayed in, which she claims is her favorite.

The room was dirtier and worse than Gordon’s room.

The sisters claim that the unprofessionalism, rudeness and the consistent complaining of the staff is to blame.

Gordon decides to eat lunch at the hotel’s restaurant.

He meets Jocelyn, a waitress who has worked at the hotel for two years.

He is surprised by the huge menu and the fact that the hotel has only two chefs.

He orders the soup of the day and a fish dish.

Gordon notices Mandy running around.

She frustratingly explains that she is no longer the general manager.

She tells Gordon that Vanda is a sociopath and Rina is never at the hotel.

Gordon tastes the soup, it smells burnt, is disgusting and the fish is rock hard.

Gordon calls all the staff in to discuss what the problems at the hotel are.

The chef says she loved her job but now hates it as the owners make it hard for her.

Both Rina and Vanda get snappy claiming they aren’t getting paid.

They aren’t motivated to work because of the staff behavior.

Both Rina and Vanda threaten not to pay any of the staff.

On hearing of Gordon’s arrival, guests begin to check into the hotel.

They complain about the rooms, food, service and sparseness of staff.

Gordon finds Rina in floods of tears with her mother, Rita.

She explains that she runs away when things get tough.

Gordon speaks to Mandy who opens up about the situation of the failing hotel.

Gordon then calls all the staff together after the day’s work.

They say that the last time they had a meeting was when the sisters purchased the hotel.

Mandy says there is a lack of communication between the staff and the owners.

It is one of the reasons for the failure of the business.

The sisters tell Mandy, she's not committed.

She explodes about working 60 hours a week with two children, gets up and walks out.

Gordon tells them that it has been Mandy keeping the place open.

They need to step up as they don't deserve to own the hotel.

The next morning Gordon heads downstairs to go to the gym.

He is told to go down the street in his dressing gown as the historic hotel lacks a gym.

Gordon gathers some of the guests, who tell the owners that the room is run down and neglected.

There is one guest with allergies who says her room is caked in dust and she feels unwell.

Gordon visits Mandy and tells her that she is a good GM.

He asks if she had control would she come back.

She says she doesn’t know but will think about it.

Gordon visits Rita and compliments her cooking.

She claims cooks for them 7 days a week.

Rita hasn’t taken a break since she moved in to work with them.

Gordon calls in the Smrkovski family to talk to them.

They all say they do not wish to be in the hotel but that they feel they have to be.

He tells them to bring in someone to manage it or sell it or shut it down.

Gordon calls the staff together and the sister's reveal they are stepping back.

They are leaving the hotel and Mandy will be running the hotel.

The next day Gordon reveals the makeover.

The guest rooms are now bright, colorful and airy.

There are new mattresses, cushions, linen and bedding in every room and the rooms have proper wardrobes in.

Gordon reveals the new gym and new restaurant with recipes provided by Rita.

The staff try the new food and love the new dishes.

With rejuvenated energy, the staff are ready to welcome guests into the renovated hotel.

The sisters struggle to keep their nose out and start interfering.

Gordon has to step in and tells them to pack and get out.

A taxi arrives for Rina and Vanda.

Gordon gives them a goldfish to look after to show they can be responsible.

Vanda says she is going to go travelling and Rina cries again.

What Happened Next at Calumet Inn?

Trip Advisor reviews were mostly good since Gordon's visit but Yelp reviews are mostly negative, mostly after the hotel changed ownership.

It was posted on their Facebook Page that their revenue after appearing on the show had nearly doubled.

Rina and Vanda sold the hotel in June 2015 to Texan and are no longer the owners of Calumet Inn.

The hotel was briefly returned to the sisters, who then sold the hotel to Tammy Grubbs.

The hotel had fallen into a state of disrepair.

In March 2020, it was condemned by the city of Pipestone after a fire inspection found nine violations of the state’s fire code.

Work was completed and the Inn was uncondemned on April 30th 2020.

Owner Tammy Grubbs has made a number of claims against the city council over the treatment of the hotel.

Calumet Inn is closed.

They closed in May 2022 as a result of the earlier closure.

Their father Jim sadly passed away in February 2024.

Calumet Inn aired on August 18 2014, the episode was filmed in May 2013 and is Hotel Hell season 2 episode 5.

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