Prince Albert Historical Society
When I gave my recent talk on the historical hotels of Prince Albert, some of those in attendance were disappointed that I did not mention the Flamingo Motel. In my mind, that motel did not meet the criteria as an historic hotel.
My first home when I was a child was in the 2100 block of 2nd Avenue West. One evening, when I was likely about six years old, my father needed to buy cigarettes. He asked me to join him on his walk to the Flamingo Motel. At that time, the motel was on the outskirts of the city, and it seemed to my young legs to be an awfully long walk just to buy cigarettes. Given that the motel was located in the 2600 block of 2nd Avenue West, where the Co-op Gas Bar (2655 – 2nd Avenue West) and the South Hill Medical Clinic (2685 – 2nd Avenue West) currently are located, it really wasn’t that far.
Frank Webb was the first owner of the Flamingo. It is believed that he came from Melfort, where he had built and operated the drive-in movie theatre. The motel was officially opened on Saturday, September 18th, 1954. This was a time in North America when the economy was showing improvement after the depression years of the 1930s and the war years of the early to mid-1940s. Vehicles were much improved, roads were much easier to travel, and family vacations to the northern lakes of Saskatchewan were popular. In addition, both the provincial and federal governments were making efforts to open the northland to development.
The motel was conveniently located at the southern city limits on 2nd Avenue West, which was also Highway 2 in the provincial highway system. In addition to the accommodation, there was also a coffee shop with curb service, and an Esso gas bar. The coffee shop was initially managed by Barb Blair.
The motel was all on one level, measuring 200 feet by 36 feet (61 metres by 11 metres) and sat on a three-acre site which would allow for expansion and a trailer camp where each trailer could be hooked up to water and power lines.
The Flamingo had seventeen luxuriously appointed suites, eight of which were double and eight were single, while one was a six-room suite. Most of the single room suites contained a shower unit, while two of the single units had a bath and could be enlarged into extra sized units with two double beds. Each of the two rooms suites consisted of a living room, bedroom, and bath. Roll-away beds which could be unfolded were provided by the management for single room units to accommodate family groups.
All the rooms contained modern furniture of the latest design to provide maximum comfort, and were decorated in quiet pastel shades, and had large windows which gave each room a bright and home-like appearance.
All had central heating, had air conditioning, were equipped with showers or baths and, given the winters Prince Albert experiences, all had exterior electrical outlets so that vehicles could be plugged in during the cold winter nights. The heating was provided throughout by a forced air, oil heat system. A new high-pressure system for the provision of hot water circulated water ensuring each suite had hot water at all times. There was hot water available as soon as the tap was turned on without waiting or running the water. There was also a utility room housing a laundry with two washers and two automatic dryers for cleaning the linen utilised by the motel’s guests.
Some of the contractors and suppliers who contributed to the motel included Pete Hucul (painting),Ralph Richards (insulated chimneys), Fayerman Brothers (hardware, paints and electrical supplies), Mel Brewster (trenching, excavating and earth removal), Broadway Heating (heating equipment), Beaver Lumber (building materials), Boychuk Construction, Botting and Dent (plumbing contractors), Eaton’s (furniture, bedding, and linens), Tadman’s (refrigerators, deep freezers, and ranges), Western Grocers, Dairy and Poultry Pool, and McGavin’s Bakeries.
The coffee shop had eight booths, six large and two small, with seating for twenty-one individuals at the counter. As the staff recognised that cuisine was important, good food was their specialty. There was a wide variety of hot and cold sandwiches, steaks, and French fries, home-made pastries including cakes, pies and doughnuts.
Frank Webb ran the motel until selling it to George P. Mandin in 1957. Mandin quickly sold it to Harold Ballendine who operated it until 1959 when Steve Salaga took over its management. In 1962, Don Robson was the motel manager, and Sophie Fedoruk managed the coffee shop. Robson continued to manage it until 1971, although Paul Zakus managed the trailer park beginning in 1966. In 1972, with Zakus still managing the trailer park, the motel came under new management (Peter Buryniuk) and a new name – The New Flamingo Motel.
In 1973, the New Flamingo Motel was operated by Frank and Olive McDowell, and in 1974 D.R. Peck was the manager. Paul Zakus assumed management of the entire enterprise in 1975, although in 1978 Jack Allan and Chris Lederhouse assumed the role of managers. Jack Allan was also the manager of the Lincoln Motor Hotel in the same year. By 1979, the motel was no longer listed, both Allan and Lederhouse had left the city, and Paul Zakus closed the motel. A photograph in the Prince Albert Daily Herald on October 14th of that year showed one of the motel units being towed across a muddy road. Some of the units were sold and moved to Candle Lake, while the remaining units were stored on the south side of Marquis Road on land owned by Zakus.
Such an auspicious beginning in September 1954 appears to have come to an untimely end twenty-five years later.
Although it is not clear why the motel, in which John and Olive Diefenbaker sometimes stayed when visiting Prince Albert, failed, perhaps the addition of more motels had an impact. When it opened, the Flamingo was one of a kind, in competition with only Prince Albert’s older hotels. But as the years progressed, other motels were added to the selection in Prince Albert. In 1961, the Corral Cabins, the Shady Pine Auto Court, and the Southsider Motel existed. In 1962, the M&L Motel and Lunch Bar was added to the list (although the Shady Pine had disappeared). By 1964, the Coronet Motor Hotel had been built, and by 1968 the Imperial 400 Motel, as well as the Twilight Motel, had been added. Later, near the end of the Flamingo’s life span, the Red Wing Motel opened (1977).
The Flamingo Motel may be physically gone, but long-time members of the Prince Albert area, and individuals who travelled through the city between the mid-fifties and up to the late seventies still remember the flamingo pink buildings which once sat on the southern outskirts of the city.
