Noble House Suites is found against the Granby River at the edge of Grand Forks, British Columbia, close to the Canada-U.S. border. The bed and breakfast is unique for its range of activities as guests can access the above-ground pool or hot tub, use the movie theater, play table tennis, bocce ball, foosball, and about 150 board games. They can hike, swim, or fish around the river next to the property. Noble House Suites is also an hour away from three large ski resorts and 12 miles from Christina Lake, a common boating destination in British Columbia. Grand Forks was formerly a mining area and one of the sites at which the Doukhobors settled upon their arrival from Russia.
Noble House Suites is a half-acre property located at the edge of Grand Forks, British Columbia, a town near the Canada and United States border. The bed and breakfast is on a cul-de-sac that Sean, one of the owners, describes as a "quiet dead-end." The Granby River runs along the property's back border, and the century-old Grand Forks Granby Smelter can be found across that same river. Cherry trees are planted in front of the house, and a mountain meadow is west of the property along the river. Besides the town and residential regions, the surrounding area consists mainly of hills and forested areas.
Two units are available to rent at Noble House Suites: the Daly Room and the Romance Room. They are roughly 400 square feet and come with en suite bathrooms with tubs and showers, cable TV, internet access, individually controlled heating and cooling, and electric fireplaces. The Romance Room comes with a king-size bed, while the Daly Room includes two queen beds. Both rooms are also similarly designed with beige walls and green and white bedspreads with dark wood furniture. Sean describes the house as having a "modern" design.
The house contains a common area known as the Club Room, which is outfitted with a tile floor, fireplace, couches, a foosball table, a poker table, a snooker table, and about 150 board games to play. A laundry facility is also available on-site, along with table tennis, a movie theater, and a gym. Outside, visitors can find an above-ground swimming pool, hot tub, and a bocce court. A sand beach is made accessible along the banks of the Granby River, and a patio provides guests with a river overlook as well. Furthermore, the entrances to the bed and breakfast portion of the house and rooms are distinct, allowing guests some privacy as they move in and out of their rooms. An elevator has also been installed to facilitate wheelchair access. Finally, visitors may park their cars on the driveway.
Breakfast is served in takeout containers at a time appointed by visitors. Because they have this option, they may eat at the kitchen table, in the dining room, in their suites, in the common area, or on the patio, weather permitting. The menu is provided to guests and includes options such as bagel sandwiches, French toast sandwiches, waffle sandwiches, frittatas, or fruit smoothies. "Sweet or savory" fillings can be chosen for the breakfast items, and Sean says they are customized for each guest. Accommodations for dietary restrictions or food allergies are also made so long as the owners are warned in advance.
While staying at Noble House Suites, guests may participate in fly fishing, river tubing, or sightseeing on or along the Granby River. A few walking trails are also around the river, either on-site or off the property on the hill known as Observation Mountain on the other side. The bed and breakfast is about an hour from three major ski resorts, as well as Phoenix Mountain in the Grand Forks area. Christina Lake, a common place to boat and swim, is twelve miles from the property. Sean observes that many guests also like to go snowmobiling or quad riding in the hills and mountains. The Grand Forks International Baseball Tournament is held in Grand Forks each year and hosts nearly eight to twelve teams. Sean additionally notes that a rock concert is performed every first week of August, and a car show occurs in the month of July. Concerning dining outside the property, Sean recommends The Omega, Sushi Ocean Dream, and the golf course at Christina Lake.
Sean and Kathy Noble, the owners of Noble House Suites, want their guests to feel like family while they stay. They try to emulate the motto "come as guests, leave as friends." Meeting people is their favorite part of their job, and Sean says many of their visitors return annually. One particular family has been visiting regularly for the last six years. Sean believes part of it is not just due to the atmosphere but also the price; with regards to the pricing, he says they are "good value for what [they] offer." He further explains that most of their winter guests visit for work-related reasons and choose to stay at the bed and breakfast while in town. Noble House Suites tends to see more recreational or vacationing guests during the summer.
Several previous guests have made remarks about their experience at the Noble House Suites. One guest commented about their stay, saying, "Sufficient space with everything you need, just like the pictures show, lots of games and even a theater room. Loved sitting on the beach and watching the deer and river run by. A great swimming hole just a short walk downstream."
The Noble House Suites owners ask that guests observe a few policies. Smoking is not allowed indoors, although ashtrays are provided outside. Guests may only bring pets if they have been approved ahead of time, and any dogs they bring must have a separate kennel or bed and be kept downstairs. Children are welcome to stay at the bed and breakfast. Lastly, check-in for guests is at 3:00 PM, and check-out is at 11:00 AM.
The bed and breakfast is open year-round, with the exception of Christmas. Sean explains that their best season is during the summer, primarily because of their recreational guests. They still have many visitors during the winter, but he says the trend in clientele is a "bell curve" that peaks during the summer.
Sean and Kathy, the current Noble House Suites owners, had always wanted to own a bed and breakfast. Sean says they fell in love with the idea while traveling Europe and staying in different places, but they could not own one until their children grew up and became independent. In 2012, they built a home of insulated concrete in the subdivision at the edge of Grand Forks that they already owned. They opened their bed and breakfast in 2013 and have been in business ever since. Besides adding a few amenities as needed, they have not made any significant changes to their property. Sean says they love owning Noble House Suites because, in his own words, "we don't have to go see the world; the world comes and sees us."
Grand Forks is mainly known as a former mining town and the place where the Doukhobors, a Christian community from Russia, settled and built a community. The Grand Forks Granby Smelter operated from 1900 to 1920 and started exporting the slag from the mining process to the U.S. Navy in 1970. Grand Forks still has influence from its Russian roots, as Sean says there are not many restaurants in the area that do not serve borscht.
8780 Riverside Drive
Grand Forks, British Columbia V0H 1H2
Canada
Modern
Sean & Kathy Noble
