Superbowl viewing party just one of the many events at Enders Hotel

SODA SPRINGS – Enders Hotel in Soda Springs has been operating under its current management for just over a year, and in that time has sought to invigorate the downtown area with a range of community events and a warm and friendly atmosphere.  Over the last several weeks, Enders has held a viewing party for the Miss America contest featuring Soda Springs local Reagan Yamauchi, a Valentine’s Day craft night, and most recently a Superbowl watch party.  Enders will be holding a Valentine’s dance and dinner on February 17.

The watch party brought an assortment of people—both long time locals as well as contractors from Bayer—in to watch the spectacle.  While the crowd was fairly evenly divided in their loyalties (with at least one Swifty and at least one anti-Swifty on the premises to even things out), it turns out there was some personal rooting interest.

Bayer contractor Sam Schaafsma, who was there with co-workers Jessica Stott, Jason Smith, and Carl Schaefbauer, turns out to be 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy’s second cousin.  “It’s on my mom’s side, from what I’ve heard,” Schaafsma said.

As those who watched the game can attest, regardless of rooting interest it was a nerve-wracking affair that remained up for grabs until the literal final seconds of overtime, when the Chiefs finally secured a touchdown to win for the second year in a row.  The Chiefs are the first team to repeat in the Superbowl since the Patriots accomplished the feat in 2004 and 2005.  No team has ever won three times in a row, which is a task the Chiefs organization is already discussing chasing after.

Food for the event was brought in by attendees, as well as prepared by Jones and her staff.  Sweet and Sour meatballs were a hit, as were the traditional chicken wings. 

For many in attendance, Enders is taking on the role of community gathering spot.  The week prior, the Hotel hosted a craft night for constructing Valentine’s items.

Over the night, manager Terah Jones and her Marketing director McKenzie Peck made their way through a group of people who gathered in the back room at a series of craft tables to design and create a variety of different craft projects.  

Jody Suter and Megan Ozburn worked on modge-podging Valentines coasters and laughing, while Glenda Hart, who had just completed a heart-festooned wall-hanging, joined them.  Paige Messerly was in the process of finishing her own wall-hanging, which she assured those present her husband would love, whether he wanted to or not.  

Terah Jones and McKenzie Peck found themselves working on projects for people that couldn’t be there, and making sure that everyone had everything they needed.  The room was lit up by conversation and the smell of acrylic paint and glue guns in the cozy manner suggested by such an undertaking.

“This is the first class like this we’ve held here,” Jones said.  “It’s going pretty well, I think.”

Jody Suter agreed, smoothing down the tissue block atop her coaster.  “I’ll definitely be back,” she said.

Later in the month, the hotel will host a Valentine’s Dance and Dinner at 6:00 on Saturday, February 17 for adults.  Tickets must be purchased in advance at the location or through endersonmain.com.

A pottery painting class will be held on Friday, March 1 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

“We’re trying to bring some fun activities for people, and we plan to keep doing it,” Jones said.

Looking around at the groups working on their projects, the chatter intermittently broken by laughter, Peck said, “It seems like they’re having fun, and that’s what matters!”