Rosebud Country Inn owners celebrate 10th season

By Laureen F. Guenther Times Contributor

Rosebud Country Inn owners BJ and Ken Janzen are hosting numerous events this year, in celebration of their 10th anniversary season at the Inn.
“The Inn was built in 1995 and first occupied in 1996,” said BJ Janzen. “We are the fourth owners and bought it in March of 2009.”
Each of the Inn’s 10 rooms has unique features, and the lobby features art and souvenir items for sale.
The Inn hosts an annual Valentine’s Day weekend, including a five-course meal with wine tasting, and a concert. Janzen said notable guests have included the Red Hatters, and a group of tourism providers from the Maritime provinces, as well as corporate and government conferences. They also host spa weekends.
During their 10 years, the Janzens have installed a new metal roof and aluminum railings, upgraded the heating and air conditioning systems, set up a rainwater collection system to water their lawn and gardens, and installed solar panels to heat the garage.
The Inn also hosts the Pie Shoppe, a concept the Janzens brought to Rosebud.
“We have a friend who is an amazing pie maker and we wanted to help enhance her home-based business,” said Janzen. “We also wanted to provide a place for folks to gather if they were to arrive prior to our rooms being ready for occupancy … we love that people will now just come out for a drive and a piece of pie.”
The Inn is hosting several 10th anniversary events, starting with Dinosaur Bone Discovery weekends on May 25-27, Sept. 7-9 and Sept. 28-30.
“We have partnered with Bill Bloss, a dinosaur enthusiast who leads groups of people to amazing fossil sites in the Drumheller region and teaches them how to find dinosaur bones,” Janzen said. “He also educates our visitors on the fossil laws … to make sure we all work to preserve Alberta’s fossil heritage. The last two groups to go with Bill each found something that was amazing.”
Bloss will guide two tours each weekend, hunting for bones, telling stories of his previous finds and sharing paleontological facts, Janzen said. Guests will also have a botanical session with Shelley Rymal, who works with plants native to the Badlands. Discovery weekend guests are encouraged to enjoy a two-night stay, including meals, at the Inn.
“Often, we forget how much there is to do in our own backyard,” Janzen said. “Leave your phones at home and come out and be pampered in the country any time. You can sit on the veranda and read a book, go for a walk in town, maybe play a round of golf. Our special event weekends are a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but we look forward to hosting (Strathmore Times) readers any time they’re looking for a getaway.”
For more information and additional events, see rosebudcountryinn.com or contact 866-677-2211 or kenandbj@rosebudcountryinn.com.