Shilo Inn in Nampa, Idaho Abruptly Shuts Down, Leaving Employees Without Final Paychecks
NAMPA, Idaho — The Shilo Inn located just off Interstate 84 in Nampa shut down abruptly Thursday, leaving employees blindsided and uncertain whether they will receive their final paychecks, according to former workers who spoke to Idaho News 6. Guests were asked to leave mid-stay, and staff were given only hours to collect their belongings before the doors closed for good.
Employees Given Hours’ Notice Before Closure
Former employee Bethany Hicks said she had no idea her Wednesday shift would be her last. “For them to just screw us over like this — we haven’t even gotten our last check,” Hicks said. “I did not know that [Wednesday] was my last day on shift.”
Laura Howell, who had worked at the Nampa hotel for 10 years, said she received a phone call late Thursday morning with little time to respond. “I got the call at 11 o’clock and was told to clear out my locker by 12:30,” Howell said. The sudden nature of the shutdown left long-tenured workers with no transition period and no clear answers about compensation.
Howell said warning signs had been building for some time, including delayed maintenance and supply shortages at the property. Paycheck issues had also become a recurring concern. “We got our checks Wednesday, but couldn’t cash them until [Thursday],” she said. “Then I got the call they were closing the doors.”
Guests Displaced, Including Railroad Workers on Mandatory Rest
The impact of the Nampa shutdown extended beyond employees. Guests staying at the hotel — including Union Pacific railroad workers who were in Nampa for federally mandated rest periods between shifts — were asked to leave without warning.
“There were railroaders who had just shown up to get their required sleep before going back on the road,” Hicks said. “They were kicked out in the middle of sleep.” The displacement of workers bound by federal safety rest requirements underscores the abrupt and disorganized nature of the closure.
Hicks also described a difficult stretch in recent months prior to the shutdown. “I’ve been struggling for a while because they cut my hours during winter,” she said. “I just finally started getting full-time hours again, and our checks weren’t coming in on time.”
Parent Company Enters Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
The Shilo Inn Nampa closure is part of a broader financial collapse affecting the hotel’s parent company, which is now undergoing Chapter 7 bankruptcy — a liquidation process in which assets are sold off to repay creditors. Shilo Inns operates multiple properties across the western United States, including several locations in Idaho.
The Nampa shutdown follows a similar abrupt closure at a Shilo Inn location in Idaho Falls, according to Local News 8. At least two Idaho locations are now shuttered. No official explanation for the closures has been publicly released, and Idaho News 6 reported that the hotel had not responded to requests for comment as of the time of publication.
Canyon County’s hospitality and service sectors have seen steady growth in recent years as the Treasure Valley’s population has expanded. The closure of a long-standing property like the Nampa Shilo Inn represents a notable disruption in that landscape. For those following broader economic developments affecting Idaho workers and businesses, Idaho News provides ongoing statewide coverage.
Nampa’s Sugar District has seen local small businesses step up in the face of broader economic shifts — businesses like Graples, a locally owned home decor store that continues to grow roots in the community.
What Comes Next for Displaced Nampa Workers
Former Shilo Inn employees say they are now searching for new positions in the hospitality industry while awaiting answers about their outstanding wages. Under Idaho law, employers are generally required to issue final paychecks in a timely manner, though the Chapter 7 bankruptcy process may complicate workers’ ability to recover those funds quickly.
Workers who believe they are owed unpaid wages may contact the Idaho Department of Labor to file a wage claim. The situation remains developing, and Canyon County News will continue to follow updates as they become available.