The Stardust Motel
410 Pine St
Wallace, ID
H.F. Magnuson named it the Stardust in 1962 and built it for love. The new owners kept the name, the neon, and the instinct.
About The Stardust Motel
In 1962, H.F. Magnuson built the Stardust Motel on Pine Street in Wallace as a tribute to the love of his life. The name is a song. The Magnuson family held it for sixty years, until 2022, when a new ownership group purchased the property, renovated the rooms, and built the Stardust into the bike-obsessed, fire-pit-and-s'mores operation it is today. The 1960s neon sign stayed. So did the mid-century bones. Wallace is specific. The entire downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the only American downtown to achieve that designation in its entirety. The Silver Valley surrounding it was one of the richest silver mining districts in the world. The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, a 72-mile rail trail, runs directly past the property. The Route of the Hiawatha, one of the most celebrated downhill mountain bike trails in the country, begins fifteen miles east.
What The Stardust Motel Is Known For
The Stardust Motel in 2022 could have been just a renovation. Instead, it became a project: retro murals in every room, a bike program built out with genuine specificity (in-room storage, wash station, shuttle access, repair station on the way), a lawn culture of hammocks and Adirondack chairs and s'mores and movie nights, and an operating philosophy that responds to every review and shows up at community Easter egg hunts. The new owners came into an iconic Wallace property, understood what it was, and built on it rather than over it. The result is a motel that earns its place in the most historically protected downtown in America.
Amenities
- Pets Welcome
- WiFi
- 1960s neon sign
- Retro mural rooms
- In-room bike storage
- Bike wash station
- Bike shuttle access
- Fire pit with s'mores kits
- Hammocks and Adirondack chairs
- Thursday movie nights on the lawn (summer)
- Terra Pure spa toiletries
- Down comforters
- Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes access
What Guests Love
- The team brought a bandana and treats to the front desk when one guest arrived with a dog. That detail is specific enough that it has appeared in multiple independent reviews, which means it is not a one-off gesture but a consistent practice.
- Thursday nights in summer, movie night on the lawn is free. Guests who come back for a second night and find popcorn and a Snickers bar waiting in their room describe it in the same sentence. These are small things that compound into the feeling of a property that is paying attention.
- The in-room bike storage is not a marketing claim. There are notes in the room specifically about which towels are designated for bikes and which are for guests, and the bike wash station outside answers the question that comes up at the end of every trail day.
Worth Knowing
- The motel sits in a mountain canyon and WiFi performance can be variable, particularly in rooms farther from the office. Guests who need a reliable connection for work should ask about room placement when booking.
- Some HVAC units run noisily. The team has acknowledged this in review responses and noted they monitor it. Worth mentioning at check-in if noise is a concern.
- Front desk hours run approximately at checkout time to 9 or when the pool closes in the evening depending on the day. Late arrivals have keyless entry; contact the property in advance if arriving after hours.
- Pets are welcome. A pet fee applies; contact the property directly to confirm current amounts and any restrictions before booking.
The Room
Rooms at the Stardust were refreshed beginning in 2022 with a mid-century retro aesthetic that is specific rather than generic: individual mural art on the walls, color-chosen furnishings (the blue microwave is the detail guests single out), and a playful spirit that fits a Wallace night rather than fighting it. Bedding is down comforters on hypoallergenic beds. Bathrooms have a tub and shower combination. Each room has a coffee maker, mini refrigerator, and microwave. Terra Pure spa-quality toiletries in every bathroom. Free WiFi throughout. TV and streaming. Air conditioning. Laptop-friendly workspace. Room configurations include two-bed room and king setups. In-room bike storage is available for guests arriving on two wheels, with towel designations posted in the room to keep the bike towels and the bath towels in their respective lanes.
The Grounds
The Stardust occupies a two-story footprint on Pine Street in historic Wallace, with free parking running along the building face and every room opening directly to the outside. The grassy lawn between the building and the street is the motel's signature outdoor space: tree-shaded hammocks, Adirondack chairs, bistro tables, and a fire pit where the s'mores kits live. In summer, a movie screen goes up on Thursday nights and the lawn becomes a small outdoor cinema. A bike wash station handles the post-trail cleanup. The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, the 72-mile rail trail through the Silver Valley, passes directly outside. Downtown Wallace, the bars, the Sierra Silver Mine Tour, the Wallace Brewing Company, and the Center of the Universe manhole cover are all within a short walk.
The Experience
A stay at the Stardust begins and ends in Wallace, which means it begins and ends in one of the more specific places in the American West. Check-in is staffed through the evening with keyless entry for later arrivals. The morning coffee is on in the office. The property responds to every review, runs a community Easter egg hunt, and has been described by guests who have stayed at high-end city hotels as more fun than any of them. That is not a judgment about price or amenities. It is a judgment about character. In summer, the rhythm is trail-based: morning start on the Hiawatha or the Coeur d'Alenes, afternoon fire pit, s'mores when the energy drops, movie on the lawn Thursday nights. In winter, the same rhythm runs on ski legs: Lookout Pass and Silver Mountain are both within fifteen minutes, and the historic bars of Wallace are always a short walk from the door when the lifts close.
Details
Wallace, ID 83873
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The Stardust Motel have EV charging?
No, The Stardust Motel does not have EV charging.
Does The Stardust Motel have WiFi?
Yes, The Stardust Motel has WiFi.
What is there to do near The Stardust Motel?
Sierra Silver Mine Tour: 0.2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. Route of the Hiawatha: 15 miles, about a 30 minute drive. Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area: 13 miles, about a 25 minute drive.
How far is The Stardust Motel from Sierra Silver Mine Tour?
0.2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is The Stardust Motel from Route of the Hiawatha?
15 miles, about a 30 minute drive.
How far is The Stardust Motel from Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area?
13 miles, about a 25 minute drive.
Is The Stardust Motel pet friendly?
Yes. The Stardust Motel welcomes pets. A pet fee applies; contact the property directly to confirm current amounts and any restrictions before booking.
What is the Stardust Motel's connection to Wallace's history?
The Stardust was built in 1962 by H.F. Magnuson as a tribute to the woman he loved. The Magnuson family held the property for sixty years. In 2022, new owners purchased it, renovated the rooms with a mid-century retro aesthetic, and built out the bike and outdoor amenities. The 1960s neon sign remained.
Does the Stardust Motel have bike storage?
Yes. In-room bike storage is available, along with a bike wash station outside and access to a local bike shuttle. The Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes passes directly by the property.
What is the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes?
A 72-mile paved rail trail along the Coeur d'Alene River through the Silver Valley of northern Idaho. The trail runs through downtown Wallace and passes directly by the Stardust Motel, making it accessible on foot or by bike from the room.
How far is the Stardust Motel from the Route of the Hiawatha?
The Route of the Hiawatha trailhead is approximately 15 miles east via I-90. The motel's bike shuttle program provides access to the trail. Bike rentals and shuttle service back to the top are available at the trailhead.
What time zone is Wallace, Idaho in?
Wallace and the Idaho Panhandle observe Pacific Time, not Mountain Time. This is a notable exception to the rest of Idaho, which observes Mountain Time.
Why does Wallace call itself the Center of the Universe?
In 2004, the Wallace City Council declared the town the Center of the Universe and installed a manhole cover near the Interstate 90 overpass to mark the spot. The declaration holds that the center of the universe is wherever a community designates it, a claim that cannot technically be disproven.
Does The Stardust Motel have a pool?
The Stardust Motel does not have a pool. The property has a communal fire pit area.
Is parking available at The Stardust Motel?
Yes. Free on-site parking is available at The Stardust Motel.
Does The Stardust Motel include breakfast?
No. Breakfast is not included at The Stardust Motel.
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Things to Do Near the Silver Valley
Sierra Silver Mine Tour
0.2 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
A quarter-mile walk from the motel. An active underground silver mine in operation from 1884 that offers guided tours descending into the workings with a former miner as guide, followed by a trolley tour of historic Wallace narrated by a local historian. One of the few remaining working mine tours in the Silver Valley. A half-day that earns its place on any Silver Valley itinerary.
Route of the Hiawatha
15 miles, about a 30 minute drive.
15 miles east via I-90 to the trailhead near Lookout Pass. One of the most celebrated rail trail rides in the country: a 15-mile downhill descent along a former Milwaukee Road rail line through seven tunnels and over six high trestles, with a nearly 2-mile pitch-black tunnel at the start that is a genuine highlight. Bike rentals, helmets, and shuttle service back to the top are available at the trailhead. The Stardust's bike shuttle program connects directly to Hiawatha access.
Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area
13 miles, about a 25 minute drive.
13 miles east on I-90 at the Idaho-Montana border. An independent, family-owned ski area with a loyal regional following, consistent snowpack, and none of the resort infrastructure that inflates lift lines at larger mountains. Thursday deals, minimal crowds on weekdays, and terrain that works for all skill levels. In summer, the lifts run for downhill mountain biking on the same terrain. The access road is I-90 itself, which means no mountain pass driving.