Blog Post

World's First Potato-shaped Hotel, world record in Boise, Idaho

December 18, 2023

Boise, Idaho, United States--The Big Idaho® Potato Hotel in Boise, Idaho, United States, owned by Kristie Wolfe, is 28-foot long, 12-foot wide and 11.5-foot tall and is firmly planted in an expansive field in South Boise with breathtaking views of the Owyhee Mountains; the hotel sets the world record for being the World's First Potato-shaped Hotel, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

"How do you dispose of a 6-ton spud made of steel, plaster and concrete? You don’t. You recycle it and turn it into the Big Idaho® Potato Hotel, the only potato hotel in the world! The 28-foot long, 12-foot wide and 11.5-foot tall potato is firmly planted in an expansive field in South Boise with breathtaking views of the Owyhee Mountains," the official website says.

"The massive potato was created in 2012 in celebration of the IPC’s 75th anniversary. Bolted to a flatbed trailer the giant spud traveled across the country for seven years. Built for a one-year tour, the sturdy spud held out as long as possible before it returned to Idaho to retire. Kristie Wolfe, a former member of the Big Idaho® Potato Truck Tour team and tiny house builder extraordinaire, knew instinctively how to transform the head-turning tater into a lasting fixture that folks can continue to enjoy.

"Here are a few facts about the eco-friendly hotel…

Energy Efficient– The potato’s walls are made of 10-inch thick green expanding foam for optimal heating and cooling efficiencies.
Air Conditioning– An 8-inch x 60-inch underground pipe acts as a natural air conditioner and fan pumping cool air into the potato even during hot summer months.
Water – The sink is located above the toilet to redirect the fresh water that normally goes into the tank to the sink, saving both water and space.
Conveniently Located-- Just 20 miles to downtown Boise, guests of the Big Idaho® Potato Hotel can enjoy the sights and sounds of one of the fastest growing cities in America."

"If you love the fluffy feeling you get when you eat Idaho potatoes, you’ll love staying in a giant potato turned cozy, grown-up getaway for two!" the Airbanb.com says.

"The space: Recycled from the Idaho Potato Commission’s Big Idaho Potato Tour, this 6-ton potato has traveled on the back of a semi to (48) states for seven years. Now resting on 400 acres of good ol’ Idaho farmland, just south of downtown Boise, this hotel has been meticulously designed by Kristie Wolfe, a former Big Idaho Potato Tour spokesperson, to allow for stylish private comfort and amenities such as power outlets for your electronic devices, a mini fridge, old records to play and a custom-built bed.

"There is also a customized silo turned into a spa retreat perfect for soaking while looking up at the stars. For an extra dose of cuteness, The Big Idaho Potato Hotel comes with the cutest jersey cow in the world who will be your fuzzy pet for the stay."

"Big Idaho Potato Hotel is exactly what it says on the tin: a six-ton Russet Burbank potato, of the type that’s famously grown in Idaho, transformed into a romantic rural getaway for two. Crafted from steel, plaster, and concrete, the 28-foot long tater has been recycled from the Big Potato Tour, hosted by the Idaho Potato Commission (yes, there is such a place!)," the Host Unusual says.

"After spending many faithful years traveling across the US, the potato has since been lovingly made over by friendly owner Kristie – a proud Idaho native, and a former Big Potato Tour spokesperson. What’s more, current growing conditions couldn’t be more perfect. Your delectable retreat is set amongst 400 acres of rolling farmland, with spectacular views of the Owyhee Mountains in the distance.

"Inside your mouthwatering potato hotel are plenty of welcoming creature comforts, including a custom-built queensize bed, a mini fridge, themed books, games, and a record player with a selection of classics to spin. Air conditioning will cool those hot summer nights, and there are also plenty of charging spots for your devices – a good thing, since you’ll be probably making more than a few Instagram updates during your stay!"

"At a glance:

A 28-foot-long Idaho ‘potato’, uniquely transformed into cosy, private accommodation for two, set in 400 acres of farmland with mountain views.
You’ll also get to enjoy the company of Dolly the Jersey cow, who will be your holiday pet!
Luxury bathroom facilities are separately contained in a customised grain silo just a few steps away from your potato!
You can drive to Boise, Idaho’s bustling state capital, within 30 minutes.

Potato hotel for 2 guests: heating/air conditioning, queensize bed with bedding, seating, fireplace, mini fridge, coffee maker, books, games, record player with records, electric charging points. Outside dining area with picnic table and chairs, parking. Separate bathroom: WC, sink, whirlpool bath, fireplace, luxury toiletries.

Local Activities: Walking, farm life, nature watching, shops, restaurants, festivals, nightlife, cultural events. (Host Unusual)

"The genesis of the giant potato was something like this: About a decade ago, the Idaho Potato Commission had a six-ton scale replica of their mascot created from fiberglass, a sort of shock-jock advertisement fabricated to tour the country on the back of a flatbed. After seven years on the road, the Commission handed the keys to a woman named Kristie Wolfe," the Food52 says.

"Wolfe supervised as the enormous potato was deposited onto a 400-acre property at the intersection of U.S. Highway 26 and an access road. She completed an overhaul of its interior, outfitting it with millennial pink club chairs, a queen bed with a white linen comforter, and a chandelier designed to look like a handful of candles suspended in moose antlers.

"A man called Frank Muir, President of the Idaho Potato Commission, had apparently once said of the World’s Largest Potato: "If you really just wanted to know what it’s like to be inside a potato, as opposed to having a potato inside you, here's a great opportunity to experience it.”

"If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind getaway, you don't have to go coastal or tropical to find something unique. A stay in a giant potato would certainly set you apart, and you can do that right here in Idaho for $207 a night, in the Big Idaho Potato Hotel just outside Boise," the Boise State Public Radio says.

"The six-ton potato used to be part of the Idaho Potato Commission’s Big Idaho Potato Tour truck, where it traveled to 48 states over the course of seven years promoting the "certified heart-healthy Idaho Potato," according to the AirBnB posting. But how did it go from the back of a truck to a vacationable-spud?

"Wolfe is no stranger to the short-term rental business – in addition to the potato, she owns four other AirBnBs, in Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii. Wolfe got started on this journey by building a tiny home before most people knew what they were and before they were all “tricked out,” in her words. She said hers was basically a shed on wheels."

"It all started, as so many great things do, with a clever marketing ploy. While Idaho supplies almost a third of the United States’ potatoes, in 2012 the state’s Potato Commission, knowing it couldn’t rest on its laurels (or is it spuds?), commissioned the construction of a giant, hollow, fake tuber as the centerpiece of its 75th anniversary celebration," the Atlas Obscura says.

"Borne on the back of a massive red truck, the 28-by-12-foot tater that could was supposed to have a year-long tour. It ended up traveling the country for seven years, finally retiring in 2019. (Perhaps its only regret is that it didn’t meet Lou the enormous traveling lutefisk on the way.) From its realistic, brownish-gray, lumpy exterior to its spotless white-plaster-and-Millennial-pink interior—complete with AC, a custom-built bed, and lifetime bragging rights—the Potato Hotel provides cozy digs to curious couples."

"Consider the potato. A lowly tuber, it has fed the world, sprouting roots in the most hostile of soils and filling the emptiest of bellies with a satisfying, starchy meal. Now, consider the Big Idaho Potato Hotel. Like its namesake crop, this six-ton steel, plaster, and concrete structure has taken root in unlikely ground—400 acres of farmland 20 minutes outside of Boise—and promises shelter to intrepid vacationers."

"While she doesn't look like much from the outside, the Airbnb rental is super chic on the inside. The steel, plaster, and concrete structure is 28 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 11.5 feet tall, with enough space inside for a queen-size bed and cozy lounge area," the Insider says.

"The six-ton spud was built in 2012 to celebrate the Idaho Potato Commission's 75th anniversary, traveling around the country on the back of a semi for seven years before being converted into a stylish place to stay that went viral.

"This Airbnb was clearly designed with love, and the attention to detail is obvious. The way it maximizes its small space is also impressive. This was great for a quirky night's stay, but I personally probably wouldn't make a whole weekend out of it."

"The original spud from the Big Idaho Potato Truck is now a new hotel destination in Idaho. The six-ton potato traveled across the country on the back of a semi-truck for the Idaho Potato Commission. Local builder Kristie Wolfe transformed the old potatoes into a place where weary travelers can spend the night," the KIVI-TV says.

"So if you really just wanted to know whats its like to be inside a potato as opposed to have a potato inside you, here's a great opportunity to experience it," said Frank Muir, the Idaho Potato Commission president and CEO.

"The Big Idaho Potato Hotel comfortably holds two people, but is not set up for kids. And don't worry, it is fully equipped with air conditioning, so you won't turn into a baked potato when staying the night. The Potato Hotel is located off of Orchard Access Road in Boise and is surrounded by 400 acres of farmland."