BETHEL — Irene and Chad McGrew managed River View Resort on Mayville Road (Route 2) for 29 years. When Chad passed away last year, Irene decided it was time to move on. She was thrilled when her sister Michelle and husband Larry Kraus said they were interested in taking over the position. The River View Board of Directors agreed and the new managers will arrive in mid-April, driving from their Fairbanks, Alaska home.
It was Michelle who introduced Irene to Chad when she was visiting her sister in Alaska in the 1980’s. The sisters laugh about how Irene wasn’t initially interested in the man she would end up being married to for nearly 43 years.
The McGrew’s eventually moved to Bethel where Chad was a contractor and she owned an art framing store. Of their livelihoods, she said, “We weren’t doing well.”
One day Melinda Remington who had been managing the River View, with her husband Tom, called to ask if they might want to take over. She said no, but when Chad heard he picked up the phone and called them right back.
“It was the best thing that ever happened to us … we moved into the [attached] house, this is where we raised our kids. This is home to them. That is my favorite story of this place – how we got here,” she said.
“Not many couples can work together. It just worked. We managed it perfectly,” she added. “When I see Melinda, I thank her.'”
The River View lobby was “the place” for Bethel Rotary’s Fireside chats, a tradition where new members are warmly welcomed. The resort was also the place where the McGrew’s daughters, Charli, now 38, and Amanda, now 42, came with their school friends to play and swim in the pool. Said Irene, “This place was perfect. All their friends wanted to be here for parties and prom.”
Kraus adds, “She and Chad have been part of Bethel for many years. Fortunately she had those friends. They were here all summer [when Chad passed].”
The transition has been organic, said Kraus, who has sat beside her sister before working summers together. Michelle plans to take on the administrative duties while her mechanic/plumber/electrician husband will do the maintenance at River View.
Said McGrew, “I’ll miss the interactions with the guests. We have owners that I have become very good friends with. I’ll miss that. The people that work for us have been fabulous, like Jess [Marin] at the desk. You know what else I am going to miss? The hour and a half it takes to go to the grocery store. You know how it is you see people you know … I’m going to miss that.”
McGrew is happy the Kraus’ are taking on River View. She won’t be too far, though. Only in Windham where she will live in an an apartment attached to her daughter Charli’s home. Her three grandchildren are all nearby and will need rides. “They already have a schedule for me,” she said, “I will do pick up on Wednesdays and Fridays.”
