Glocester family marks 75 years of making friends – and beds, of course – at White Rock Motel

GLOCESTER – Marie Robidoux was just a toddler in 1946 when her parents, George and Beatrice Asselin, purchased an 8 acre property on Putnam Pike for $1,000, and moved the family into a mobile home on the vacant lot.

“They immediately started building a house,” Robidoux recalled.

The Asselins moved into the new home the following year, but Robidoux’s father, who worked by day as a grader operator for a local company, didn’t stop there. Asselin went on to build four cabins, and in 1949, he opened the doors at 750 Putnam Pike to overnight visitors.

At the time, a one night stay at the scenic White Rock Cabins property cost $2.

Now 80 years old, Robidoux and her husband Dennis have maintained the tradition of hospitality started by her parents all those years ago. As the motel marked 75 years in business this month, the family reflected on their time housing guests of all stripes to northern Rhode Island from locations across the world.

“It’s nice meeting people,” said Dennis. “Most of the people are pretty nice.”

The couple still lives in a home on the property, in a building that also serve as the motel lobby. They have a small staff to help with cleaning and upkeep, but as always, manage much of the work themselves.

Knowing when to retire, Marie says, is hard.

“We joke that when she dies, we’ll find her with a weed in one hand and a bottle of Windex in the other,” laughed daughter Raechel of her her hard-working mother.

George Asselin added three more cabins to the property in 1952 and a carport in 1957. He built a pond and motel’s unique grotto – a rock formation with the Virgin Mary at center – during the late 50s and early 60s. That was around the same time that he built a second house.

By 1961, cabins had gone out of vogue as a place for overnight stays, and Asselin went back to work, building a concrete foundation and lifting up the individual structures into a row on top.

The Robidouxs moved in and took over management in 1970.

“Nothing’s changed since,” Marie said of the landscape.

“When we first took over the motel, it was road traffic,” she said of past visitors.

The motel still features seven rental units for overnight stays, catering to those who come to town for work or often, to see relatives.

“We have a lot of people who come to visit family and then come back,” said Dennis. 

Famous visitors over the years have included Chubby Checker, the English pop group Herman’s Hermits, Jackie Cooper and Dick Smothers. Raechel recalls that while her best friend was reading the book, “All the Pretty Horses,” author Cormac McCarthy came to stay at the White Rock.

Contrary to what some may envision at a roadside motel, the Robidouxs aim for high standards, with a focus on cleanliness, and ten different landscaped beds featuring manicured bushes and flowers. And the work pays off: White Rock gets high ratings on sites such as Trip Advisor, and many of the couple’s guests return year after year.

“She’s always prided herself on the cleanliness of the rooms and the property,” Racheal said of Marie. 

Up the hill behind the rental rooms, trails offer guests a chance for nature walks.

The Robidouxs get to know many of the guests, including some best friends who once rented rooms annually before moving to the area. On holidays, they invite visitors who are staying alone to dine at their own table.

“We’ve made friends through the years,” Dennis said  

It’s that type of warmth and hospitality that’s made White Rock stand out. Seasonal decorations include cornstalks in the fall, and Christmas is always special, with displays of elaborate lighting and a massive, $5,000 manger that stands nearly as tall as their house.

“It’s huge,” said Raechel. “They like to do it for the town.”

“People like it,” agreed Dennis.

The Robidouxs also stay active in the community, first getting involved in the town’s bicentennial celebration in 1976. They’ve since helped with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and joined the Knights of Columbus and the Chepachet Grange. They’ve been active members of St. Eugene Catholic Church, and Dennis was one of the founding members of the town’s annual Scarecrow Festival.

The Glocester Heritage Society presented the couple the Thomas Wilson Dorr Award several years back in recognition of their lifetime contributions to the town.

All the while, the guests have kept coming, from visitors to nearby Thompson Speedway, to crowds attending Burrillville’s Paracon in recent years.

“This year, we had a big influx of turkey hunters,” Marie said.  

It hasn’t all been easy, as the couple has worked tirelessly for decades to maintain White Rock’s charm, expansive landscape and welcoming atmosphere. 

“You don’t take a lot of vacations,” Raechel said.

“When you grew up with it, it’s just part of your life,” said Marie. “We inherited the motel.” 

And of course, not all guests are ideal, with a small minority treating the property with disrespect. From their house watching over the landscape, the Robidouxs use discretion when dealing with potentially unsavory characters.

One time, a bank robber rented a room, returning to the motel just after a heist. Marie had just painted an area in front of the rooms and the crowd of police that followed left grey footprints everywhere.

“They never found the money,” said Raechel. “We keep looking.” 

“We want it as a family place,” Marie added of White Rock. “It has a great reputation.” 

While the first units featured space heaters, the Robidouxs have aimed to keep up with the times. Rooms now have central air and internet service, and all come with a refrigerator, microwave, coffee pot and an ironing board.

“It kind of runs itself,” Marie said.

Among the greatest benefits are the letters and postcards from past guests recalling pleasant stays on the Glocester hillside.

“There’s no other place I want to be. It’s a beautiful piece of property,” said Marie. “It’s my home.”