BOZEMAN — At the age of 24, Nina Erickson has visited all seven continents.
The Bozeman-born, Montana State University graduate has been traveling since she was young, a love instilled in her by her parents.
“I just wanted to see the world, so a lot of the time I would hop on the plane and go by myself somewhere,” she said. “Whenever I had a break I would go on a trip.”
These trips included a jaunt to Peru to hike the Inca Trail, an excursion to Australia to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef and a recent journey to Antarctica. Most of the time, Erickson prefers to travel alone and regularly spends her nights in hostels.
The cheap accommodations are a great way to meet people from around the world and are an important part of the overall travel experience, said Erickson.
And now she has her own.
The international studies major recently purchased the old Bozeman Backpackers Hostel, located below The Crossroads on Main Street, and has spent the last three weeks renovating it.
The new, 4,700-square-foot space, named Treasure State Hostel, includes 16 rooms accommodating up to 40 people, as well as two common areas, a kitchen and a library. Erickson said she plans to charge $28 per night for the cheapest, five-bed room and $38 for a private single.
“It’s been my dream,” Erickson said of owning a hostel. “I can’t believe it, to be 24 and to own a property like this. It feels great.”
Erickson — with help from her grandfather — bought the property from Lydia Butler, the wife of former Pizza Campania owner Bill Butler, who died last year. Bill owned and operated Bozeman Backpackers until his death, at which point Lydia took over.
The new owner said she hopes to revive the perception of hostels in the area with positive advertising targeting anglers, skiers and snowboarders, students, as well as national and international travelers.
“My vision is really having people stay here who are open to the traveling mindset and that community feel,” she said. “I want it to feel like a place where people would want to hang out, sit around and meet other people.”
While Montana is not generally known for its hostels, Erickson said she has been in contact with sisters Kirtlye and Lynon Lohof, the owners of Whitefish Hostel, who have offered advice to the first-time business owner. And so far, the renovations have generated a notable response.
“I’ve met many people who are so excited about it that they’re happy to help for free,” she said.
Erickson will live in her own room in the hostel, but doesn’t plan to hire anyone else unless things “get crazy.” And as for her own travel habit?
“The best thing about having a hostel is that I get a good part of the travel experience through my work. Half of traveling is meeting people from around the world, and if I can do that here, I feel very blessed,” she said.
“Everyone I’ve talked to is very excited. I’ve had a very positive response,” said Erickson. “I feel very good. I’m very nervous, but I’m excited.”