Faces of Baxter tells the stories of the people behind Baxter’s tourism and hospitality businesses, attractions, hidden gems, and everything in between. It also showcase the locals’ tips and tricks for seeing all the community has to offer. Photo credit: Lakes Photography

Katie Goenner is the CEO of Watland Hospitality. She was born and raised in the Brainerd/Baxter community, moved away for college and a few years of working in corporate America, and then moved home to work in human resources. After a few years in HR, her parents approached her about working in the the family business, and she reluctantly said, “yes.” Ultimately, it was a good move for the family business because she brought a fresh set of eyes and business acumen to the table. Katie has worked in all aspects of hospitality from food, to lodging, to destination marketing and is a driving force behind the community’s tourism industry.

What’s your Baxter story?

Some of my earliest memories are in Baxter. On my 5th birthday, my present—a new bike—was wheeled out of the freezer of the basement in the original Baxter KFC. I’ll also never forget watching Antron Brown run down the driveway of the Days Inn to catch his ride. Brown is an American drag racing driver who won the Top Fuel dragster championship in 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2024.

What’s the inspiration behind Watland Hospitality?

As a family business, we strive to give our employees and guests a second home. Our goal is for them to experience more than just a hotel stay—we want them to leave with lasting memories.

You are the third generation of your family in the hospitality industry, so tell us how it all got started?

My paternal grandparents, Leonard and Eunice Watland, bought Steak N Taters on Washington Street in 1961. In 1963, KFC was added to the menu at the A&W Drive-In. In 1968, they built KFC in Baxter. In 1972, A&W was built where the Days Inn & Suites is now. In 1989, my parents, Scott and Terri Watland, built what is now the Days Inn & Suites. I’m going to age myself, but we opened when I was five years old, so these businesses are at the very core of who I have become. Watland Hospitality now consists of Baymont Inn & Suites, Days Inn & Suites, and Rapid River Lodge all in the city limits of Baxter—Baxter has been home to Watland businesses for 57 years.

What do you think sets your businesses apart from the others?

The people! Our staff is our second family and we want them to treat everyone like family when they walk through our doors. We know guests have many places they could stay in Baxter or the Brainerd Lakes Area—we want to give them a reason to stay with us again and again. To have a locally owned and operated hotel is a rarity and it’s what makes us special.

What is a typical day like for you running your own small business?

Typical day? Ha! Really every day is a new adventure and I love it! I might have a plan when I start the day, but there’s a good chance it won’t turn out how I think it will. I’ve learned to take it in stride and tackle what I can. I usually touch base with my managers, they’re a huge part of making everything work. From overseeing operations, to troubleshooting on the fly, my team keeps things moving forward, even on the busiest days. We really are a family business to the core, so you’ll often find me juggling work with my two kids, or my sister’s three kids, in tow. Who doesn’t love to come to work when there’s a waterpark?

Your waterpark hotel is such fun spots for tourists and locals alike. What do you hope guests feel and experience when they visit?

We love to see guests having fun and making memories together, and we hope they create new ones each time they come see us! The recent addition of Toddler Tuesday, which is a weekly waterpark session just for toddlers when the big slides aren’t on, has been fun to watch grow. It’s open to the public, there are special rates for the session which is three-hours long, and it’s a calmer waterpark environment which suits families with toddlers and babies really well. We love seeing all the smiles and splashing of the littles and parents alike!

How do you keep up with the changes in the hospitality industry?

There are many associations we keep up with and that helps us stay current on trends and industry changes. Two of our hotels are branded under the Wyndham flag, so we always get information from them as well. I love connecting with our brand leaders to learn what is coming next for each brand.

Do you have any plans for future expansion that you want to share with us?

We don’t have plans at the moment, but things change quickly, so you never know!

What are some of your favorite things to do in Brainerd/Baxter with guests from out of town?

Supporting other locally owned businesses is always my favorite, whether it’s Black Bear, Rafferty’s Pizza, Jack Pine Brewery, Christmas Point, Stonehouse Coffee, Safari North, Paul Bunyan Land, or Brainerd International Raceway, we love to show the local favorites! I always tell people they have to come see the Ice Fishing Extravaganza if they’ve never seen it because it’s such a cool experience! Also, I’m a frequent visitor to Oscar Kristofferson Park because it’s my kids’ favorite, so check that out when you visit too!