KELLOGG — Significant milestones should always be commemorated in some way.

Kellogg Vacation Homes plans to do just that later this week by celebrating 25 years as a business with an exciting open house event at their new location in the uptown Kellogg area.

Hitting the impressive milestone shows that Kellogg Vacation Homes are a prime example of how businesses have to evolve over the years in order to survive.

Owner Francine Bartley first delved into property management in 1992, but the business didn’t really pick up until Bartley began managing the Silver Ridge Apartments near McDonald’s.

“That was my first location,” Bartley recalled fondly. “It was like a ghost town down there and the builders had made an office out of one of the garages and asked me to manage it and within a year, we had all 16 units rented out.”

After managing properties for 12 years, Bartley got her real estate license in 2004 as a way to diversify her company.

“I love houses,” Bartley said. “I love remodeling. We bought eight houses and we have sold five of them. When we first got into real estate, we had those couple of years where everyone wanted to buy everything. But then 2008 happened and we are now finally getting back to where we were.”

The company has moved a few times over the years, but has spent the last eight on the green belt near the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes bike trail in the same building as the Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“We really miss being on the green belt, but we love this location,” Bartley said. “We are really excited to be in the uptown Kellogg area. We want to be part of getting this area back up on its feet.”

Kellogg Vacation Homes will be hosting the open house from 4-7 p.m. Friday at their new location at 10 W. Portland Ave. in Kellogg.

The open house will have an array of refreshments and appetizers available for guests.