Antelope Lodge

The thin walls meant we were kept awake for a while when the neighbors arrived at midnight, and the room was cold because neither heater worked properly. The bathroom heater was out, and the room heater only blew a faint stream of air with a little warmth. Check-in was also a hassle: I couldn't get the automatic key box to open, and the desk person helped but seemed annoyed that I couldn't work it out. At first glance the room seemed okay, but the air smelled strongly of Clorox. The photos made this look like a quaint motor hotel, and with major renovations it could be a nice place. As it stands, it needs a major overhaul, and I won't stay again.

Big Bend is the only reason I can imagine someone booking this place. Honestly, sleeping in the car might be better. The accommodation was disgusting and seemed totally neglected, as if the building and room had been put up in the 1950s and never renovated. Everything from entry to exit was worn, dirty, or falling apart. The door frame barely held the door, with a gap of about 3-4 cm at the bottom. The bathroom was filthy, with spiders, dust, and cracks everywhere. Kitchen cabinets looked decades old and ready to collapse, and the floor was a dirty gray surface that couldn't hide years, maybe decades, of grime and wear. Going barefoot wasn't an option, and the little rug between the beds was downright nasty. Apart from a microwave that looked fairly new, maybe from around 2016, nothing seemed maintained. There were no real amenities on site, and apart from a gas station about five minutes away, you need a car for everything. For context, I spent a full month in India, and every place I stayed there was cleaner, better kept, and more hygienic. This stay felt like a third-world-level experience, which I never expected in the United States. I never saw the owners and have no personal issue with them, but the place needs a complete renovation or should be torn down. It felt like daylight robbery, not a small inconvenience.

There was nobody in the office during the day, so all inquiries had to be handled by text. The online photos are outdated. The rooms were clean, but the motor coach inn needs major renovations.

It's functional and clean, with a nice bed, refrigerator, and really soft towels. The inside and outside need some maintenance and paint, though. With that work, it could easily become a quaint throwback place that some people love.