Rim Rock Motel

A basic, clean older motel on Hy 395. I just needed somewhere to sleep, so the disengaged, uninterested check-in didn’t matter much. The AC worked great.

I hate saying it, but this place has turned into junk. It used to be my go-to halfway stop. I’ve made this trip at least half a dozen times over the past five years, and the previous owner was kind and considerate. The rooms weren’t new, but he tried to make each stay pleasant, lowered the rate for returning customers, and put Turner Classic Movies on the TV because, as he said, “the Old Ranchers like it.” He also offered two horse stalls free if you needed them. I used them several times when traveling with my horses to clinics. On my last stay this past August, the desk clerk was rude and didn’t seem to care about guests’ comfort. I’d driven a long way and was exhausted, so I needed to stop. The room was dirty, the fridge had gross leftover food, and the TV didn’t work. The motel looked mostly empty, but when I asked to switch rooms, the clerk said it was their only “pet room.” The old owner used to let pets stay in any room. My dog is house-trained, well behaved, and weighs 7 lb. The clerk knew it was late and I probably couldn’t find another place, but still refused to move me. He could see I was distressed and just coldly said no, knowing I had no choice. The room was so gross I nearly slept in my car. At least in the room I could lie flat. I’ll never stay here again, and I’ll plan my trip to avoid Alturas completely.

We spent six nights in the Queen Kitchen suite while exploring the local wildlife and trails. It was cozy and had everything we needed, and the quaint motel was very clean. We also appreciated that dogs are welcome. The grounds were great for walking and playing with our dog. Rebekah was easy to reach by phone and very helpful. I’d recommend it and would stay again.

I’ve been coming here for years, but the room was tired, though clean, and the TV was junk. The motel has changed hands several times. Brass Rail, the Basque restaurant, owns it now, and I think they’ve raised prices to take advantage of the construction and highway work. I paid $92 this time, compared with $48 last year. There was supposed to be a free drink ticket, but I never got mine.