Lincoln Motel

The floor sloped toward the middle, and even the desk had been cut to fit at an angle. The wall AC was so loud the TV was hard to hear. The fridge, microwave, TV, and air conditioner were all sharing one outlet through a splitter, which made me worry about a fire and wonder how it passed inspection. Bathroom water wouldn’t shut off, and after leaving the bathroom I noticed gaps all around the room door. There was no coffee pot or hairdryer, and the bed squeaked so loudly when I sat down that I feared it might break. I slept with a chair braced against the door. I thought this would be a cute little place on my Route 66 trip, but I should have turned around and left. Go farther down the road and stay in a real motel for at least $5 less.

The rooms are tiny and expensive, though it’s the only hotel in town. Mine had crickets and slugs, and the old CRT television felt like a slap in the face. You can hear everything happening next door, and for some reason the office isn’t open around the clock. Stay only if you absolutely have to, otherwise just go to Stroud.

For such an old, out-of-date place that can easily be dismissed as an eyesore, my little room turned out to be a clean, comfortable jewel. The firm foam mattress gave me a very good night’s sleep, the sheets were freshly laundered, and the tiny bathroom was spotless with an excellent shower. It had an updated wood-look floor, a new sink, thick towels, and nicely presented soap and shampoo in more than adequate amounts. This is a throwback to the bungalow hotels along Route 66. It’s Indian owned and Indian decorated, and for its age it’s impressively clean and comfortable. Surprise yourself.

For $72 a night, it was good enough for me.