Laura Lodge

The room was clean, the staff were extremely accommodating, and the desk clerk was friendly and helpful when we arrived exhausted after a full day on the road picking up our new puppy. His kindness helped us relax and sleep, so we could get home safely without incident. It’s not a modern or luxurious motel, but it worked for where we were. The door locked, and the window coverings fully blocked the windows and gave us enough privacy.

My room had one bed, was clean, and included a large closet. The manager was a cool dude and put me on the second floor, which was quieter and had less foot traffic. The hotel sits off the main road, so it’s quieter while still being an easy walk to restaurants and downtown. There are plenty of nearby amenities, including an Ace Hardware on the next block. The parking lot is small. There’s another lot behind the building, but I wouldn’t leave a car there overnight. It looks pretty sketchy, and none of the rooms have windows facing that side.

No Verizon signal, terrible Wi-Fi, and no ice machine. But the room had a TV, bed, refrigerator, A/C, and heat, and it was clean and decent. What made the stay for me was the personal interaction. Laura Lodge gets TEN STARS for that. I’m visiting from a southeastern state. I live on a rural mountain, where I depend on my neighbors and they depend on me. Laura's Lodge would fit right in if you dropped it in my town. The innkeeper was kind and helpful, checked the room personally, and wished me goodnight. And then he handed me a REAL ROOM KEY! Thank God for little things like that. A key is solid and uncomplicated, and anyone can use one. No flimsy plastic to lose, no beep and guess. Even I can manage a key.

We arrived late, slept in our clothes, and left as soon as we could. The room looked nothing like the pictures, and the sheets, towels, and bathmat were stained. There was no light in the shower, and the bathroom exhaust fan didn’t work. One outlet was dead, and the toilet wasn’t bolted down. The metal door key came without a deadbolt. Basic things were missing too: hand towels, drinking glasses, a coffee pot, tissues, a phone, and an alarm. The desk was dirty painted plywood. I can’t see how this could be called a three-star hotel.