Rodeway Inn & Suites

If you like ghost hunting or living on the edge, this place may be for you. I only found it because my GPS pointed it out and I spotted a light off the road. Otherwise I would’ve missed the overgrown, unlit sign. The arrival looked like part of a haunted-house setup. The lobby appeared abandoned, with a ceiling that looked partly collapsed, though it wasn’t. The door was locked and had a sign saying it was closed with no rooms after 10pm. It was 10:03, and I’d prepaid. A woman appeared before I could call anyone, let me in, and checked me in. She seemed to be the owner, or maybe a squatter, and looked after the place herself. The computer didn’t work, but she did something on her phone and got me a key to a first-floor room. I couldn’t tell how anyone would reach the upper floors. The run-down look carried on down the hall. It seemed like construction, or destruction, was underway: lots of ceiling tiles were missing and doors stood partly open. There were cars in the lot and distant noises, but I didn’t see another person. My room might have been the best one there. The green walls, like surgical scrubs, with one blood-red accent wall were a brilliant touch for the mood. Stains on the refrigerator looked like someone had done a bad job wiping away blood. I checked inside for a severed head. There wasn’t one. The building was warm even though it was August in Texas, but my room’s AC was already on and freezing. It reminded me of entering a prepared surgical suite. There was a sturdy-looking industrial power strip by the TV, enough to power tools, so outlets weren’t an issue. The water was clear, but gave me the feeling I shouldn’t drink it, so I didn’t. I have no sense of smell, though the little tree air freshener shoved into the AC vent may suggest something. The shower had hot and cold water and worked fine. A constant drip added to the atmosphere. The floor seemed fairly clean despite the first impression, and the sheets looked clean. I was happy enough with the bed and pillows and slept through the night like a corpse. I needed a late checkout to work in the morning. The woman said it was no problem, then told me not to come to the desk because I wouldn’t find her and it wasn’t necessary. Could she have been a vampire? Daylight showed me what I’d missed. Plants around the building were badly overgrown, blocking the first-floor windows, and the exterior looked much more run down than it had at night. The same closed sign was still at the front door, which made me think it was a deliberate part of the theme. The door was locked again, so I slipped my room card through the gap.

Mrs. Barbara was wonderful. We arrived at 9pm and the only room left was a suite, which she got us into quickly. When we asked about food, they pointed us to a great place. We had an excellent stay and will come back on our next work trip.

We made a last-minute trip for my grandmother’s funeral, and the front desk clerk was professional and friendly. They managed to put my family in rooms next to each other. The rooms and linens were clean, and we enjoyed our stay. Thank you.

The linens were about the only decent thing, and we left early because there was no way we were staying another night. We’d booked queen beds for two nights with family but got two full beds instead. The place smelled like smoke as soon as we entered. There were dead bugs in the corners by the front door and lobby, cracked and peeling walls and ceilings, a sink that ran dirty brown water as if the pipes hadn’t been used in ages, broken lights, and a TV that didn’t work. The bathroom had partly used toilet paper rolls and no spare. The fridge was rusty and dirty, and when I opened the curtains, a wasp came out from a gap by the AC. Please save your time and money and rent a cabin. I usually don’t write reviews, but people should know before booking. I don’t understand how this place has 4.3 stars.