Arrowhead Inn

I’d avoid this place. We got a room because it was the last option at that time of night, but it was filthy and creepy. The hall looked like something out of The Shining, with loose baseboards and big holes. There were cockroaches about three inches long. It looked like they swept dirt behind the dresser instead of cleaning properly. The stairways were awful, and I wouldn’t trust the machines where you’re supposed to get a drink. One sign farther down the hall said to enter at your own risk. The room was no better. The water wasn’t working, and the shower was bad and disgusting. There was trash in the bin, the bedding hadn’t been changed, the curtains looked like they’d been there since President Kennedy stayed, and the chair and curtains had white stains. I had to put a chair against the door. We stayed only about two hours because we couldn’t sleep, and they don’t give refunds. The people running the place were creepy. It feels unsafe and like nowhere a person should have to stay. If you’re homeless, you’d be better off under a bridge. My sister and I will probably have nightmares. If you pull into the lot and walk inside, turn around and leave.

The manager got rude and loud when I spoke to him in the morning. He said, “You want to call the health department? Here, I’ve got their number,” and said he kept it handy for people. The rooms were so filthy I don’t understand why they don’t hire people to clean them. It feels like they cut corners and just don’t clean at all. I can see why the phones were taken out of the rooms, so guests can’t call the front desk to complain. There were combs, wrappers, broken tile, and hair on the floor and in the tub and shower. There was hair all over the bed and dust everywhere, plus blood on the walls, inside the dresser drawers, and in the bathroom. This is the dirtiest motel or hotel I’ve ever seen, something you’d expect in a TV news report. I don’t know why the health department hasn’t shut it down. It needs to close, and it could easily rank among the world’s five worst motels.

I wasn’t staying overnight. I went up to help a friend carry her things down. The hallways and rooms seemed clean, but everything was bare and looked cheaply put together. I almost expected dirt floors, though there weren’t any. The lobby has shatterproof glass, and otherwise there’s nothing remarkable about the place. Maybe it’s one of the cheapest hotels in town, though I’m not sure. I also don’t know whether it rents rooms by the hour. The last time I picked someone up here, the parking lot was full of scrappers and people milling around. I wouldn’t want to be there as a vacationer who didn’t know the area. I’m not saying someone would get robbed, but I’m not saying they wouldn’t. Then again, that could happen anywhere, right?

The price is low, and there’s a McDonald's and Taco Bell less than a quarter mile away. You can also see and hear the VA hospital and the KC Royals and KC Chiefs stadiums nearby. The beds are somewhat comfortable, and the upper third-floor rooms have had a bit of renovation, though it doesn't look professionally done. Before taking a room, check that the toilet flushes, there are no bed bugs, and the mini fridge and microwave are present, clean, and working. Also check that the AC/heat filter is clean and the door closes and locks properly. My key card only worked for a day at a time, so I had to get it reprogrammed every day during my seven-day stay. Still, it’s cheap and gives you a roof over your head.