Highland Park Motel

The motel is in a nice part of Highland Park, with trendy restaurants and coffee shops nearby. Inside, though, it felt straight out of a horror movie. The room brought the first “Saw” film to mind as soon as we walked in: exposed pipes, a rushed and sloppy paint job, water damage all over, and a damaged window. It was huge but cold and unwelcoming. My first thought was how many people might have died there. The tub was filthy, the bedspread had cigarette burns, the sheets were crusty, and the TV didn't work. We'd booked two nights for events in the area because the drive home usually takes an hour or more in LA traffic. After the first event we dreaded returning, but stayed that night. We went early to the next event, then decided we couldn't spend another night there. At 11:30 PM we packed in a rush and got out. Several other people were checking out as quickly as they could, with the same terrified look. Even the hour drive home wasn't bad, and we still talk about that creepy Highland Park Motel and the dark secrets behind its cracked, water-stained walls.

The room hadn't been cleaned at all when we arrived. It reeked of cigarettes despite our request for non-smoking, the floor was unswept, there were hairballs on it, the sink was filthy, and the doorknobs were greasy. We asked the front desk for another room. The woman took us to one that was even dirtier and smelled worse, sprayed aerosol, then said there was nothing she could do and no rooms left. They gave us a partial refund even though we'd been checked in only 20 minutes and hadn't used the room. Don't stay here.

It was okay, but I'm never coming back. Roaches, broken AC, missing tub features, and parking on a slant that was difficult. Pets cost $20 a day in cash. I didn't mind leaving the door open for cool air, as a single guy who likes to live dangerously. My bully mix was uneasy about the sketchy area, but she's spoiled and hadn't seen a rough neighborhood before. It was good for her to experience, and it reminded me where I came from. They do have irons if you ask.

DO NOT USE THIS PLACE! It's infested with roaches. We counted ten, eight in the bathroom and two under the bed, then checked out and drove 400 miles home in the middle of the night, risking our safety. Room #209 was large, with a table, two vinyl-covered chairs, a queen bed, two end tables, and a TV, but little else. There were holes in the walls and ceiling, cigarette burns in the floor and Formica, and no lamps, so it was hard to see at night. No microwave in the room, and the fridge was small. I didn't even open it because I was afraid to. The window had no screen when opened. Outside, there were two old, dirty microwaves and a broken soda machine. The worn area included a parking security gate with a broken lock. A rent-a-guard sat in the small lobby reading a book. We also had to pay a $10 deposit for the TV remote, which seemed sketchy.