Red Ranch Motel

The best part for us was having room to spread out after five days of cramped hotel rooms and car travel. We booked the three-bedroom house so the kids and we could have some space for a night, and even the owner seemed surprised since it rarely gets booked. It really works as a home away from home if that’s what you need. The house is old, straight out of the 80s, with flat beds and some dust, so know what you’re booking. We weren’t expecting luxury or Hilton Honors perks from an old mountain motel. We stayed on New Year’s Eve and went tubing at Hunters Mountain for the fireworks. Our six-year-old was in bed by 10, while our 14-year-old watched the Stranger Things finale in the living room before the ball drop. Having a kitchen for breakfast and all that space was great. The kids could also explore the property behind the motel: we played in the snow, found the creek, sledded down little hills, and wandered around like I used to as a kid. We’re from Florida, so making those snowy memories with my kids brings me a lot of joy. The tavern next door also had delicious New Year’s Eve dinner at a decent price. We had a blast.

Rich, the owner/manager, surprised us with a major upgrade: our single room with a double bed became a two-story, three-bedroom place with two full bathrooms, a spacious living room, kitchen, and reception area. There was a nice deck off the upstairs sliding doors, plus skylights in the bedroom ceilings. We only stayed overnight, and the minor signs of wear didn’t come close to making it a dealbreaker.

My wife and I spent one night here in October 2025, and the price felt outrageous for such an old, dated room. At first I was looking forward to the nostalgic motel feel from family trips when I was a kid, but the old-room smell, like smoke and spilled drinks, ruined that pretty quickly. The filthy condition is why I’m writing this. The carpet looked stained and badly in need of replacement, and we didn’t want to put bare feet on it. The tub and shower curtain were disgusting. That very thin curtain was half white and half not, and needs bleaching or replacing. I was glad to have sandals for the shower because the tub floor, with its old grip strips and heavy staining, looked nasty, like something creepy could be hiding there. There was even an old coffee pouch left in the tiny coffee maker’s tray, who knows for how long. The dimming curtain barely covered the window, and the vanity light switch only worked sometimes. We knew not to expect luxury and had even liked the thought of its dated charm, but the grossness was too much. At this price, or really any price, I need a clean and functional room. We left disappointed and disgusted, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone I like.

Rich, who I think is the owner, was really pleasant and helpful. The rooms were immaculate, lovely, and well appointed, and they had everything you could ask for. Even the morning coffee was tasty, and there were three cups’ worth. I’d recommend the Ranch Motel without hesitation.