Thunder Bird Motel

It was quiet until the train rattled past a few times overnight. The conductor makes sure you know the train is there, so this is a decent place to stop for sleep if you’re not a light sleeper. The sunrise is beautiful, and there’s no pool. The hotel can fit a limited number of trucks with trailers, and the location is a bit out of the way from the interstate, though not too bad. Customer service was outstanding. The gentleman who checked us in was helpful and knowledgeable. The updated, clean room had comfortable beds, a convenient mini fridge for keeping drinks cool overnight, and an A/C that worked very well. The shower had hot water. We could’ve used one more towel for the number of guests.

Mark the manager was super nice and upfront about the train noise. We hardly noticed it, and the horn rarely blew. The rooms were really clean and comfortable, with a very clean bathroom and a nice new shower head. The bed was great too. We’ll definitely stay here again.

The second I saw Thunderbird motel, I felt at home. The rooms are so unique, cleaner than any chain hotel, and the bath and shower are the bomb. The owner at the desk was super nice. For a weary traveler looking for somewhere to rest their head, this is it. Ahhhh.

With vintage inns, it can be a roll of the dice, but Thunderbird came up a winner for me. Yes, there are trains and the rooms are dated. The outside looks a little hometown, but inside I found a clean room that felt carefully looked after. The sheets were tucked with crisp corners, and there was no dirt, staining, or dust buildup. It was better than plenty of fancy branded places I’ve stayed. Thunderbird will be my new stopping point in Western Idaho.