Rodeway Inn & Suites Walhalla

I came away from the morning feeling oddly refreshed. The sunrise through the trees was lovely, and I had coffee outside for a bit before going to find biscuits and gravy. The place has a relaxed, small-town feel, including a front desk welcome that felt more personal than corporate. The room was simple, with cold AC and a bed that turned out to be better than I expected. It was peaceful once I settled in, with crickets outside and only the occasional muffled laugh from someone returning from dinner. Around the lot, there was a mix of work trucks, a bass boat, and motorcycles, plus people clearly getting away for the weekend on a budget. The exterior looked a little questionable at first, but the stay itself was calm. Sometimes you just want a place that lets you unwind without making a fuss.

It was quiet, with no noise from the neighboring rooms, and I liked that the rooms sit back from the main road. Inside, though, there was a damp motel smell and feel, despite the room being clean.

We came back because this is the only nearby hotel. This time there were two huge boogers on the wall, and the lights barely lit the room. On our earlier stay, the toilet kept running, the shower dripped constantly and left the bathroom floor wet, and guests on both sides smoked fake weed right outside our room and were loud the whole time. The bed was so hard it hurt to sleep on.

The separate building behind the office was where we stayed. The room was very clean and had updated furnishings, which was a nice surprise since I’d only expected a cheap bed and shower near Lake Jocassee. In the morning, the office had a light breakfast with muffins, cereal, and coffee. That was more than I expected, and I’d absolutely stay here again.