America's Kitschiest Motels
By Mariella Krause
Posted Dec. 27, 2007, at 1 p.m.
Tasteful prints, consistent decor, lots of amenities — who needs 'em? Give me a hotel that's memorable. Give me a room that makes me want to take pictures because no one would believe me if I described it to them. Give me the kooky, the kitschy and the campy. You with me? Well, start packing. Because each one of these offbeat overnights is worth a trip in itself.
Wigwam Motel, Route 66.
© Witold Skrypczak. Lonely Planet Images.
Wigwam Motel – Holbrook, Ariz.
This Route 66 fixture probably isn't going to win any awards for the preservation of Native American culture, but it is an amazing slice of roadside nostalgia. Since 1950, the Wigwam Motel (928-524-3048; from $48 per night) has beckoned weary travelers with its slogan, "Sleep in a wigwam!" You know, one of those real, live wigwams just like in the movies, made of concrete with a wooden door and a shower and a TV bolted to the wall. Well, realistic details aside, if you pretend you're a 12-year-old on a family vacation, you can experience kitschy bliss at one of the wigwammiest places around.
Madonna Inn – San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Bearing little in common with either the Virgin Mary or the pop star, the Madonna Inn (888-543-9666; from $168 per night) is a whimsical, giddy monument to garish decorating. It's a crazy cornucopia of huge rocks, startling paint choices, gilt finishes and mismatched prints.
Boulders excavated from around San Luis Obispo provide architectural highlights like massive stone fireplaces and cave-like showers. The furniture could have been bought at Liberace's garage sale. And insane choices in wallpaper and bedding provide the finishing touches throughout.
All 109 rooms have their own color scheme, name and decor — you can preview them online — with themes ranging from the tepid "California Floral" to the astonishing "Jungle Rock" Room. Choose well, and bring your camera!
Dog Bark Park Inn – Cottonwood, Idaho
The Dog Bark Park Inn (208-962-3647; from $86 per night) has all the comforts of home. It also happens to be located inside the world's largest beagle. Climb the stairs to the deck just off the beagle's abdomen, where you'll find your human-sized doggy door into man's best friend. Inside, you'll find a queen-sized bed located in the dog's head and a pleasant alcove in its snout.
Don't be surprised if passing motorists stop to take pictures — this roadside pooch attracts more than its share of curious passers-by. And don't forget to stop by the gift shop, where the owners sell their "whimsical chainsaw artwork," a folksy collection of dogs of every breed.
Kate's Lazy Meadow Motel – Mt. Tremper, N.Y.
Leave it to a pop culture diva to create a pop culture paradise. Once you know that Kate's Lazy Meadow (845-688-7200; from $150 per night) is the love child of Kate Pierson from the B-52s, it's easy to start forming an image of this wacky wonderland in upstate New York. (Funky little shack, indeed.)
Kate's eight groovy suites are all decked out in mid-century modern decor. Each is unique, but yours might include a fancy wall-sized photo mural, psychedelic lighting fixtures, or a vintage kitchen with lots of turquoise Formica. If you really want to camp it up, stay in one of the vintage Airstreams: Bubbles or Tinkerbell.
Tropical Manor – Daytona Beach, Fla.
You just can't find places like this anymore. As Florida-funky as the Weeki Wachee mermaids, this beachfront motel's 50-year tenure gives it a retro charm that's totally authentic.
Painted in an explosion of pastels like a box of Jordan almonds, Tropical Manor (800-253-4920; from $65 per night) is punctuated inside and out with murals of tropical flowers and smiling sea critters. Funny little pieces of statuary dot the grounds, like a pastel-painted carousel horse that's awkwardly small.
It's one of the few beachfront properties that's resisted condo fever. And it's one of the last places in Florida you can experience this type of roadside nirvana.
Bio: Mariella Krause is a freelance writer living in San Francisco. She is a co-author of Lonely Planet's upcoming USA guide and a fervent aficionado of kitsch.
Celebrating Three Kings Day
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