The notorious American Hotel doesn’t look so menacing today. Vacant, sombre and forgotten, in the not too distant past it was ground zero, a place for trouble, BIG TROUBLE, and not a weekend went by without seeing it in the news. Fact is you would not want to be standing where I was on a Saturday night.
Located in the historical town of Fort MacLeod, it’s a fairly plain but attractive building and represents a fairly typical hotel of the era – brick construction, boxy lines, a rub-a-dub dive tavern, and so on. This one however has a reputation, and not necessarily a good one.
I’ve always wanted to stop and photograph the hotel and while on a trip back from the Crowsnest Pass, we had some time and decided to pay it a visit. The hotel itself was our the goal but since our last visit an old truck and car had been parked beside it, which made the site that much more interesting.
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The current building seen here dates back to 1913, although prior to that a wooden hotel stood on the same property. It was called the Klondyke Hotel and dated from the 1890s. Later, in 1900, the name was changed to what you see today.
The hotel itself is simple and square-ish, yet it’s still quite charming and beautiful, as brick buildings often are. Of substantial construction, grey sandstone lintels and sills at each window contrast with the deep red brick. While it looks like many other modest sized prairie town hotels from that era, this one stands out as it retains most of its original charm (if charm is the right word). I have seen pictures from the 1940s showing it looking much as it appears today.
While not much information can be found on what happened to the American Hotel in the years between the time it was built and the 1970s – except for a brief blurb that prohibition and the great depression were hard on business – by the 1980s it was making the news…a lot. Not for good reasons either and it’s at this time that its notorious reputation was forged.
Out of nowhere it became a wild place, out of control and police were regular visitors. Every weekend Fort MacLeod would prepare itself for trouble – fights, violence, heavy drinking, drugs and more. So much so that it was unusual to NOT hear news about something bad happening here. For a town of three thousand, this troubled bar would have been more home in a large city.
Coming to a head in the mid-1980s (or thereabouts), it’s assumed the hotel either closed outright after that, or there was a change in management or attitudes that calmed things down, as the news seemed to stopped. Either way, by that time it’s reputation as hell-hole was already cast.
There are those who will say it’s proximity of the local First Nation’s Reserve that was the cause of the problem but it’s safe to assume the attitude of the hotel owners played a big part. Regardless of where the people came from, the management seemingly did little to address the problem of excessive drinking and the resultant violence that came of it. Surely they could have done something?
So when did bad era start and what was the catalyst for it and was it the cause of the hotel closing? We have no answers now.
I just love the sign on the hotel, it’s just so classic. This author has seen pictures showing the hotel at earlier times and a “licensed” sign is also seen hanging proudly above the entrance to the beer parlour.
While I do not know what’s in store for the old hotel, it appears to be in fine shape, at least on the outside, and given it’s historical significance I am hoping plans are afoot to save the building. If anyone knows more, please let me know.
Sitting behind the building is a slightly beat up truck (maybe an understatement), an International R200 crane carrier. Looking forlorn, it adds a nice dimension to the shots. An old abandoned truck sitting next to an long forgotten hotel, how much better can it get? And that blue colour, wow I love it.
This model of truck was produced from 1953 to 1967, so it’s a real old timer. In spite of outward appearances, it’s actually quite complete, although the crane, a P&H model 55 I am told, is missing its boom. What does the future hold for this truck – sadly it’s probably the scrap yard. Very few large trucks get restored.
I have seen pictures from about 2009 and the truck was not seen then, so it arrived some time after that date.
Rules of exploration: show respect, don’t knowingly trespass and take only pictures.
Nearby is an old Ford Custom 300 sitting on a trailer, a real beauty with it’s pink and dark green two tone paint (or maybe the green is faded black). Dating from 1958, assuming my car id skills are correct, it looks fairly original and complete, if not a little bit rough. I am hoping someone has intentions to restore it as it’s a real looker.
Sitting on the south side of the building is a motor home and some travel trailers, which look to be lived in. Perhaps someone is watching over the hotel?
Fort MacLeod is a town south of Calgary and west of Lethbridge. Founded as a Northwest Mounted Police fort in the 1870s, it is home to a huge number of historically significant buildings and those make it worth a visit.
When shooting these pictures I used some tips that were given to me by a professional photographer, John Sharpe. To read his informative article on photographing old trucks and things, follow this link… 12 tips for shooting old vehicles – by Sharpeshots.com.
There was a story, This guy went in the bar and starting buying everyone “drinks” threw out the whole night. He was wearing an all white dress suit and he looked really amazing but little after buying everyone drinks he needed the restroom, so he got up and went. He’s was in the restroom for a long Time so everyone was wondering where he went so they went in a little after. And that guy wasn’t there. He just ended up disappearing and leaving but no one seen him leave the restroom and on the windows they have bars so no one could leave and sneak out the window.
But thats the story my gramps told me Probably the devil himself or a bad spirit
I worked there in the 80s for Sigmond and Ramona. It was a fun time. Sigmond made trips to the homeless shelter in Calgary to hire staff every few weeks. They never lasted long. Sig had a rule lose a fight you’re fired. The guys fought where ever. The girls in the washroom. The girls washroom looked like several murders had happened in there at the end of the night on weekends. Never a dull moment.
The bar closed down not long after ’96. I had friends who lived in the hotel, working for the owner. We used the fire escape in the back to get into the building. The roof blew off last year and I heard that the building may end up demolished soon.
Thanks for adding to the story. It makes our day when we hear from people like you. Yes, I know of the roof problem. I’ve heard talk it might get torn down, some that it may be saved. We made some calls after that event and couldn’t get a straight answer. We’ll be watching this place.
Drove by the old hotel this week and it doesn’t look good as it has a construction fence up around it .. I made a point of stopping to take a few pictures as it is one of many buildings I always watch out for on my road trips . It always amazed me that this building being abandoned looking but having very little vandalism .. Apparently the roof blew off a month or so ago and it looks like they are stripping the interior of metals . I’m wondering if its going to be tore down . Hoping I’m wrong . I tried to talk with an older fellow that was going in and out of the building but he was not interested in talking about it . Anyone know what is happening with the American Hotel??
Not sure what’s going on since the wind blew the roof sheeting off. Haven’t found anyone willing to talk. I can’t imagine they’d tear it down – my reasoning: it’s historically significant, in a town known for these types of structures and appears overall in pretty decent shape. But…who knows? We’ll keep an eye on it, that’s for sure.
Hi Chris & Connie, I thought I’d chime in here as it was my family that ran this establishment from 88 to around 95. Although I appreciate your take on what the bar was like in its prime, I can assure you a lot of what has been said has been grossly exaggerated.
My Aunt and Uncle ran this bar before we moved to Fort Macleod and when my Mom took over, the bar actually took a much better turn towards being a nicer, cleaner and safer environment. As I can’t attest for what transpired before we got there, my Mom worked really hard at making it a lot better and welcoming for tourists and clientele alike. Was it a rough place? Oh 100%. Anytime you put a watering hole between two reserves, it’s going to be Kung fu theatre on the weekends without a doubt. But I can also say that we were not in the news on a daily basis and I can without a doubt not remember even once reading an article about the violence or problems the bar had. If anyone can pull an archive here to a news source, I’d be more than happy to eat my words, but I don’t recall ever reading stories in the paper.
The hotel and tavern also brought a lot of amazing memories for us and its patrons as well. We hosted rodeo finals, fantastic music acts on weekends and even was the place to be when everyone in town would come for the Christmas tree light up outside on the front lawn. I won’t for one second say it was all roses lol but I will say that we made and still maintain friendships to this day that we cherish for a lifetime. My Mother was the first one to step up to give people a place to stay if they needed it, a warm plate of food if they were hungry and always was there for anyone who needed it.
You could ask anyone from Fort Macleod about my family and I can guarantee they wouldn’t have anything negative to say. Yes there were fights, violence, etc but less than what you would see at a nightclub in downtown Calgary. We didn’t have stabbings or people running amok throughout the bar. We had a solid security team of bouncers and called the RCMP if we felt things were out of control. So when you say it was the managers that let things go or was the cause, it’s disheartening to hear. I specifically remember calling the RCMP and having them tell us “we’re not your bouncers or babysitters” on numerous occasions. In fact the reason the bar shut down was because of the police “fishing” in the parking lot anytime someone would leave the bar. They would get pulled over, harassed and after awhile, stopped coming to the bar altogether. If you look it up, it was the exact same time that Premier Don Getty called an inquiry into the racial profiling that the RCMP in Fort Macleod were doing to the Natives when they were in town. On top of this, the legalization of VLT’s and Private Liquor Licenses also killed our business.
Although the bar brings back all sorts of memories both good and bad, I just wanted to come on here and set the record straight. It was truly one of the last Wild West frontier taverns of its time and it was on helluva good time! I wouldn’t of traded it for the world. As I mentioned earlier, everyone in Macleod knows my Mom, myself and my three brothers. We still keep in contact with lots of people from back then and even will stop and snap some pictures when we drive though.
And great to see you comment Jerry Potts! Long time my friend.
Jake, so nice to hear from you. You’ll notice mention is made of the trouble coming to a head in the mid-1980s, so I guess a little before you say your family took over the establishment. Back when I wrote the article years ago I did not cite sources properly. This I know: data was pulled from Lethbridge Herald Archives mostly. Other local and Southern Alberta newspaper/TV new sources were used too. The American is legendary, no doubt, but there is indeed lots of tangible proof that at times at least, it was indeed a rough and tumble place. I would love to chat with you sometime about your connection to it.
Jake, I believe you served as a bar tender in the hotel correct? My buddy and I were on leave from the USAF we thought one weekend we would leave Montana and head to Calgary for the Stampede. We didn’t make it as we saw the American sign and thought time for a drink. You found out we were from Kalispell as you were and you bought us a round. Never had to by one drink all night because of the hospitality of the fine folks in Fort McLeod and the American. Rob L USAF 1996
As a 4th generation from the Piikani Reservation the American Hotel was a destination for Party Guys/Gals of the time. If you grew up during this time in the 80’s you were nobody unless you were seen at the American Hotel and Silver Grill in a Happy state of mind. If you were looking for trouble you would be accommodated with a good beating in a hurry. At this time the same patrons would be seen at the Babb Tavern (Boarder Town) in Montana to go and keep the party going because you could not consume alcohol on Sundays in Alberta. The mayor in the late 80’s drove the American Hotel business into the ground with racial profiling (by the RCMP) of First Nation Patrons of the Taverns’. Too Bad,Fort Macleod does not get it on how they could Partner with some of the First Nation’s and make there town a Historic Destination for Business Opportunities’. The American Hotel has stood the test of Time and represents many Good and Bad Times, even the Devil was seen in the Crowd a few times! As Ever. J.Potts
Nice shots! I work at the Fort and see this beaut every day! Its so classy looking. I would love to see inside, before it’s renos. I have a thing for old buildings.
I hope if what the previous comment says that they are re-doing it, I hope they don’t modernize it too much,I hate it when big companies come in and keep the exterior old-timey then you get inside and its all new… worst disappointment for me anyways.
Thank you so much for your post, that helps with one part of the mystery and all we need to know now is the year. I guess I missed that chart when I photographed the truck and crane.
Your article is interesting but at the same time paints a negative picture of Fort MacLeod. I think some of your sources have embellished the story and while the American Hotel had it’s problems saying it was “in the news” as often as you did was perhaps a stretch. The hotel was not shut due to social issues but because it required major renovations. A new possible owner is looking at it with the intentions to convert it into a heritage hotel, keeping it’s charm but modernizing it. I live in Fort Mac.
Thank you for your input. In fact I toned down much of the negativity in my post and my sources paint a much worse picture than I did. Looking at the data presented the American Hotel was a very out of control place in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I’d love to see the place fixed up though and am happy to hear things could change. I just dig the simple but classics lines and of course just love the history. That history by the way, good or bad, should be celebrated!
I agree with Chris and Connie the article was kind to the American Hotel. I lived in the bridge in 1989 and 90 and as they said the hotel was on the local news an awful lot.
I’m a big boy and can hold my own in any sort of dangerous situation, but I would have never and I mean never ventured in there during the height of its fame.
Stayed in places like this in 60s 70s they called them transport accommodation in the U.K. The days before sleeper cabs became legal it would have been nicer sleeping across the seats of that LOVELY old truck. BOB
I’ve been in the American, nice room. Boots stick to the carpet, check. dirty glass, check. terry-towel table cloths(red), check. sit with back to the wall, check. stay sober, absolutely!!!!! 😉
Or the National, the Nash! I lived in Calgary in the 1970s and that hotel was a rough place. We’d go slumming, grab a cold one, sit back and watch the action.
I’ve seen a picture from the 1940s and the only differences from today was a sign over the tavern door, and that large Indian on a horse paining was not there. Otherwise the hotel looked exactly the same. I’d love to explore the inside!
We used to do something called the "pointless challenge" 🤪 and miss those days. It was so much silly fun and often frustrating as heck. In these we'd invite people to send in random photos of obscure locations, but not give any information, and then we'd track where it was and shoot something similar.
Most of these came from old family collections, as was the case here. Anyone up to resurrecting the series?
In hindsight, why didn't we pose someone in our shot?
Pointless: “Devoid of meaning (or) senseless” Merriam-Webster.
If you like what we do and want to support this ongoing project (12 years now), go here: https://www.BIGDoer.com/help-the-society/ Thanks to Connie for making this post possible.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: ca1970 and 2014. Posted by Connie.
Captured on a cold, cold day many years ago. We've been passing this old house for decades and it's little changed in that time. At some point we expect to drive by and it'll be gone.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
When retired old railway cars usually get cut up for scrap. Sometimes, however, they find their way into the hands of the general public or whomever. Flat cars make good bridges, and boxcars can be transformed into storage buildings and the like. Case in point here. We see them used like this often enough and in this case, it's part of a corral.
Incidentally, this boxcar dates from 1950 and this was found by tracing the old road number, which is still visible.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
This central Alberta racetrack was never a commercial operation but instead just a fun place for car enthusiasts in the area to get together. Early '70s or thereabouts and it only lasted a few years. Even thought it's been abandoned for that long, there is no doubt what was here.
You know we like the the obscure stuff and this one fits the bill perfectly. Found by accident while backroad cruising and the history comes thanks to local car guy Mike.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2022. Posted by Connie.
On top of little Myrtle Mountain in the Kimberley (BC) Nature Park.
There's some good wilderness fun to be had here and nice views as you can see, but the real reason we came is mining history. The whole area near the ski hill was extensively worked over a century ago and we were looking for evidence of this. We didn't find much in the area searched, but it's a big chunk of property and we hope to return to cover more ground again soon. Of all the subjects we cover, mining related is a favourite.
Still, it was a good hike and that can't be bad. Look to the comments for more info 👇.
Exploring nature and history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2022. Posted by Connie.
It's a strange curiosity in south Kananaskis, there on a hillside and we have no idea who created it. We asked around and no one's completely sure about its history. In the past it showed the Canada 100 logo from 1967 but in 2017 someone changed it to reflect the country's 150th.
That's our friend Emily from DanOCan.com having a look.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
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There was a story, This guy went in the bar and starting buying everyone “drinks” threw out the whole night. He was wearing an all white dress suit and he looked really amazing but little after buying everyone drinks he needed the restroom, so he got up and went. He’s was in the restroom for a long Time so everyone was wondering where he went so they went in a little after. And that guy wasn’t there. He just ended up disappearing and leaving but no one seen him leave the restroom and on the windows they have bars so no one could leave and sneak out the window.
But thats the story my gramps told me
Probably the devil himself or a bad spirit
There’s always a legend associated with these old hotels. Thanks for sharing!
Super duper haunted we had friends that lived there and let me tell you. Scary shit!
That would come as no surprise!
The artists name is Glen EagleSpeaker from the Blood Tribe
We looked up his work and man, what a great talent. Thanks for adding to the story.
I worked there in the 80s for Sigmond and Ramona.
It was a fun time. Sigmond made trips to the homeless shelter in Calgary to hire staff every few weeks. They never lasted long. Sig had a rule lose a fight you’re fired.
The guys fought where ever. The girls in the washroom. The girls washroom looked like several murders had happened in there at the end of the night on weekends. Never a dull moment.
It sure has a storied reputation. Thanks for sharing your memories – sounds like quite the time. Did you get danger pay?
free beer and pool after closing.
You had us at free beer!
I shot these same two vehicles probably 5-6 years back.
They were great photo subjects. Thanks for commenting!
The bar closed down not long after ’96. I had friends who lived in the hotel, working for the owner. We used the fire escape in the back to get into the building. The roof blew off last year and I heard that the building may end up demolished soon.
Thanks for adding to the story. It makes our day when we hear from people like you. Yes, I know of the roof problem. I’ve heard talk it might get torn down, some that it may be saved. We made some calls after that event and couldn’t get a straight answer. We’ll be watching this place.
Drove by the old hotel this week and it doesn’t look good as it has a construction fence up around it .. I made a point of stopping to take a few pictures as it is one of many buildings I always watch out for on my road trips . It always amazed me that this building being abandoned looking but having very little vandalism .. Apparently the roof blew off a month or so ago and it looks like they are stripping the interior of metals . I’m wondering if its going to be tore down . Hoping I’m wrong . I tried to talk with an older fellow that was going in and out of the building but he was not interested in talking about it . Anyone know what is happening with the American Hotel??
Not sure what’s going on since the wind blew the roof sheeting off. Haven’t found anyone willing to talk. I can’t imagine they’d tear it down – my reasoning: it’s historically significant, in a town known for these types of structures and appears overall in pretty decent shape. But…who knows? We’ll keep an eye on it, that’s for sure.
This is the stuff we like to see, keep it coming!!
We’re hoping not to disappoint. Thanks for commenting!
(via Facebook)
Cool Binder, and nice ’58 Ford!
No argument here!
My great grandmother’s father in law built a hotel in MacLeod and I’m wondering if this is the same one.
There were many hotels in Ft MacLeod. We’d be happy to look deeper into it for you if you wish. Drop us a private email. Have a great day!
It must have been something back in the day.
In the old days, it must have been more respectable. I think you’re spot on there.
Hi Chris & Connie, I thought I’d chime in here as it was my family that ran this establishment from 88 to around 95. Although I appreciate your take on what the bar was like in its prime, I can assure you a lot of what has been said has been grossly exaggerated.
My Aunt and Uncle ran this bar before we moved to Fort Macleod and when my Mom took over, the bar actually took a much better turn towards being a nicer, cleaner and safer environment. As I can’t attest for what transpired before we got there, my Mom worked really hard at making it a lot better and welcoming for tourists and clientele alike. Was it a rough place? Oh 100%. Anytime you put a watering hole between two reserves, it’s going to be Kung fu theatre on the weekends without a doubt. But I can also say that we were not in the news on a daily basis and I can without a doubt not remember even once reading an article about the violence or problems the bar had. If anyone can pull an archive here to a news source, I’d be more than happy to eat my words, but I don’t recall ever reading stories in the paper.
The hotel and tavern also brought a lot of amazing memories for us and its patrons as well. We hosted rodeo finals, fantastic music acts on weekends and even was the place to be when everyone in town would come for the Christmas tree light up outside on the front lawn. I won’t for one second say it was all roses lol but I will say that we made and still maintain friendships to this day that we cherish for a lifetime. My Mother was the first one to step up to give people a place to stay if they needed it, a warm plate of food if they were hungry and always was there for anyone who needed it.
You could ask anyone from Fort Macleod about my family and I can guarantee they wouldn’t have anything negative to say. Yes there were fights, violence, etc but less than what you would see at a nightclub in downtown Calgary. We didn’t have stabbings or people running amok throughout the bar. We had a solid security team of bouncers and called the RCMP if we felt things were out of control. So when you say it was the managers that let things go or was the cause, it’s disheartening to hear. I specifically remember calling the RCMP and having them tell us “we’re not your bouncers or babysitters” on numerous occasions. In fact the reason the bar shut down was because of the police “fishing” in the parking lot anytime someone would leave the bar. They would get pulled over, harassed and after awhile, stopped coming to the bar altogether. If you look it up, it was the exact same time that Premier Don Getty called an inquiry into the racial profiling that the RCMP in Fort Macleod were doing to the Natives when they were in town. On top of this, the legalization of VLT’s and Private Liquor Licenses also killed our business.
Although the bar brings back all sorts of memories both good and bad, I just wanted to come on here and set the record straight. It was truly one of the last Wild West frontier taverns of its time and it was on helluva good time! I wouldn’t of traded it for the world. As I mentioned earlier, everyone in Macleod knows my Mom, myself and my three brothers. We still keep in contact with lots of people from back then and even will stop and snap some pictures when we drive though.
And great to see you comment Jerry Potts! Long time my friend.
Best,
Jake Hirsch
Jake, so nice to hear from you. You’ll notice mention is made of the trouble coming to a head in the mid-1980s, so I guess a little before you say your family took over the establishment. Back when I wrote the article years ago I did not cite sources properly. This I know: data was pulled from Lethbridge Herald Archives mostly. Other local and Southern Alberta newspaper/TV new sources were used too. The American is legendary, no doubt, but there is indeed lots of tangible proof that at times at least, it was indeed a rough and tumble place. I would love to chat with you sometime about your connection to it.
Jake, I believe you served as a bar tender in the hotel correct? My buddy and I were on leave from the USAF we thought one weekend we would leave Montana and head to Calgary for the Stampede. We didn’t make it as we saw the American sign and thought time for a drink. You found out we were from Kalispell as you were and you bought us a round. Never had to by one drink all night because of the hospitality of the fine folks in Fort McLeod and the American.
Rob L USAF 1996
Awesome memories!
As a 4th generation from the Piikani Reservation the American Hotel was a destination for Party Guys/Gals of the time. If you grew up during this time in the 80’s you were nobody unless you were seen at the American Hotel and Silver Grill in a Happy state of mind. If you were looking for trouble you would be accommodated with a good beating in a hurry. At this time the same patrons would be seen at the Babb Tavern (Boarder Town) in Montana to go and keep the party going because you could not consume alcohol on Sundays in Alberta.
The mayor in the late 80’s drove the American Hotel business into the ground with racial profiling (by the RCMP) of First Nation Patrons of the Taverns’.
Too Bad,Fort Macleod does not get it on how they could Partner with some of the First Nation’s and make there town a Historic Destination for Business Opportunities’.
The American Hotel has stood the test of Time and represents many Good and Bad Times, even the Devil was seen in the Crowd a few times!
As Ever.
J.Potts
What an interesting and sometimes checkered past that hotel has. Thanks so much for sharing your American Hotel experiences.
Nice shots! I work at the Fort and see this beaut every day! Its so classy looking. I would love to see inside, before it’s renos. I have a thing for old buildings.
I hope if what the previous comment says that they are re-doing it, I hope they don’t modernize it too much,I hate it when big companies come in and keep the exterior old-timey then you get inside and its all new… worst disappointment for me anyways.
I agree, it would be best if they kept it as it was.
The crane is a P&H model 55, 7 ton crane. The load chart is still in the upper cab. Don’t know the year, but that is what the load chart says.
Thank you so much for your post, that helps with one part of the mystery and all we need to know now is the year. I guess I missed that chart when I photographed the truck and crane.
When passing through I’ve often wondered about this place, it’s clearly a dive but at the same time I’d love to see the insides.
Ahh the American, what memories. My father used to talk about the place.
Your article is interesting but at the same time paints a negative picture of Fort MacLeod. I think some of your sources have embellished the story and while the American Hotel had it’s problems saying it was “in the news” as often as you did was perhaps a stretch. The hotel was not shut due to social issues but because it required major renovations. A new possible owner is looking at it with the intentions to convert it into a heritage hotel, keeping it’s charm but modernizing it. I live in Fort Mac.
Thank you for your input. In fact I toned down much of the negativity in my post and my sources paint a much worse picture than I did. Looking at the data presented the American Hotel was a very out of control place in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I’d love to see the place fixed up though and am happy to hear things could change. I just dig the simple but classics lines and of course just love the history. That history by the way, good or bad, should be celebrated!
I agree with Chris and Connie the article was kind to the American Hotel. I lived in the bridge in 1989 and 90 and as they said the hotel was on the local news an awful lot.
I’m a big boy and can hold my own in any sort of dangerous situation, but I would have never and I mean never ventured in there during the height of its fame.
Stayed in places like this in 60s 70s they called them transport accommodation in the U.K. The days before sleeper cabs became legal it would have been nicer sleeping across the seats of that LOVELY old truck. BOB
:>
I’ve been in the American, nice room.
Boots stick to the carpet, check.
dirty glass, check.
terry-towel table cloths(red), check.
sit with back to the wall, check.
stay sober, absolutely!!!!! 😉
It sounds like the old King Eddie in Calgary!
Or the National, the Nash! I lived in Calgary in the 1970s and that hotel was a rough place. We’d go slumming, grab a cold one, sit back and watch the action.
Notorious is an understatement! I lived in Lethbridge in the early 90s and this place made the news on an almost daily basis.
I hear ya!
I also marvel at how this place never changes. Growing up in Coaldale it was a common sight on our way to camping in the Crowsnest Pass.
I’ve seen a picture from the 1940s and the only differences from today was a sign over the tavern door, and that large Indian on a horse paining was not there. Otherwise the hotel looked exactly the same. I’d love to explore the inside!
I’ve been there .. spent a few nights there . As a really good friend used to live there ..!had some very interesting experiences there …
Oh, I bet! The American Hotel, if anything, was an interesting place. Thanks for commenting.