Imagine our thrill on seeing someone at this property…someone who looks like they should be there. A quick introduction, some confusion over our motives (honestly, this is what we do), and we’re in. However, the light’s failing, we’ve got the wrong camera and no tripod, so we’ll have to make due. This small town motel is still in business, but the row of cabins seen here, the oldest units in the complex, are no longer used. Can you say no vacancy?
Our new friend did not appear to be the chatty type, so we didn’t ask if they knew the history. Anyway, we enjoy the research phase and given the type of business, knew it would be easy to find a bit of backstory. Old phone books, here we come! We’ve known of this place for a long time, but never searched out the owners, so this chance happening came as a blessing.
No Vacancy: disused cabins at a small town motel. By Chris Doering and Connie Biggart (BIGDoer/Synd)
This post comes thanks to a gift from ”JlaF” and for this kind act, we send our love. Do the same…
Funny how it plays out – there we were heading back from a snack run, minding our business and with exploring the last thing on our minds, then out of nowhere, opportunity knocks. Our proper gear was at the crash pad (another “dive*” motel in town), so while unprepared, we say what the heck.
Scroll down for photos and to comment.
Here’s what we know, thanks to AGT and later Telus.
The motel first makes mention about 1965. At the time, it’s listed as having five units but a couple years later that number doubled and soon after, doubled again. Ten units are still used today, on the other side of the property, and by the numbers must be the final ones built.
For most of the ’60s and ’70s their ads read: “Fully modern with TV & Radio”. That’s not much of a come on, but with only one local competitor (at the time – an old hotel, still in business), perhaps they didn’t have to try hard. They were not far off the highway and given how everything’s laid out, were the first accommodations you’d pass if heading into town.
In the mid-1970s they advertised new owners and their tag line went like this: “20 modern units with TVs and some with kitchen. Comfortable and reasonable.” We’re sold! By the 1980s it changed: “20 modern units. Colour TV – Telephones – Kitchens.” Colour TV? The future is now!
In the mid 1980s they were under new management again and advertised the following: “20 modern units, AC, satellite & colour TVs, kitchenettes and launderette.” In the early 1990s they offered “Bachelorettes (the room, not the party), plus weekly and monthly rates.”
That they were touting long term rentals at this point, tells us they’re were courting the non-tourist trade. You know, transient workers and it’s likely the units were also used for social housing. Taking on these roles became a fate that befell many old motels and the section still in use sort of continues along these lines.
The motel operated under one name for most of its history, but has had several owners as you’ve seen. In the early to mid-2010s they closed this section and at this time, the combined office/manager’s house on the property was torn down and business then handled remotely from elsewhere in town. You want a room? You have to call and wait for the key-master to show up.
Photos of the cabins taken near the end (found on an old travel site), show them looking rather run-down (as they are today) and not terribly welcoming. Local contacts in our circle tell us it was a no-tell motel at the time and with a questionable reputation.
Reviews speak of its seedy character: “Cheap, cheap, cheap…Keep repeating to yourself: at least it’s cheap…overlook the smelly carpet, the bare wiring…at least it’s cheap.” You get the picture. For the continental breakfast you got a toaster, a loaf of Wonder Bread and jug of Tang and if you use your Bates Motel chain reward card, you get a free night’s stay every third visit. If you survive! We’ll get your room ready as soon as we remove the police tape.
The section that remains in operation still has that old-school vibe and given the name of the business changed a few years back suggests new owners once again. While it’s no Fairmont Banff Springs, it serves a need and not as bad as some places we’ve stayed at. We’re forced to travel cheap and have no choice in the matter.
Are these cabins no longer used due to lack of demand or that they needed some serious work? Hard to say for certain, but the latter seems more likely as it’s clear they’re not in great shape. Still everything here seems intact, albeit faded, cracked and weathered. We’re not sure the purpose of the A-frame building seen, but maybe it’s the laundry(?).
Unprepared as were meant we knew the photos would turn out pretty ugly. It happens when you push it hard. No wait, that raw and gritty feel…it’s an artistic statement. You know, edgy and of extreme contrast, a reflection of man’s internal struggle with self. Yeah, something deep. That’s it!
Extreme ISOs were the rule this evening, and the grain that comes with it begrudgingly accepted. Finally an excuse to crank it to 12.8k! Full power captain and with the sensor glowing red hot we could only ask for more. Most of the photos were no good, due the low light, but so be it. Truth is, it’s about the fun and memories that come of these adventures and not the photos (shhh, don’t tell anyone).
The cool reception given us by our host had us thinking brevity as the best option, so after a few snaps we hightailed it out. We say our thanks on leaving, a greeting barely acknowledged, and while they go back to rooting through their car, lit by flashlight (dome light busted?), we drive off.
We wish we had more time and better light, but we’ll take what we can get. Maybe we’ll try again another day…
*Dive: an endearing term for old motels of character.
Stay tuned for more fun and adventure!
They’re saying…
”They have no fear when it comes to searching in remote areas, and they have an artistic eye for picture taking. It’s a very enjoyable site.” James Robinson.
Something to say and no one to say it to? Go here: contact us!
Date of Adventure: August, 2020. Location: Small Town, AB. Article references and thanks: Old phone books at the Calgary Public Library and the Medicine Hat & District Genealogical Society.
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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