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Nevada |
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| Holiday Motel Las Vegas, NV |
Valley Motel Las Vegas, NV |
Sky Ranch Motel Las Vegas, NV |
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| Yucca Motel Las Vegas, NV |
Gateway Motel Las Vegas, NV |
Tod Motor Hotel Las Vegas, NV |
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| Bell Court Motel Battle Mountain, NV |
Travelers
Motel Elko , NV |
Louis Motel Elko, NV |
| Click thumbnails to see fullsize images Nevada has lately suffered
an identity crisis. In its efforts to cast off recent attempts to fashion
itself as a family destination, the Silver State has begun to rediscover
its sleazy roots. Of course, the motels of Nevada’s prime tourist
stops never forgot, offering stained sheets and moaning walls to folks
who’d bet their last chip or those who couldn’t afford the
extravagant rates of the theme-world megaliths that stagger the balance
sheets of accountants worldwide. With few exceptions, like the gruff but
sincere Sandman Motel on Reno’s faded Fourth Street, Nevada’s
large city motels are best recalled through decades-old postcards. Best
to visit the smaller towns that hang off the Interstate like overripe
fruit ready to fall. |
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| Manor Motor Lodge Elko, NV |
Lariat Motel (now closed) Fallon, NV |
Lariat Motel (now closed) Fallon, NV |
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Later
on when you have returned to the Interstate, slow down just before Elko,
lower the windows to feel the breeze, and stop at last. Stepping onto
the business route, you may hear dogs bark from behind closed screen doors
while gray clouds billow overhead. For a time, you may stand in the middle
of the street with no traffic to rush you, looking down the road into
town, unsure of what to expect. Stick around. By the time evening falls
Elko’s main street scintillates in flashing, gaudy motel signs that
offer more honest thrills than found in the monstrous thoroughfares of
Vegas and Reno. The Travelers Motel, the Holiday Motel, the Manor Motor
Lodge, and the Centre Motel offer some of the best neon and friendliest
folks. |
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| Merry Wink Motel Reno, NV |
Sandman Motel Reno, NV |
Pony Express Lodge |
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| Lone Star Motel Wells, NV |
Wagon Wheel Motel Wells, NV |
City Center Motel Reno , NV |
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| All text copyright Andrew Wood. Photos copyright Jenny Wood and Andy Wood.
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