In the mid-eighties, my best friend and I used to hit up resorts like this. We would sit by the pool and order iced teas and pretend we were guests. Good memories.
My girlfriend and I stayed there a few years ago, when we went to visit our grandson. The ads for the place looked great and it was close to where he lived. After we checked in, we found our room to be clean and spacious. But it definitely had a “has been” vibe. We were only there a couple of nights. Looking around the grounds, it was very obvious that it was neglected along the lines of upkeep. Just down the walk from our room, some of the boards from the 2 floor balcony were on the ground. They were still there when we left. Trash cans had not been dumped, the grass and vegetation was uncared for. We could see that at one time it was an amazing place. When we stayed there it had become shabby. It’s sad to see some early Mesa history gone. 😞 🌵
For eye opening photos, go to TripAdvisor website, Dobson Ranch Resort and see the Photos. This is the condition it was in when we stayed there. Why would management want guests to see that??
Why do hotels/resorts from this time have waaaaay more style & panache than the new so-called "luxury" places?? They are so stark and cold now.....thank you for this! Would have loved to stay here ♡
Interesting to see how the decline of this hotel corresponds to the decline of Dobson Ranch in general. At the time both were built, they were considered luxurious but have long since been surpassed by newer developments in the SE Valley. Additionally this area is bordering the dead Fiesta Mall and other run down parts of West Mesa.
The 🎶🎶🎶💻 music is great too. Very simple, low key. I would not be wondering around large empty hotels or 🏘. That seems dangerous. Also with Covid19 🚧🚨🚧 you have no idea what might be there. Rabid dogs, ☠ body, filth.
The hotel had been sold again in the first half of the 2010s and the GM Kevin quit. They hired this Asian lady as the new GM and she decided she can save money by laying off the staff (including my mother who was head housekeeper) and hire all new people. After that the place started going downhill. The GM got hers in the end when she got arrested.
It does. In the Phoenix area it's easier to just build newer, bigger, better stuff a couple of miles away on vacant land instead of improve the existing things. Mesa has that vibe because that's when a lot of new stuff was being built in Chandler and Gilbert. The East valley is almost landlocked (unless you start going waaaaay out into Queen Creek, San Tan, Johnson Ranch, Florence) so soon enough it's going to reach the point where the in-fill areas run out and there won't be anywhere to easily and casually build new stuff in. At that point they'll have to start improving properties in older areas of town (they'll call it 'gentrifying' and pretend it's a bad thing). The older parts of Mesa and Chandler are probably going to start seeing a sort of renaissance in the next 10 to 20 years as developers buy up old worn down cheap properties and revitalizing them.
A few years ago a friend of mine was visiting and he got a room here. I live in Central Phoenix, so I was a tad annoyed that he didn’t follow my recommendations and stay closer to town. When I got to the place and met up with him, I was FLOORED at how sad the place was. There was a lot of random stuff happening that seemed quite shady... Thanks for doing a tour!
If you really want to get an eye full, check out the guest photos and comments on TripAdvisor. It’s amazing what management “sees”, and what the guests got! The photos basically show how it was when we stayed there. So sad.
This wasn’t a motel; this was a campus. The giveaway was the signs pointing to the lobby. If you need directions just to get to the lobby, then you’re big!!! Tragic, just tragic-but it’s a sign of the times that we’re in.....
I wasn't even aware this hotel existed until I watched your Monti's video. I wasn't aware of this Monti's location either until that video lol. Great video as always even if it's not dead mall content!
You said that there was a "disgusting dichotomy" in the fact that homeless people were sleeping outside this crumbling hotel. So the fact that they are building "Luxury" apartments in this location must add to that feeling of disgust. Sometimes it feels like the US is heading towards a C Y B E R P U N K future where towering residential blocks surround the common people that sleep in the dregs. Although I personally feel like we are just slowly spiraling down into retail hell and urban decay as a result of letting developers do whatever they want.
A dystopian cyberpunk 2077 type world is only 50 or so years ahead from now. 1970's were 50 years behind us. It's kinda harrowing how much time can change and you put things in perspective.
this is existentially terrifying, as someone (formerly?) in the absolutely annihilated hotel hospitality industry. i've also seen this hotel my entire life starting from the backseat of station wagons, so it is doubly eerily familiar. with no business travel these hulking buildings we work in just can end up hanging open and decaying. but think of all the life and work that was once there, all the people. kinda bone-chilling, to see all that go to rot when it could be used for something if we so single-mindedly wrenching every plot of land for the optimum extracted value. people with jobs in a destroyed industry could keep their jobs right now with minor changes to re-purpose infrastructure like that.
It was a modern adaption of Shakespeare's 2 Gentlemen of Verona. It was available to view on Amazon prime for a while but I don't think it's there anymore.
I followed you back when you made a vid on fiesta mall as I grew up in Maricopa county starting in 97. Your uploads have me going WOW ! Some places you go in depth 👍. Love your channel and commentary! Me being a gamer one big memory is SEGA Gameworks at AZ mills mall then got sold to an American biz why the took the Sega name and named Game Works not only that but IMAX next door was the 1st I can recall giving that cinematic experience. Thank you RA your uploads is keeping an accurate historical record. Dont quit bro!
How sad. Reminds me of the horribly unceremonious ending to the Safari Resort across from Fashion Square. I'm so sad I wasn't around to see it in it's heyday. I stayed there in 90 and 91 and it was already getting a bit worn.
I live a few minutes from here. Grew up passing it by everyday. Was a cute resort, but I was never sure what audience it pulled in unless it was for the hospital across the bridge?
this is so crazy to see this is ripped down now, my wife and I moved to AZ back in 2015 and when we came out to look at apartments spent a night at this place (ended up renting an apartment right down the street from here for a few years) its funny, everything looks so familiar, we moved to a different state in 2018 before this was torn down, the hotel from what I remember was clean enough, I didn't feel like I needed to sleep in the shower with it running, the restaurant where you could get the free breakfast in the morning actually wasn't terrible either, but I do remember that someone was shot in the back parking lot from a craigslist deal gone bad and I don't think that did this place any favors at all. We didn't know the area and the price was right for a one night stay which was what led us to taking our chances on this place, I feel like based on some of what I have heard about it that we were kinda lucky in that respect, but I had a mostly positive experience the one time we did stay. I love seeing all the places you cover on this channel, I had a lot of good times living in AZ, and seeing these bring back a lot of memories from the few years we were living there.
Omggggg I've always wanted to check this place out. >.> I used to work at Banner Desert so I drove by this place a lot, between that and the Fiesta Mall (which I saw your vid on too!), but sadly I can't visit the mall anymore. :< Always piqued my curiosity though.
This reminds me of the Wagon Wheel Lodge, that was originally located in Rockton, IL. I remember the main lobby was awesome, with a welcoming big fireplace, and there was a talking myna bird, in a cage by the front windows. My mom & I loved the Candy Kitchen. Although I was never able to ride it, there was a garden railroad, which ran around the entire property. At one time, the Wagon Wheel Lodge was a destination & local attraction for many people. There was even a small non-denominational church on the property, where many couples were married. I'm told its heyday was the 1950s-1970s. Unfortunately, the property was already in a serious decline by the 1980's - essentially a shadow of its former self. After several suspicious fires, I believe most of the buildings were tore down, and the property was sub-divided, and turned into a subdivision. Taken from the back of a Post Card, for the Wagon Wheel Lodge: "Located at the intersection of Routes 2 and 75, 350 beautiful rooms and 15 furnished apartments. Open the year round. Single, double and twin-bed rooms. Dining rooms serving three meals a day every day of the year. Year around swimming pool, ice skating and curling rinks, 9 hole day or night golf course, bowling alleys, billiard room, stables and landing strip." www.cardcow.com/219375/rockton-illinois-wagon-wheel-lodge-maps/ www.cardcow.com/169719/pigalle-music-hall-wagon-wheel-lodge-rockton-illinois/ history.rockfordpubliclibrary.org/localhistory/?tag=wagon-wheel-resort www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/wagon-wheel-lodge-rockton-il-pool-100508549 www.thesupperclubbook.com/?page_id=339
I actually stayed here for 2 weeks one year ago when I was moving back to AZ and looking for an apartment. The room interior was actually really nice, for what it was worth (paid about $250-300 for a week) but like you said the property was falling apart, and there was a bunch of shady people staying there/coming and going. The staff was pretty bad too, I had a clogged toilet and had to wait over an hour just to get a plunger from them. Only thing that made it worth it was the free breakfast every morning at the little Mexican restaurant. They gave you breakfast vouchers to cash in and get yourself a waffle, some cereal or peanut butter and toast, coffee and juice. I got to talking to the owner there every time I went for there and actually met a really good friend while having breakfast one morning. Kinda unfortunate that its completely gone now, definitely a sense of nostalgia from that place.
Very interesting video! I love being able to explore (virtually) all these grand old places that were once great but are no longer. Kind of sad, but it's so cool you are chronicling parts of local history. Keep it up!
From 1994 to 2008 me and my dad did spring training trips.we stayed there every trip except 99 I believe. During that time it was a pretty good place, large rooms grounds were maintained, free Buffett style breakfast. The decline of that places is fascinating
This is where my husband and I stayed the night we got married in early 2012 before heading out on our Honeymoon. He got a Groupon deal on it because it was much more than $25 to $30 a night then and we got a suite. It was in so much better condition with working fountains and was fairly busy for a middle of the week stay in February. It also had an amazing free breakfast with homemade Belgium waffles, omelets, sausage, bacon, different types of eggs, tons of pasties and breads, lots of different drink options, and for an extra fee a full menu of alcoholic drinks. It's sad to see it in this condition and now completely gone. 😞
If anyone wants a real 👁 eye full, go to TripAdvisor and look at the GUEST photos and comments. They are a far cry from the photos posted by the hotel. The photos posted by guests, showed what we got when we stayed there. Pretty sad 😢.
Hey Mr Archaeology, I have a mall for you to cover. Its called the outlets at anthem. It was built in 1999, and is VERY DEAD. Dosent have any anchors and its very medium sized. Hope you see this!!
Love the intros with the old ruby spears entertainment logo and sound from the 80s. Takes me back to Saturday mornings with cereal and awesome cartoons
I remember going there in the late 1990's. Over the years it went South IE lack of maintenance, trash not picked up, and other issues. Back in it's heyday, they attracted a lot of winter guests from the Mid West, East Coast and Eastern Canada.
I've been to Phoenix a few times but never knew about this place. I don't care how bad the area is, I totally would have stayed at a retro place like that.
Growing up I used to go to a Best Western hotel in Monterey, CA. About 10 years ago that hotel lost their Best Western certification too. I used to see lots of mid-size hotels that were Best Western 15-20 years ago, and now it's very rare when I see ANY Best Westerns at all. I wonder who bought them out/what happened.
My kids and I stayed there last November and it was okay but I would have never gone back & I guess that’s why we didn’t go back. They had to switch our room twice because of broken toilet then the next had holes in the wall and flooded floor. It was sick. Only stayed because hey wouldn’t give my money back. Smh
It's fenced off and has been for years. You can't get into the parking lot. You can pretty much film the Bennigan's on the corner, that's been closed for like 20 years.
Yes, I've worked at Days Inns 🏨, extended stays, GTLC.com , condos. 👮🏼♂️ work. If you have poorly trained staff or cut corners, get ready 📉. Hotels & resorts can get mold, mildew, dust, crud, AC-HVAC issues, homeless-street bums. To own & run a hotel is a huge effort.
@@DavidLLambertmobile As a traveler who often uses the Choice brand, I've seen the ownership by Indians (Patels) turn friendly brands into militant camps. Lots of rules and lots of long-term renters. What's your opinion of a hotel once it moves into that ownership?
Dude the board in the nasty clogged drain thing was likely to let trapped animals out, not for ppl. Same reason pools have steps and ladders. At least i hope so because that water looks so YUK!
I can already see somebody putting that in their current motel room and it be featured in an episode of another dirty room I already see that happening
A busy street in the middle of a city seems like a silly place to build a resort. When I hear resort, I think of some expencive hotel on an island, a beach, in the woods, or up in the mountains.
Not the worst looking hotel I've run across. Unless it's the weekend or an event I usually don't book a room in advance. Winging it has led me to some interesting places to stay. Especially pre smartphone days.
I guess the good news is that new construction is coming there. I’m surprised you didn’t mention this resort was about just a mile west of the infamous Fiesta Mall!
Throwing away a car seat probably means you’re an international traveler and buying one in the USA and dumping it when you leave might make sense if you’re here for an extended trip. Horrible for the environment and of course no one will touch a used car seat.
It seems so wasteful. It's just, nobody wanted the luxury resort anymore. And there were homeless people nearby who clearly needed some shelter. Why don't we just give the empty shelter , to the homeless people? I know, I know, money, but step back from money for a millisecond and imagine if homeless people just got what they needed. It seems wasteful to turn it all into rubble instead.
Because most homeless are mentally ill / drug addicts. Most people think giving them a roof, food, clothes, and maybe a bus pass will get them out of their situation and become productive. Just doesn't work.
@@williamnoll7935 Honestly its a good idea because it keeps them off the streets and clean (at least more so) which solves most people's issue of them bothering pedestrians/local businesses. The main hurdles are people who are obsessed with the reform approach and/or people who would be outraged at homeless groups from getting 'free housing' and becoming the new 'welfare queens.' Cheap dorm style housing is the cost effective pragmatic solution but it doesn't please a lot of people from either camp.
It would be cool if they could be able to stay there if they maintained the property and surrounding areas. I see that as a hand up and not a hand out🤷🏿♀️
"Ok business is talking a little bit of a hit but things will pick up again."
**this guy shows up to record**
"welp... the end is near."
In the mid-eighties, my best friend and I used to hit up resorts like this. We would sit by the pool and order iced teas and pretend we were guests. Good memories.
It's completely gone now. Just dirt.
I think that murder from a craigslist meet was the final nail in the coffin.
It happened there?!??!?
Nice play on words!
My girlfriend and I stayed there a few years ago, when we went to visit our grandson. The ads for the place looked great and it was close to where he lived. After we checked in, we found our room to be clean and spacious. But it definitely had a “has been” vibe. We were only there a couple of nights. Looking around the grounds, it was very obvious that it was neglected along the lines of upkeep. Just down the walk from our room, some of the boards from the 2 floor balcony were on the ground. They were still there when we left. Trash cans had not been dumped, the grass and vegetation was uncared for. We could see that at one time it was an amazing place. When we stayed there it had become shabby. It’s sad to see some early Mesa history gone. 😞 🌵
For eye opening photos, go to TripAdvisor website, Dobson Ranch Resort and see the Photos. This is the condition it was in when we stayed there. Why would management want guests to see that??
Why do hotels/resorts from this time have waaaaay more style & panache than the new so-called "luxury" places?? They are so stark and cold now.....thank you for this! Would have loved to stay here ♡
It isn't a Retail Archaeology video until I see the abandoned drink cup... Check.
Interesting to see how the decline of this hotel corresponds to the decline of Dobson Ranch in general. At the time both were built, they were considered luxurious but have long since been surpassed by newer developments in the SE Valley.
Additionally this area is bordering the dead Fiesta Mall and other run down parts of West Mesa.
I love how often you post videos on Fridays. Such an enjoyable way to wind down the week
The 🎶🎶🎶💻 music is great too. Very simple, low key. I would not be wondering around large empty hotels or 🏘. That seems dangerous. Also with Covid19 🚧🚨🚧 you have no idea what might be there. Rabid dogs, ☠ body, filth.
@@DavidLLambertmobile fff
The hotel had been sold again in the first half of the 2010s and the GM Kevin quit. They hired this Asian lady as the new GM and she decided she can save money by laying off the staff (including my mother who was head housekeeper) and hire all new people. After that the place started going downhill. The GM got hers in the end when she got arrested.
That escalated at the end, but getting rid of loyal staff who know the place is always a bad idea
I love a happy ending.
What did she get arrested for??
@@itrthho I don't know. I only heard she got arrested.
A lot of Mesa seems to have strong 70s/80s/90s vibes
I'd like to go visit AZ, NV, NM. 🏜🌄🌵... NM gets a lot of film, tv, streaming.
It does. In the Phoenix area it's easier to just build newer, bigger, better stuff a couple of miles away on vacant land instead of improve the existing things. Mesa has that vibe because that's when a lot of new stuff was being built in Chandler and Gilbert. The East valley is almost landlocked (unless you start going waaaaay out into Queen Creek, San Tan, Johnson Ranch, Florence) so soon enough it's going to reach the point where the in-fill areas run out and there won't be anywhere to easily and casually build new stuff in. At that point they'll have to start improving properties in older areas of town (they'll call it 'gentrifying' and pretend it's a bad thing). The older parts of Mesa and Chandler are probably going to start seeing a sort of renaissance in the next 10 to 20 years as developers buy up old worn down cheap properties and revitalizing them.
Big boom in the mid eighties.
A few years ago a friend of mine was visiting and he got a room here. I live in Central Phoenix, so I was a tad annoyed that he didn’t follow my recommendations and stay closer to town. When I got to the place and met up with him, I was FLOORED at how sad the place was. There was a lot of random stuff happening that seemed quite shady... Thanks for doing a tour!
If you really want to get an eye full, check out the guest photos and comments on TripAdvisor. It’s amazing what management “sees”, and what the guests got! The photos basically show how it was when we stayed there. So sad.
The ending was very poetic.
This wasn’t a motel; this was a campus. The giveaway was the signs pointing to the lobby. If you need directions just to get to the lobby, then you’re big!!!
Tragic, just tragic-but it’s a sign of the times that we’re in.....
The plants and greenery at this property are lovely!
@@peterjszerszen This wasn't a historic or natural sight concerning the plants after so long?
I wasn't even aware this hotel existed until I watched your Monti's video. I wasn't aware of this Monti's location either until that video lol. Great video as always even if it's not dead mall content!
$25-$30 a night? It's likely a room rental would have turned into an episode of Dan Bell's Another Dirty Room :)
Yeah pretty much we don't want to see that
You said that there was a "disgusting dichotomy" in the fact that homeless people were sleeping outside this crumbling hotel. So the fact that they are building "Luxury" apartments in this location must add to that feeling of disgust. Sometimes it feels like the US is heading towards a C Y B E R P U N K future where towering residential blocks surround the common people that sleep in the dregs. Although I personally feel like we are just slowly spiraling down into retail hell and urban decay as a result of letting developers do whatever they want.
A dystopian cyberpunk 2077 type world is only 50 or so years ahead from now. 1970's were 50 years behind us. It's kinda harrowing how much time can change and you put things in perspective.
this is existentially terrifying, as someone (formerly?) in the absolutely annihilated hotel hospitality industry. i've also seen this hotel my entire life starting from the backseat of station wagons, so it is doubly eerily familiar. with no business travel these hulking buildings we work in just can end up hanging open and decaying. but think of all the life and work that was once there, all the people. kinda bone-chilling, to see all that go to rot when it could be used for something if we so single-mindedly wrenching every plot of land for the optimum extracted value. people with jobs in a destroyed industry could keep their jobs right now with minor changes to re-purpose infrastructure like that.
I worked on a feature film that was shot at this location about 4 years ago.
What was the film? Imdb.com
What was it?
It was a modern adaption of Shakespeare's 2 Gentlemen of Verona. It was available to view on Amazon prime for a while but I don't think it's there anymore.
I followed you back when you made a vid on fiesta mall as I grew up in Maricopa county starting in 97. Your uploads have me going WOW ! Some places you go in depth 👍. Love your channel and commentary! Me being a gamer one big memory is SEGA Gameworks at AZ mills mall then got sold to an American biz why the took the Sega name and named Game Works not only that but IMAX next door was the 1st I can recall giving that cinematic experience. Thank you RA your uploads is keeping an accurate historical record. Dont quit bro!
Love the intro!
sounds like a sped up version of the WGBH logo.....I'm here for it
How sad. Reminds me of the horribly unceremonious ending to the Safari Resort across from Fashion Square. I'm so sad I wasn't around to see it in it's heyday. I stayed there in 90 and 91 and it was already getting a bit worn.
I live a few minutes from here. Grew up passing it by everyday. Was a cute resort, but I was never sure what audience it pulled in unless it was for the hospital across the bridge?
If Dan Bell knew about this place before it closed, he could have filmed an episode of Another Dirty Room in it.
this is so crazy to see this is ripped down now, my wife and I moved to AZ back in 2015 and when we came out to look at apartments spent a night at this place (ended up renting an apartment right down the street from here for a few years) its funny, everything looks so familiar, we moved to a different state in 2018 before this was torn down, the hotel from what I remember was clean enough, I didn't feel like I needed to sleep in the shower with it running, the restaurant where you could get the free breakfast in the morning actually wasn't terrible either, but I do remember that someone was shot in the back parking lot from a craigslist deal gone bad and I don't think that did this place any favors at all. We didn't know the area and the price was right for a one night stay which was what led us to taking our chances on this place, I feel like based on some of what I have heard about it that we were kinda lucky in that respect, but I had a mostly positive experience the one time we did stay.
I love seeing all the places you cover on this channel, I had a lot of good times living in AZ, and seeing these bring back a lot of memories from the few years we were living there.
Your social conscience is excellent:)
Omggggg I've always wanted to check this place out. >.> I used to work at Banner Desert so I drove by this place a lot, between that and the Fiesta Mall (which I saw your vid on too!), but sadly I can't visit the mall anymore. :<
Always piqued my curiosity though.
This is a really great way to see the world. I had a great time. Thanks so much! : )
Maybe RA could make a post Mortem history video on Metrocenter now that it is closed?
It's coming soon.
Retail Archaeology I am sooooooooooooooooo looking forward to it!
So sad. Well done. One day, I hope your work will be archived at libraries. It documents historic change in our economy.
This reminds me of the Wagon Wheel Lodge, that was originally located in Rockton, IL. I remember the main lobby was awesome, with a welcoming big fireplace, and there was a talking myna bird, in a cage by the front windows. My mom & I loved the Candy Kitchen. Although I was never able to ride it, there was a garden railroad, which ran around the entire property. At one time, the Wagon Wheel Lodge was a destination & local attraction for many people. There was even a small non-denominational church on the property, where many couples were married.
I'm told its heyday was the 1950s-1970s. Unfortunately, the property was already in a serious decline by the 1980's - essentially a shadow of its former self. After several suspicious fires, I believe most of the buildings were tore down, and the property was sub-divided, and turned into a subdivision.
Taken from the back of a Post Card, for the Wagon Wheel Lodge:
"Located at the intersection of Routes 2 and 75, 350 beautiful rooms and 15 furnished apartments. Open the year round. Single, double and twin-bed rooms. Dining rooms serving three meals a day every day of the year. Year around swimming pool, ice skating and curling rinks, 9 hole day or night golf course, bowling alleys, billiard room, stables and landing strip."
www.cardcow.com/219375/rockton-illinois-wagon-wheel-lodge-maps/
www.cardcow.com/169719/pigalle-music-hall-wagon-wheel-lodge-rockton-illinois/
history.rockfordpubliclibrary.org/localhistory/?tag=wagon-wheel-resort
www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/wagon-wheel-lodge-rockton-il-pool-100508549
www.thesupperclubbook.com/?page_id=339
I actually stayed here for 2 weeks one year ago when I was moving back to AZ and looking for an apartment. The room interior was actually really nice, for what it was worth (paid about $250-300 for a week) but like you said the property was falling apart, and there was a bunch of shady people staying there/coming and going. The staff was pretty bad too, I had a clogged toilet and had to wait over an hour just to get a plunger from them.
Only thing that made it worth it was the free breakfast every morning at the little Mexican restaurant. They gave you breakfast vouchers to cash in and get yourself a waffle, some cereal or peanut butter and toast, coffee and juice. I got to talking to the owner there every time I went for there and actually met a really good friend while having breakfast one morning. Kinda unfortunate that its completely gone now, definitely a sense of nostalgia from that place.
Very interesting video! I love being able to explore (virtually) all these grand old places that were once great but are no longer. Kind of sad, but it's so cool you are chronicling parts of local history. Keep it up!
From 1994 to 2008 me and my dad did spring training trips.we stayed there every trip except 99 I believe. During that time it was a pretty good place, large rooms grounds were maintained, free Buffett style breakfast. The decline of that places is fascinating
This is where my husband and I stayed the night we got married in early 2012 before heading out on our Honeymoon. He got a Groupon deal on it because it was much more than $25 to $30 a night then and we got a suite. It was in so much better condition with working fountains and was fairly busy for a middle of the week stay in February. It also had an amazing free breakfast with homemade Belgium waffles, omelets, sausage, bacon, different types of eggs, tons of pasties and breads, lots of different drink options, and for an extra fee a full menu of alcoholic drinks. It's sad to see it in this condition and now completely gone. 😞
I like that you’re changing things up with the new intros. We’ve been doing the same thing. Well done.
I love the intro ♥ Also, I feel the need to go to Arizona after watching all your vids
That logo intro was frickin awesome
Stayed there for a week back in February 2000 on a golf trip to Arizona. It was a very attractive and comfortable place to stay back then.
If anyone wants a real 👁 eye full, go to TripAdvisor and look at the GUEST photos and comments. They are a far cry from the photos posted by the hotel. The photos posted by guests, showed what we got when we stayed there. Pretty sad 😢.
ADR level bad?
Fairly historic is an understatement. Yeah, the Best Western affiliation ended in 2008 and the property was declining rapidly after that.
I’ve also seen a few resorts lose the BW affiliation, every single one spiraled down real fast.
Hey Mr Archaeology, I have a mall for you to cover. Its called the outlets at anthem. It was built in 1999, and is VERY DEAD. Dosent have any anchors and its very medium sized. Hope you see this!!
Love the intros with the old ruby spears entertainment logo and sound from the 80s. Takes me back to Saturday mornings with cereal and awesome cartoons
I agree, it has that same “dead mall energy “ you see in retail. Or really a dead mall specter.
I remember going there in the late 1990's. Over the years it went South IE lack of maintenance, trash not picked up, and other issues. Back in it's heyday, they attracted a lot of winter guests from the Mid West, East Coast and Eastern Canada.
The board is probably there for an animal that fell in or in case an animal falls in so they can get back out.
The pool looks good. You can tell it used to be nice. I wonder if there are homeless people living in some of the rooms
I stayed there once, back in 2018, the pictures looked good but when i got there to check in, it was really run down and nothing like the pictures.
Erik, this was such a nice place! I'm glad you were able to visit it while it was still intact.
This place looks really cool
Can You Do A Halloween Special Of A Dead Mall, Which Is The Paradise Valley Mall Or Metrocenter Mall To See How Spooky They Are?
It looks comfortable to me. It's a shame that it couldn't have been repurposed instead of destroyed.
TIL RA is/was a Cub fan. Go Cubs go!
Mesmerizing. Thank you so much for these awesome videos 🙌
Like the Ruby-Spears homage at the beginning.
I live 5 mins from that location.
I've been to Phoenix a few times but never knew about this place. I don't care how bad the area is, I totally would have stayed at a retro place like that.
Maybe you can check out the last remnants of old motels along Apache Blvd in Tempe before redevelopment swallows them up in a few years.
I seem to remember it was called the Inn at Dobson Ranch at one time
Growing up I used to go to a Best Western hotel in Monterey, CA. About 10 years ago that hotel lost their Best Western certification too. I used to see lots of mid-size hotels that were Best Western 15-20 years ago, and now it's very rare when I see ANY Best Westerns at all. I wonder who bought them out/what happened.
My kids and I stayed there last November and it was okay but I would have never gone back & I guess that’s why we didn’t go back. They had to switch our room twice because of broken toilet then the next had holes in the wall and flooded floor. It was sick. Only stayed because hey wouldn’t give my money back. Smh
My grandparents stayed there a couple years and ate at that restaurant. They didn't like it, and the restaurant kept getting their order wrong lol
I used to drive past the Mets’ spring training motel in Florida. I suspect it isn’t used as that any more, even if it’s still there...
You should do the plaza off southern and alma school in the North West corner
It's fenced off and has been for years. You can't get into the parking lot. You can pretty much film the Bennigan's on the corner, that's been closed for like 20 years.
@@alexac3098 I just passee it today and its all torn down
nice hotels can also become bad hotels..
Yes, I've worked at Days Inns 🏨, extended stays, GTLC.com , condos. 👮🏼♂️ work. If you have poorly trained staff or cut corners, get ready 📉. Hotels & resorts can get mold, mildew, dust, crud, AC-HVAC issues, homeless-street bums. To own & run a hotel is a huge effort.
@@DavidLLambertmobile As a traveler who often uses the Choice brand, I've seen the ownership by Indians (Patels) turn friendly brands into militant camps. Lots of rules and lots of long-term renters. What's your opinion of a hotel once it moves into that ownership?
Another great video, Thanks Erik!
If only Dan Bell had a chance to film another dirty room there.
That intro is FIRE.
The board was most likely for any animals that fell into the drainage ditch to get out instead of drown
IT BECAME A PILE OF RUBBLE!
Love your videos, they're the greatest
Thank you for sharing. Please follow up with Seville Mall.
That grass was dying to be metal detected, I wonder if any player lost a ring????
Who keeps telling these places rocks in an old fountain is an improvement over a dry fountain?
It's gross and I hate it.
In times of drought I've seen them turned into gardens which look really nice, especially if they are drought resistant gardens
I think the main reason they did that is to stop someone from falling in it then trying to sue them.
If you turned it into a Zen garden style thing it might look okay.
Dude the board in the nasty clogged drain thing was likely to let trapped animals out, not for ppl. Same reason pools have steps and ladders. At least i hope so because that water looks so YUK!
Dat f*** mattress at 7:58
I can already see somebody putting that in their current motel room and it be featured in an episode of another dirty room I already see that happening
King Dedede is one of your backers lmao isnt that the dude who dislikes Kirby? lol
I've been driving by and wanted to know what happened
I wonder what ended up happening to those orange trees? I hope they at least transplanted them somewhere
A busy street in the middle of a city seems like a silly place to build a resort. When I hear resort, I think of some expencive hotel on an island, a beach, in the woods, or up in the mountains.
At the time this hotel was built, it was on the southern edge of Mesa. Since that point there has been quite a lot of development.
I'm a Phillies fan myself, but the Cubs are pretty cool.
Even run don't town tours would be nice.
Not the worst looking hotel I've run across. Unless it's the weekend or an event I usually don't book a room in advance. Winging it has led me to some interesting places to stay. Especially pre smartphone days.
Nice intro!
I guess the good news is that new construction is coming there. I’m surprised you didn’t mention this resort was about just a mile west of the infamous Fiesta Mall!
I wonder if this is a place Dan Bell would fit into his dirty room series?
The new intro SLAPS 🔥🔥🔥
Is The Boulders still in business?
Did you happen to run into J.R Bob Fobbs or Connie by anychance?
And we let our homeless live on the streets.😂
Was this a Del Webb community?
Throwing away a car seat probably means you’re an international traveler and buying one in the USA and dumping it when you leave might make sense if you’re here for an extended trip. Horrible for the environment and of course no one will touch a used car seat.
No vacancy now!
Hey what logo is this?
the american dream is being demilished
Sad, very sad.
More potential low cost housing for the homeless taken off the market.
Hmnn wonder how many stars the unpaid guests gave the hotel?
WHITE SOX!!
They're alright.
@@RetailArchaeology oh the nerve n to think my bingewatching of all the videos meant something :P
@@RetailArchaeology un-related to the video, but Stein Mart near my job is having a store closing sale, up here in Hamilton county, indiana
It seems so wasteful. It's just, nobody wanted the luxury resort anymore. And there were homeless people nearby who clearly needed some shelter. Why don't we just give the empty shelter , to the homeless people? I know, I know, money, but step back from money for a millisecond and imagine if homeless people just got what they needed. It seems wasteful to turn it all into rubble instead.
Because that rubble is going to eventually make way for a luxury condo, which I'm pretty sure the locals would prefer to a homeless shelter.
I agree with you!
Because most homeless are mentally ill / drug addicts. Most people think giving them a roof, food, clothes, and maybe a bus pass will get them out of their situation and become productive. Just doesn't work.
@@williamnoll7935 Honestly its a good idea because it keeps them off the streets and clean (at least more so) which solves most people's issue of them bothering pedestrians/local businesses. The main hurdles are people who are obsessed with the reform approach and/or people who would be outraged at homeless groups from getting 'free housing' and becoming the new 'welfare queens.' Cheap dorm style housing is the cost effective pragmatic solution but it doesn't please a lot of people from either camp.
It would be cool if they could be able to stay there if they maintained the property and surrounding areas. I see that as a hand up and not a hand out🤷🏿♀️