urban ku # 102 ~ a tourism 'nightmare'

A trip into the past • click to embiggenAt the last moment, our canoe trip devolved into a car getaway to the late 50s/ early '60s. Chalk it up to lingering un-wellness and Friday night dinner guests (we should have been packing).

In any event, Saturday AM we found ourselves cruising the web looking for lodging in the central Adirondacks. Labor Day weekend and all, our expectations weren't too high - all of the 'high-end' lodging that we tend to frequent was probably booked months ago.

And then I remembered the Cedar River Golf Course and Motel (and restaurant) - definitely not a 'high-end' lodging property. We've never stayed there but we have played golf there on what must be considered the most natural golf courses (9 holes) in all the Adirondacks, maybe in all the northeast. The history of the course, once owned by Dewey Brown - the first black member of the PGA, is interesting.

As luck would have it, lodging was available so we booked it - a 2 room 'suite' - and off we went.

Now, you have to understand that most of the people we know, especially those in the tourism marketing biz, would probably rather sleep in their cars (after poking their eyes out with a sharp stick) than stay at the CRGC&M. Most golfers I know would probably rather have a Cobra Speed LD/F driver (toaster on a stick) parked where the sun don't shine than go out of their way to play this golf course. The restaurant? Locals know it as a great place for an excellent diner-style breakfast(served 7am - noon) but I don't think too many tourists give it a second look.

What a shame, for despite the fact that there was no spa, feather beds, designer furnishing, haute cuisine or other amenities that the modern tourist has come to expect/demand - hence a 'nightmare' for tourism marketing types in the Adirondacks - we had an absolutely great time.

In all honestly, you really can't build a marketing campaign around the look of a place like the CRGC&M. In fact, amongst all of the 5 letter words one might use in tourism marketing, 'motel' is very very low on the list - way below words like 'resort', 'condo', or even 'hotel'.

But, much to the consternation of the marketing crowd, the Adirondack lodging experience is chock full of motels, most of which were built in the 50s or 60s. Most have been lovingly maintained - clean, comfy beds and linens, a little landscaping with a pool, and with rates that harken back to those of a couple decades ago.

Nothing 'fancy', just a decent place to park your car and rest your weary head for the next day's outdoor Adirondack experience - amongst other things, we went canoeing, golfing, swimming, cemetery exploring (Dewey Brown is buried in the cemetery right next door to the CRGC&M) and visiting the Adirondack Museum.

Somehow, the word (and the place) 'motel' served us very well.

Update on Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 09:04AM by gravitas et nugalis

Featured Comment: Eric Fredine wrote; "I love these kinds of little motels - usually family run. Every little town in the Canadian prairies has one."

My response: Show me/us.

Comments

[Eric Fredine]

I love these kinds of little motels - usually family run. Every little town in the Canadian prairies has one.