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Last Motels Standing of Reno: The Midtown Motel

This is part of a series of essays with photos on the last motels still standing in Reno. We previously had a series on the last motel residents of Reno. Motels, initially conceived for tourists, increasingly became a last housing option for many, due to bad credit, not enough money for deposits, or not wanting to deal with a multitude of bills and complications, or a first housing option for residents coming out of homelessness. Many motels are now being torn down, after being bought out and razed by slow to act developers, with many vacant lots now dotting the downtown landscape.

friendly strangers 



knocking on the office door, i was greeted by the man who runs this motel, keith

he was the nicest guy you could talk with

he told me that the motel was built in 1951 and that he’s the only one that runs the place

we shook hands and he let me walk around shooting photos

there is so much charm to these old buildings

i could hear people talking about me through their motel room window

“I don't know what’s so interesting, he’s taking pictures of flowers or something” 

i could hear everyone’s tv’s through their windows too

passing by

the news

some sort of drama 

then a cat appeared on the windowsill, staring at me with these deep, yellow eyes 

i met another man named george

he told me from his balcony you could see the aces fireworks every time they win a game

we talked for a few minutes about a few things

housing problems

motels around the area

he excused himself with a great line

“well, i gotta go grab myself a beer”

 i called Keith “Frank” by accident 

he laughed and said “close enough!”

and disappeared to somewhere else lugging around two tv’s 

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i didn’t get to say goodbye to him for the night 

Photos and Essay by Jake Lorge for Our Town Reno

Wednesday 08.31.22
Posted by Nicolas Colombant
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