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