This is part of a series of essays and poems 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.
quiet on our side
it doesn't get any easier
a man sat at the bottom of the staircase screaming for someone in their room
over and over again
hurry up, hurry up
there wasn’t anyone else
the woman at the office let me walk around without any trouble, explaining myself and my purpose
she said she wouldn’t answer any questions, i get it
the motel next door told me to leave
i can’t blame them
the Yamaha motorcycle almost took on a life of its own
i have never seen anything like it
you have to look out for yourself for once
don’t keep waiting but i’m wrapped up in intimate memories
this terrible memory
i love seeing older RVs around town
it was the first thing i noticed when i was walking up
there was lots of police activity across the street at another motel
quiet on our side, i'd rather keep it that way
i’m just here to document what will be removed at one point
just like me
removed