Okawville, IL This old hotel and bathhouse has been sitting in this tiny town since 1891. I'm not sure what the place looked like 123 years ago, but when Don and I stayed in September, it looked exactly the same as it did in 1984. 30 Years Ago Don and I were living in St. Louis in the '80's, when we heard about this place, just a 45 minute drive from the Arch. However, we arrived on bikes and it took a lot longer. I was too sore and exhausted to care about luxury, but I remember chuckling at the "time warp" experience. Saturday at the Spa When we visited recently, I was surprised to find Okawville, smaller and quieter than I remembered. When we walked through the open front door, we actually saw others checking in at the front desk. I expected to see no one. How did they even hear about this place? We had to wait a bit while some couples checked in and made arrangements for massages and spa treatments. Really? A Bit Worn I sound like a spa snob. In fact I know very little about spas. This was just not the atmosphere where I could picture people coming for a weekend of pampering. The lobby was comfy enough, like Grandma's house... with lace doilies and autumn scarecrow decor. A breeze was blowing through the lacy curtains, causing the advertisement fliers, taped to the woodwork to flutter. It was the kind of comfy that made you want to take off your shoes and tilt back on the Lazy Boy with a Reader's Digest. I just couldn't see myself signing up for a Detoxifying Body Wrap or a Deep Tissue Massage. Upstairs There was no elevator, but they had an awesome staircase to our second floor room. My photos are good at disguising stains on walls and carpets. They also hide some of the old building smells. I'm not complaining though, we like old hotels and we had asked for one of the older rooms. We were just happy this place still existed! Room 92 When we opened the door my senses were bombarded. Visually, the green and burgundy decor transported me right back to 1980's! Little straw hats and dried flowers decorated the walls and wallpaper border. A curious swag of material hung above a rather grimy window. And what was that smell coming through the window...? Yummm! I'm talking about good smells... the aroma of mouthwatering sirloin and sizzling pork chops! It was hard to see through the window, but we could see well enough to realize we had a view of the roof of The "Boiler Room Restaurant". The kitchen blower was right on the other side of the glass. It's good Don and I are not vegetarian or we could have had a real problem with this. Mostly it just made us laugh... and made us hungry. What Shall We Do? We had the whole afternoon to enjoy! What should we do? 30 years ago, I did partake of the bathhouse experience, with a soak in the hot mineral waters. I remember the attendant delivering me to my tiny dark room with a claw-footed tub, that had been filled with a hose. I remember I had a hard time suppressing my giggles at the whole situation. I've never been very good at relaxing. A Quick Tour We decide against spa time, but did take a little peek. The old steam cabinets and massive tubs had been removed. A "modern" tub tried to tempt us with some awaiting mineral water. The wooden loungers, covered in sheets, looked like ghosts rising slowly. Where are the Old Tubs? I wondered where the old bathhouse equipment was. I was told by a woman at the desk that lots of old goodies were now up in the attic. When I looked up at the windows from outside, I could tell she wasn't lying! The Pool We remembered the pool from our last visit. The hand painted stairs, the surrounding picket fence and the glassed in ceiling. Mostly we remembered an encounter with a gentleman 30 years ago. He had approached Don with an almost frightened expression. "You look just like my son." We've always wondered about that. We didn't have anymore people encounters near the pool, but Don did make use by doing a little lap swimming. Ahhh! The Porch! The porch looked more inviting this time. The wicker furniture was pretty comfy and the weather was lovely! It felt good to sit and do a little nothing. This was the 7th night of our 22-day road trip and we were ready for a little porch time. Excitement While we relaxed, the church next door entertained us with a carillon concert. The churchy hymns made me feel like I should get into my Sunday clothes. But then the bells surprised me with a performance of "We shall overcome..." I've never heard that played on church bells! The concert ended and we suddenly heard the clomping of horse's hoofs. I looked up to see a bride and groom riding by in the backseat of a carriage. A few minutes later the driver rolled past, minus the bride and groom. What interesting entertainment. Saturday Night Dining in Okawville Lucky for us the hotel had a restaurant in the basement. As far as I know there were no other dining options in Okawville. By the time we made it down to The Boiler Room for a meal of pork chops and chicken, there was hardly a table left. This photo, taken earlier, shows the festive fall decor and cozy corner bar. We sat at a table between the glowing juke box and non-glowing fireplace. It was a perfect spot for people watching and there was a lot of that to be had. We seemed to be the only diners who weren't a part of a large, local family reunion. Lots of greeting and hugging and mingling. We looked a little out of place as we sat glued to our table. Time for Bed! This is not a picture of our hotel turn down service. It's just a sad little picture of a very weary old bedspread with a torn ruffle. I removed the Kleenex-thin spread and placed it on the chair. We could have enjoyed a little television time before turning in, but decided to give the old Zenith a rest. I'm pretty sure that TV was there when we stayed in 1984. Morning Don and I try to enjoy each overnight with a little exploring in the area. Our hotel was in a pretty ideal location for a morning walk... that included, cornfields, kittens, a church or two and this sweet barn! We returned to our room where we were greeted with a blast of new aromas! Bacon and sausage smells filled our room! All we could do was laugh! What's Notable? The old O. S. Hotel was indeed old. The 1980's updates can't be called updates anymore. But the hodgepodge mix of ages was oddly charming to me. AND, THE PORCH! I love a porch!!
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Washington, Missouri The 6th night of our 22-day road trip, was spent in a small Missouri town, settled by 12 German families in 1833. Kind of makes you wonder about the Old Dutch Hotel? The only Dutch thing I know about this town is that Henry Tibb came here from Holland and opened up a corncob pipe factory in 1869. Old Hotel & Cool Sign Washington happens to be the Corncob Pipe Capital of the World, but that's not why visitors come. Many are drawn to the area because of the nearby scenic wineries. Before prohibition, Missouri was the largest wine producing state in the country! For us, Washington just seemed like a good stop along our route. Also, I saw a picture of that awesome windmill sign on the internet. I love a good neon windmill, that looks like it's spinning! The Lobby There wasn't much of a lobby. It almost had the feel of a welcome desk in a nice apartment complex. No big lounge chairs or lobby bars. No trickling fountains or piped in music. Just a big desk, made from a wooden icebox. I kind of liked the simplicity and the peacefulness of it. History The young woman at the desk didn't know much about the history, but I found this framed photo, showing when the Old Dutch had a barber shop. I also read that when the building opened in 1923, it was a butcher shop. Lot's of chopping and cutting happened in this old building. About 10 years after construction, the building became a hotel. It was in it pretty bad shape in 2010, when the current owners rescued it. I love rescue stories and I'm always glad to give support as a customer! Our Room I loved our row of windows letting in tons of bright light. Nice bed and linens, fresh paint and carpet! I'm a big fan of retro and I'll put up with all sorts of cobwebs to experience a little history. But we didn't have to here. Bathroom There wasn't anything spectacular about the bathroom, but it was very comfortable, with a good amount of counter space. When you're living out of a suitcase for 22 days, you really appreciate some space for a couple of ditty bags. I liked the woodwork around the doors, too. Much of the original wood was too far gone to be saved, but they did a nice job recreating the old look. The Tavern We didn't get to enjoy the hotel's Restaurant/Tavern till about 9:00 pm. It was filled with a lively mix of mostly locals, who greeted each other in a way that made me envious. It had a small town feel, without being backward. You can't be too small of a town and offer 50 kinds of micro brews! Regional Favorite! We had already eaten a bit earlier, so we just went for appetizers. Since we weren't far from St. Louis, we were able to enjoy our favorite St. Louis Italian treat, TOASTED RAVIOLI! Yay! It's been so long. We also shared a decent salad and enjoyed a little conversing, with our 2 bartenders. Both young women were very busy, but incredibly warm and welcoming. Helpful Bartender One bartender even got out from behind the bar and showed us around the restaurant, pointing out some of the original features, like the tin ceiling and some old doors, used as dividers. She was intrigued with our road trip agenda and introduced us to a table of locals. For some reason she seemed sure we would all get along. We chatted with the 4 couple for while, before heading upstairs. Chili Cook Off...Earlier The reason we hadn't been so hungry, was because we stumbled upon the annual Chili Cook Off, earlier. Ordinarily we avoid festivals that complicate our stays. But what a treat to walk down from our hotel to the lively downtown square, just above the Missouri Riverfront. Don and I bought a couple chili mugs and went around getting samples from all the decorated booths. You may notice the corncob pipes in this fellow's overalls. He was representing Meerchaum's Corncob Pipe Factory. We weren't about to forget that Washington is the Corncob Pipe Capital of the World! Morning The next day, we made use of our great location and had a predawn walk, along the riverfront. We walked by the Meerschaum Factory, built in 1883. Did I mention that Washington is the Corncob...? Fog We walked by the train tracks, near the old railroad depot and wandered through the fog down to the river. A few men sipped coffee aboard a Coast Guard boat, waiting for the fog to lift. Cowan's We headed back to the hotel where we knew a continental breakfast awaited, but found ourselves drawn in by another neon sign. We didn't have pie at Cowan's, but we had a huge breakfast! What's Notable? We didn't have many choices in Washington. I think the Old Dutch is the only hotel. But what a great stay. I have to admit, the combination of idyllic, fall weather and welcoming small town atmosphere had a lot to do with our stay. It wasn't just the hotel that I will remember, but the hotel/town package! What a good combo.
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Ninety Notable
Nights My New Year's Resolution for 2014 was to start documenting some of the memorable overnights I've had in some very odd and curious motels and hotels. Like the adventures in my Dining Blog, I have learned to enjoy the surprises that happen when you step out of the comfort zone, far away from the well-known chains. I began with a few entries recalling my very first home away from home memories from my youth. Then, I started sharing about some of the quirky and unforgettable motels, hotels and inns that my husband and I have discovered in recent years. The best part about this challenge was making some lists with Don and getting on the road in search of new overnight adventures. I gave myself a 2-year goal to write up 90 stories and the goal was met. Now we just keep on adding! Archives
December 2023
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