The Beth Lists
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!
 90 Notable Nights

#91 The Iron Horse Inn

10/3/2015

0 Comments

 

Deadwood, South Dakota
​
​
The Iron Horse Inn was the only hotel on our 4-week road trip that had the bonus treat of being a hotel, plus casino.  Of course that is only a bonus if you love casinos, which I don't.  
Picture
  ​
And most of the people I know who do enjoy casinos, would not have stepped foot in this one. So that is why I am focusing on the horse feature.  I do like horses and above the hotel door, there was a horse figure on the metal sign and an even more awesome carved horse above!

​The Beginning
​
​
The inn, is on the left side of the building.  It began as a 1-story feed store in 1893. Horse wagons used to load up in the basement and exit over a ramp, into the street.  
Picture

​

Two more floors were added in 1896 and the building became a hotel in 1921. Later, the Wooden Nickel Casino moved into the adjoining building. It all looked pretty sweet, sitting on the edge of town, near the tree covered hill.

Third Floor
​
​
The side of the building shows the stone that came from a nearby quarry.  Our room was on the third floor, third window from the right.
Picture
 I know that, because when I zoom in, I can see the dirty window.  A bird must have flown close by, on a windy day.

Small Door Leads to Grand Things
​
​
For such a big building, this was a modest hotel entrance.  The glass block around the door was added during a renovation in 1937.  Who knows how long ago the horseshoes were pressed into the cement.  
Picture
Picture
When we opened the door, it was quite a jolt to be greeted with the 1970's pink and teal paint and shimmering chandeliers. I had expected a western lobby with saloon style decor.  In fact where was the lobby?  All I saw were glowing slot machines in the dim light. (Camera flash brightened things up!)
​
There it Is!  
​
​
We turned the corner and found the little cage where the woman clearly dealt with more gamblers than hotel guests.
Picture
 I had a feeling the cute western "bank teller" look, was more about guarding money than decor.  I was eager to get upstairs to our room and see if the stale carpet smell disappeared as we climbed.  

​Up We Go
​
​
"Just one night." I easily assured myself. I had to laugh when we headed down the narrow hall where the two end doors made a "V".
Picture
Picture
Our room on the right was 302.  I couldn't wait to see what "$109. would get us in Deadwood.

Verrrry Cozy
​
​
What can I say, the room was cozy. The double bed was squished between the wall and a bedside table.  The blue counter around the sink coordinated with fancy blue trim above.  
Picture
Picture
Picture
The lines were fresh... I am a good tester. The window helped enlarge the room. But I had to pull the shade down to cover up some of the unpleasant stain on the glass. Then I could stare out, longingly.

The View
​
​
We looked longingly across at the Franklin Hotel with the doric columns holding up the bar terrace.  The grass is always greener. We headed over and had a drink on the terrace and even watched the evening "Shoot Out" on the street below.  
Picture

​

Kind of hokey, but I won't be a snob.  I'm sure there are some local thespians who don't mind the job. The hotel was a step up from our non-gracious casino atmosphere. But it didn't exactly look to luxurious.  That's not what Deadwood's about.

Then What?  
​

​For a Friday night in Deadwood, it was on the mild side.  We enjoyed wandering and then settling in at the Saloon #10 for good people watching.
Picture
We ate a late and surprisingly good dinner upstairs at the Deadwood Social Club.  We made sure we were good and tired before heading back to our tiny room.

Gas for Breakfast
​

We woke, both surprised that we'd slept well.  Where were all those motorcycles we'd expected to hear?
Picture
 There had been no kooks stumbling down the hall.  Our good nights rest, gave us confidence to try breakfast at Lee Street Station which was connected to our hotel. 

Sassy Service
​
​
We actually enjoyed a decent breakfast served by the feisty and funny Tami.  She gave us a list of her rules, which reminded us not to yawn or harass the cook.  We enjoyed the view through the garage doors.
Picture
We also kept an eye on all the locals who came to eat and chat with each other.  I didn't even mind the blinking and clinking coming from the casino entrance.  Everything's more tolerable when you're heading out.

Most Notable?
​
​
The best part of the hotel was the exterior stonework with the carved horse...even though his face does look a little terrified.  But what will I really remember most?  
Picture
Picture
I guess the cringe factor.  Smelling the stale air and hearing "Celebration" and other oldies piped into the dim casino's atmosphere. It wasn't a comfy stay and I'm afraid I'll most remember that.  But I'll force myself to focus on the horse!
​

0 Comments
    Picture
    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 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    September 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    00 The Blog's Beginning
    0 Foreign Bermuda
    0 Foreign Chile
    0 Foreign Curacao
    0 Foreign - Guatemala
    0 Foreign Italy
    0 Foreign Japan
    0 Foreign Mexico
    0 Foreign Roatan
    0 Foreign Thailand
    Alabama
    Arizona
    Arkansas
    California
    Colorado
    Florida
    Georgia
    Hawaii
    Idaho
    Illinois
    Iowa
    Louisiana
    Michigan
    Mississippi
    Missouri
    Montana
    Nevada
    New Mexico
    New York
    North Carolina
    Oklahoma
    Oregon
    South Dakota
    Tennessee
    Texas
    Utah
    Vermont
    Washington
    Wyoming

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!