THE INN CROWD
Get your kicks in retro motels and vintage lodges
SUZANNAH Powell already knew that the Drifter Hotel was a great place to host a party. The independent musician, working in New Orleans under the stage name Boyfriend (her latest single, “El Niño,” features rap star Lil Wayne), had performed a number of gigs at the renovated motor lodge built in 1956. So when she tied the knot with beau Ryan Chavez under the magnolias of Audubon Park in 2019, it was obvious where the after-party should be.
“It’s a great place to have a party,” she said. “I loved the idea of being able to take over the whole space and creating a social hub.”
Her wedding reception hosted some 300 guests and featured live musical performances, dancing and catering by Nola legend Big Freedia.
“There’s something about being at a motel that means the second you step outside your door, it’s party time,” she said. “At a big hotel in the French Quarter, where are you going to hang out? The lobby? I don’t think so.”
The “vibe” at the 20-room Drifter was also a draw: pink AstroTurf in the courtyard, a cocktail bar inside, a disco ball suspended over the clothing-optional swimming pool and a transparent Lucite stage hovering over the pool.
But the price of a motor lodge wedding or reception is what seals the deal. The cost of renting out the Drifter ranges from $1,500 to $4,500 for a reception and includes four hours of event time. The setup fee for a ceremony and reception is $2,500 and just $750 for a ceremony-only wedding.
Responding to this demand for casual, fun and affordable wedding venues, dive motels around the country are being made over into quirky, cool love nests.
In March, Fort Greene-based developer Stephen Wendell opened Camptown — a 50-key, 1930s motor lodge on 22 acres in Leeds, NY. Once the Rip Van Winkle Motor Lodge, he scooped up the property off-market in early 2020.
“Right away we were inundated with wedding requests,” said Michael Pino-Hojlo, the resort’s food and beverage manager. “Honestly, I was a little surprised.”
Camptown also has 26 cabins, for a total of 50 rooms and 71 beds. The multi-bed accommodations and the fun amenities — like the fire pits, pool, event space and bar — all lend themselves to multigenerational fun, added Pino-Hojlo.
“I think that there’s a nostalgia element,” Pino-Hojlo said. “Motor inns bring back memories of family vacations growing up. They are nods to, like, simpler times.”
In the 20-room motor lodge, Wendell refreshed the retro flops with modern floor plans and amenities.
“Your sister and her two kids can stay in one of the cabins, but a couple can stay in one of the motor lodge rooms,” said Pino-Hojlo.
Brides and grooms here tend to wed outdoors, with a picturesque view of the Catskills. The venue caters to both traditional ceremonies and those brides who prefer to let their hair down — think: killer pool parties and weenie roasts over open campfires.
Camptown can host seated dinners of up to 140, but if you are fine with your guests frolicking, you can push the guest list to 200. Pricing starts at about $50,000.
Another sleazy-to-please-ye motel transformation can be found in the bachelorette capital of the world, Nashville, Tenn. There, the Dive Motel has become Instagram famous for its cool weddings.
Originally known as the Key Motel and dating back to 1956 — Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Hank Williams are said to have stayed here — the 23-room inn recently received a “vintage-inspired” reno.
The venue is broken up between a swim club, a bar and lounge and playful rooms. The swim club comes stacked with a pool deck, cabanas, hot tub, sauna and satellite bar, as well as dedicated staff. Just bring a DJ and up to 250 of those near and dear. A weekend buyout of that area costs $20,000.
But you may want to take over the bar and dance under their gold disco ball. It can host 125 and seats 45. Weekend rates start at $7,000.
Meanwhile, the rooms can handle up to 52 of your funnest guests. Each abode comes with a “party switch” that activates a personal disco ball and the “Dive Radio” with four stations: Sex, Drugs, Rock ’n’ Roll and Sleep. Room styles vary from “cabins” to “penthouses” — and a honeymoon suite has dual 6-foot soaking tubs.
Buy the whole place out and they’ll do a deal: $16,000 (weekday) to $23,000 (weekend), and they’ll toss in a complimentary Bloody Mary bar in the morning and free mini bars for each room.
No matter where you check in, do a thorough vibe check first, Powell said, because that’s what makes the party pop.
“We wanted our guests to be like ‘Wow, that was a rad party,’ ” Powell said. “So we just leaned into the ‘us’ of it all and introduced our guests to our lifestyle.”