Rawlins' BEST Kept Secret: Rodeway Inn Review (You WON'T Believe This!)
Rawlins' BEST Kept Secret: Rodeway Inn Review (You WON'T Believe This!) – Seriously, You Gotta Read This!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill the beans on Rawlins, Wyoming's… well, best-kept secret. And no, it's not some hidden stash of gold, though after this review, you might feel like you hit the jackpot. I’m talking about the Rodeway Inn. Yeah, that Rodeway Inn. The one you might normally scroll past without a second glance. But listen, listen, because this place… this place actually surprised me. I went in expecting… well, let's just say expectations were low. I left… kinda impressed? Seriously.
My Expectations Were Low, My Experience?… Messy But Memorable (and Surprisingly Okay!)
Let’s be real: when you see "Rodeway Inn" as a hotel option, you're not expecting the Ritz. You imagine… let's call them "budget accommodations." And that’s kinda what you get. Kinda. But before I start tearing things apart, let me say this: for the price? This place delivers. I'm not going to pretend it's flawless. It's not. But it's got quirks that are… endearing, dare I say. And for a road-weary traveler like myself, that can be everything.
First, the Essentials (and the Surprisingly Good Stuff):
- Accessibility: The bones are there, and that's half the battle. Wheelchair accessible? Yep, they've got it. Elevator? You betcha. That gets a gold star from me, because dragging luggage up stairs after 10 hours on the road is nobody's idea of a good time. I didn't personally require any special accessibility features during my stay, but I always appreciate a hotel that tries to cater to everyone.
- Internet Access (aka: My Lifeline!): Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Thank goodness. This is non-negotiable, right? Internet [LAN]? Doubtful, but I didn't check. I survived just fine on the Wi-Fi. The speed was decent enough for checking emails and, you know, totally not for binging Netflix. (Okay, maybe a little binging.)
- Cleanliness and Safety: This is where things get interesting. The usual suspects are present: Hand sanitizer is readily available, Staff trained in safety protocol. They’re doing the obvious things to keep everyone safe. Rooms sanitized between stays is reassuring, though I couldn't exactly verify how thorough the sanitizing was. I'd still recommend packing some of your own wipes. The whole vibe is “clean”, but not in the over-the-top sterile way. It's… real-world clean.
The Room: A Symphony of the Slightly-Off (But Surprisingly Comfortable):
- Available in all rooms: Air conditioning (a must in Wyoming!), Alarm clock, Bathroom phone (who even uses these anymore?!), Bathtub, Blackout curtains (THANK YOU!), Closet, Coffee/tea maker (essential for survival), Desk, Free bottled water (always appreciated), Hair dryer, In-room safe box (useful!), Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace (worked well!), Refrigerator (score!), Satellite/cable channels, Shower, Smoke detector.
- Non-Smoking: Whew! Seriously, a non-smoking room is a HUGE win. My room was clean and comfortable. The bed? Surprisingly plush. Look, it wasn't a luxury mattress, but I slept like a log.
- Quirk Alert!: The decor is… well, let's call it "eclectic." Think of it as a charmingly mismatched collection of furniture. There were touches of "vintage" (read: slightly worn) and modern amenities so it felt like a hotel that has been around for a while. I have noticed some of the things were old, but nothing crazy but it does leave room for improvement.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (or, the Quest for Caffeine and Something to Eat):
- Breakfast [buffet]: (wait for it…) The buffet was a lifesaver if you're in a rush. It's your classic continental spread: decent, but not mind-blowing. I grabbed a bagel, some fruit, and coffee. It filled the hole.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Multiple cups of coffee. Needed.
- Restaurants: They don't serve anything else other than breakfast. You can find great meals outside the area, but not inside the hotel.
- Snack bar: This is a must, the snack bar is amazing.
Services and Conveniences: The Hidden Gems (and the Oddities):
- Daily housekeeping: Yes, it makes a big difference.
- Convenience store: I didn't personally need to use it, but hey, it’s a convenience store!
- Luggage storage: handy!
- Facilities for disabled guests: They do have basic features to assist.
- Laundry service: Score!!
Where Rodeway Inn Falls Short:
- Pools, Saunas, and Other Luxuries: They don't have a pool. If you're hoping for a spa day or a fitness center, you're looking in the wrong place. This is a no-frills kind of place.
- On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: You're on your own for dinner and drinks. Rawlins has some options, but be prepared to drive.
- The Vibe: It's not a "hip" hotel. It's not trying to be. It's… practical.
My Verdict: Why You SHOULD Book Rawlins' Rodeway Inn (Seriously!)
Look, if you're looking for a luxury resort… keep scrolling. But if you're a road warrior, a budget traveler, or just someone who appreciates a decent place to crash without breaking the bank, book this hotel.
Here's the real deal: I went in with low expectations, and I was pleasantly surprised. The Rodeway Inn isn't perfect. It's got its quirks, its imperfections, and its "been-around-the-block" charm. But it's clean, comfortable, and (most importantly) affordable.
My offer to you: I stumbled upon this BEST Kept Secret in Rawlins, and I'm willing to share the details. Book your stay at Rawlins' Rodeway Inn today, and tell them the random reviewer sent you. Trust me. For the price, and for this stretch of Wyoming, you won't find better.
Houston Energy Corridor Escape: Days Inn & Suites Luxury Awaits!
Alright, here we go. My attempted itinerary for surviving, maybe even thriving, at the Rodeway Inn in Rawlins, Wyoming. Buckle up, buttercups. This might get… messy.
Day 1: Rawlins, Here I Come (Maybe Not with a Roar)
1:00 PM (ish): Arrive at Rawlins. Okay, the drive from… (let's just say "somewhere") was long. Like, staring-at-the-horizon-and-questioning-all-life-decisions long. I pull up to the Rodeway Inn, or as I'm already calling it internally, "The Last Stop Before Nowhere." The exterior… well, it exists. Let's leave it at that. Check-in. Pray the room doesn't smell like stale cigarettes and existential dread. (Fingers crossed. Seriously.)
1:30 PM: Room inspection. Okay, okay, it's… functional. Bedspread that looks like it's been through a small war, but the sheets seem clean. The bathroom… I’m not touching the shower until I'm positively filthy. The air conditioner is making noises that sound like a dying alien robot. I bet I'll love that after a long tiring day.
2:00 PM: Hunger pangs. I haven’t had anything to eat all day, and my stomach is staging a small revolt. Time to venture forth.
2:30 PM: The "Food Quest." Based on the reviews (which I probably shouldn't have read), the options around here are, let's just say, limited. I'm going for the Pizza Hut. It's either that or… gas station nachos. I may need therapy when I return.
3:00 PM: Pizza Hut. Ordered a pepperoni pizza. (I’m a creature of habit, what can I say?) Took a bite… it's… pizza. Not the best pizza, not the worst pizza. Tolerable. This is the culinary equivalent of the Rodeway Inn itself. Perfectly adequate.
3:30 PM: (After the pizza) Back to the room. Watch some TV. The channel selection is… limited, but there's a documentary about the mating rituals of the lesser-spotted salamander. I'm riveted. (Or maybe I'm just bored out of my mind.)
6:00 PM: Dusk descends. The lights are harsh, like the rest of Rawlins. I feel like I've entered a parallel dimension. I think I need a stiff drink. Or maybe two. The vending machine downstairs better have something besides stale chips and diet soda.
7:00 PM: Attempt to read a book. Give up after realizing I'm too tired and the book isn't very good. Start scrolling through my phone and watching videos of cats, I do not know why.
9:00 PM: Lights off. Pray for a decent night's sleep. Pray that the dying alien robot air conditioner doesn't morph into a full-blown monster under the bed.
Day 2: Exploring (Or, At Least, Trying To)
7:00 AM: Wake up to the gentle cacophony of… a truck idling outside? Sigh. Breakfast time. Which probably means… the vending machine. Please, please, please have a granola bar that's not expired.
7:30 AM: Breakfast. Found a granola bar that’s only slightly past its prime. Victory! Coffee from the machine. It tastes like despair and regret, but caffeine is caffeine.
8:00 AM: Okay, gotta get out of this room. Some attempt at exploring Rawlins is in order. I mean, there's the Wyoming Frontier Prison. Maybe. Or not. It is kinda early. My brain is not cooperating.
8:30 AM: Decide, I’m not feeling a prison. This town is kind of isolated and I'm not sure about driving. I'll just go for a walk. At least the air outside is fresh. I pass a laundromat. Makes me think that washing my clothes sounds like a good idea. Maybe.
9:00 AM: Decide. Need to figure out where I'll be eating and sleeping. The days are not looking that promising. I could look for options on my phone.
9:30 AM: I open my phone. I remember I have to send some emails. I start typing, I remember my boss. I suddenly feel a chill and decide that perhaps I'll just watch some more videos.
10:00 AM: Back to the room. The Air conditioner's dying noises have been replaced with more dying noises. It's like the room is holding its last breath.
11:00 AM: Decide to go for a walk again. See absolutely nothing interesting. Return.
12:00 PM: Lunch time. I have no idea what to eat. Decide nothing again.
1:00 PM: Nap time. I'm so tired.
2:00 PM: Wake up. The TV. More documentary about lesser-spotted salamanders. I feel I know everything about them.
3:00 PM: The Air conditioner is going out. I’m starting to hear some knocking. Is it the alien robot's ghost?
4:00 PM: Knocking again. I open the door and there's a note. I've been "selected" for a room cleaning.
4:30 PM: Time to be productive. I start cleaning my room. I find some old candy wrappers. No one came to clean.
5:00 PM: Time to eat. I decide to order a pizza. I want a repeat.
6:00 PM: The pizza arrives. I eat the pizza. I watch TV.
7:00 PM: My mood is starting to turn as the dusk descends. The lights outside start. Maybe I need to call someone.
8:00 PM: I am lonely.
9:00 PM: I cannot stay.
10:00 PM: Sleep.
Day 3: Escape! (Or, at Least, Leave Rawlins)
7:00 AM: Wake up. I'm out of here! Get dressed.
7:30 AM: Breakfast. The only thing left is a stale donut. Ate it anyway.
8:00 AM: Pack up. Check out. Say goodbye to the Rodeway Inn. It wasn't great, but hey, I survived.
8:30 AM: The drive out of Rawlins. Freedom!
Rawlins' Rodeway Inn: The Secret You Probably SHOULD Know (and Maybe Regret Knowing)
Okay, seriously… is this place *really* a "best kept secret" like the clickbait says? Spill the beans!
Look, I'm not gonna lie, the "best kept secret" headline? Pure clickbait. Like, offensively clickbait. But… hear me out. It's a secret alright. A secret whispered in hushed tones over greasy diner breakfasts in Rawlins. It's a secret that involves a certain stoicism about things you *really* shouldn't find in a hotel room. But, and this is a BIG but, a lot of people in REAL LIFE, and I mean actual human beings, end up there. Mostly because it's the cheapest game in town. So is it "best"? Absolutely. Not. But is it memorable? Oh, honey, you bet your last air freshener it is.
What's the *vibe*? Like, what should I mentally prepare for?
Vibe? The vibe is… well, let's just say it's less "boutique hotel" and more "where time, and possibly dust bunnies, forgot to stop." Think of a slightly faded, slightly musty, slightly… *lived-in* postcard from the late 80s. The carpet might or might not have seen some things. Probably seen a lot of things. And heard. And smelled. The lobby? It's a classic. Often populated by truckers, road-trippers, and folks avoiding… well, me. The air smells of bleach, desperation, and regret… possibly in that order. Seriously, though, pack your Lysol wipes. Just… pack 'em.
Tell me about the rooms. Are we talking roaches, or worse? (Be honest!)
Okay, honest time. The cleanliness… varies. Let's just say the last time I stayed, there was an intimate relationship between the room's furniture and… gravity. And dust. And possibly something else I'd rather not identify. The beds? They’re… there. The sheets? Well, let's just say they’ve seen more than a few nights. I actually found a *hair* on the pillow. My hair! And the hair, it was, oh, no, no, no (starts to get dramatic). I looked at it, and I had a moment. Like a weird, existential crisis moment -- "Am I paying to sleep where this hair has been?" The answer was yes. Roaches? I didn’t see any, *thank God*. But I'm prepared for anything.
What about the amenities? Does it at least have, like, a working TV?
Amenities? Ah, yes, the word we use to politely describe things that *might* be present. The TV? Could be. Might be a CRT from the Clinton administration. The remote? Prepare to battle for it. And don't expect premium channels. You'll likely get the local news, a religious broadcast, and endless reruns of *Walker, Texas Ranger*. The Wi-Fi? Pray for a signal. The (optional) free breakfast? Think: beige. Beige waffles, beige cereal, beige… everything. It's an experience, alright. A beige, slightly sorrowful experience. I remember the coffee being particularly… *robust*. Let me just say, it prepared me for the day's adventure.
Okay, so it's rough. Why even stay there? Is there *anything* good?
Look, let's not pretend this is the Ritz. The main reason to stay there, it's cheap! The front desk people? They're usually… well, they are trying. Mostly, they're just trying to survive. The location? It's close to… Rawlins. And the memories? Oh boy, the memories! (Laughs to self) It's a story. A story you'll be telling for years to come. A story that involves hand sanitizer, and maybe some therapy. It's sort of… *charming* in a "dumpster fire you can't look away from" sort of way. This place is the epitome of the "so bad, it's good" equation. And hey, sometimes a little grit is good for the soul, right?
What about that pool I heard about? Worth a dip?
The pool... Oh the pool. Let me regale you with the tale of the Rodeway Inn pool. So, I went. I REALLY wanted to. It was a scorching hot day in Rawlins, you see. And there it was, glistening... or maybe just *looking* wet. The water was, uh, green. Like, *really* green. And the smell, oh my god, the smell... It wasn't chlorine I could smell. It was something else. Something… swampy. I got close. I mean really close. I peered through the murky water. And. I. Was. *Terrified*. I saw a… I'm not even sure. It was like a giant, green, floating... *thing*. I noped right out of there. So worth a dip? Absolutely not. Unless your idea of a swimming party is one with some serious aquatic wildlife.
Would you stay again? Be honest!
Okay, this is where it gets complicated. If I'm stranded in Rawlins, Wyoming, with no other options and my bank account is looking… well, Rodeway Inn-esque? Probably. Maybe. With industrial strength cleaning supplies, a hazmat suit, and earplugs to block out the noises. And maybe a security guard? But would I *choose* it? No. Never. Unless, of course, I needed a really, really good story to tell. Because, let's be honest, the Rodeway Inn is a story. And sometimes, that’s worth the price of admission… and a lot of hand sanitizer.
Tips for survival? And finally, what's the *one* thing I should do if I stay there?
Survival tips: Bring your own pillow and blanket. Pack earplugs (the walls have ears and also… noises). Lysol wipes! A LOT of them. Don’t touch *anything* without sanitizing it first. Maybe invest in a small portable air purifier. Lower your expectations. A lot. And the *one* thing you should do? Take a picture. Seriously. Document the experience. Because you will not believe it when you revisit the memory, and look at the picture, and think, "I actually stayed *there*?" Because you will. And you'll have a hilarious story to tell for years to come. Godspeed, my friend. Godspeed.
