So the Palomino Motel went down today. We got there just as they were demolishing the main office. Took a ton of video and pictures, they'll be uploaded later.

Sad story though. We ran into a woman there who asked us what our connection with the motel was. I was honest, told her I had seen it up for demolition, went in and checked it out. Turns out, her grandfather built the place back in 1975. She was married in it!

As the guy was tearing it down, she was telling us about it. The big main bathroom was her grandmothers, with the huge two person jacuzzi tub. Her grandfather put bubble bath in the tub for the kids, filled the room full of bubbles she said. Her son, who showed up for a little while then left, had his birthday in the rear living room which was the last to come down.

Found out that the top floor was an addition that was made some time after the building was initially built.

They sold it about 5 years ago knowing it was for the land only, fully expecting it to be demolished. The new owners ran it, just to pay for the taxes and recoup some money I guess, but it wasn't open for long.

Some of you who are from the area may remember the giant horse out front. She tells me the new owners must have taken it down soon after it closed.

She stopped in before the demolition started, the spiral staircase was already removed. It was surreal to hear her describe the place we'd already explored, the way we knew exactly what she'd describe. Apparently, there used to be a house next door where they lived.

Anyhow, if anyone made it this far, I'm glad. I feel that as members of this website, its our duty to understand some of the history of the sites we visit. I feel very fortunate to have run into this woman. It lets you see an abandonment from a different point of view. This was somebodies home, their job, and their memories.