The Poughkeepsie Inn
The passage of time allows one to gain new perspectives. Just a couple of years ago an abandoned roadside inn could seem a rather bland place. However, in 2020, the social distancing measures, lock-downs, and crumbling societal norms cast a new light on places like the Poughkeepsie Inn. It had been less than a year since the pandemic began, and in that short amount of time, both vehicle and foot traffic across the country greatly declined and was not expected to return in any meaningful way for the foreseeable future. The property was in no way a historic one, originally opening as the 'Po'Keepsie Motor Inn' in the autumn of 1956, yet it seemed like a relic from a past world. A world we were unsure we would ever see again. The sign on the road greeted visitors with a final welcome - "Closed. Thanks for the memories". A message that had more meaning now than when it was written years prior. We stepped into the lobby through a smashed window pane, glass cracking under the tread of our boots.
Tourism pamphlets littered the reception desk, and many more remained in their display case next to the entrance. One particular pamphlet stood out – A flier for Niagara Falls. Though we were indeed in NY, Poughkeepsie is roughly a six-hour drive to the falls on a good day. We thought it strange that such a far-flung location was featured among the local attractions, but placed it down and headed through the lobby, toward the exterior rooms. Walking past what remained of the refreshments bar and lounge area, stepping over and through the debris of the building that had been thrown across the floor.
The doors to the exterior bedrooms were all unlocked, most ajar, some kicked in, and others missing entirely. The states of the rooms varied greatly as well, from utterly destroyed to still clean and made up by the room service crew of years past. The annex buildings beyond the main inn had been recently torn down, in preparation for a redevelopment plan that the ongoing pandemic had halted. It was evident that the Poughkeepsie Inn was living on borrowed time.
We had attempted to read up on the inn after first discovering it on our way down Rt 9 a few weeks prior. There wasn't much to be discovered, aside from an article from the final year of the inn, about an armed robbery and a shooting taking place in room 149. After some time wandering the property we decided to make our way there. The room was like many others we had seen that day, though it stood out as one of the most intact on the property. Beds neatly made, hangers motionless in their closet, even the complimentary soaps remained next to the bathroom sink. You would have no idea that a shooting took place here, it was obvious that the inn continued business as usual after the incident. However, the rooms immediately adjacent to 149 were an entirely different case.
Rooms 147 and 148 were a pair of
unsettling connecting bedrooms at the farthest end of the row, unlike
all the other rooms at the inn. It was obvious that these rooms were
stripped out and shuttered permanently some years ago, though the
reason remains unknown. The air in here was different. Stuffy and
heavy with mildew from being sealed away all this time. A gloom hung
heavy here, morose than anywhere else we had experienced thus far.
Eventually we headed back to the lobby at the center of the building,
to see what could be found on the second floor.
Once inside we
headed upstairs, to the rooms over the lobby and check-in counter. It
was here we came across the most unusual discovery of the day. All
the rooms were labeled with printed papers, stating things like
'Dallas' and 'Production Office'. Inside the 'Dallas' room nothing
seemed all that unusual, just the typical toppled chairs and ripped
window treatments we had seen all day. However, beyond the door
labeled as the production office remnants of an unknown film project
dotted the room. On a wall behind a desk hung a partial filming
schedule, and adjacent to that was a spot for call sheets as well as
a map of the property with some key locations highlighted. It wasn't
much to go on, without a title or crew names our chances of finding
the final product were slim. We explored the rest of the floor, with
little to note aside from the endmost room on the far corridor, which
was closed and draped in a shower curtain. It was clear that someone
had taken up residence here, so we gave them their space and privacy
and headed back toward the lobby stairs. It was then that we noticed
a small door we had initially overlooked. Upon opening it led to a
standard storeroom, small, with plywood shelving of old cleaning
supplies. However, on the corner of a shelf we noticed an unusual stack
of papers. Upon closer investigation we discovered these were entire bound scripts, left behind by some unknown production crew after wrapping an untitled film project. Though it was difficult to glean much information from the papers, we did uncover some sheets that credited writers and the director – Sonejuhi Sinha.
When we
returned home for the evening we began looking into the names we saw
credited on the draft script and in little time we discovered the
final film – Stray Dolls. We found the film streaming and settled
in for the evening. The film proved to be a well-crafted piece of cinema - A
thriller/drama in spirit to a less bombastic Gregg Araki,
filmed primarily on location at the inn during its vacancy.
The use of color and lighting was a standout feature of the film for
us, and it was surreal to see the now-deteriorated inn glowing in a
blue and yellow ambiance throughout the night scenes. We don't want
to ruin anything for those who wish to watch the movie for
themselves, but it's worth noting that the main character has a
long-held wish to run away to Niagara Falls. It's something she
clutches to throughout the film, feeling if she can make it there she
may escape her current hardships and sordid past. We had forgotten
about the out-of-place flier we happened upon when first entering the
inn earlier that day until the characters on the screen began talking
about it. Then we saw it, the very same flier carried and placed upon
the check-in counter as the main charter first enters the inn.
Today
the Poughkeepsie Inn no longer exists. Replaced by commercial and
residential units after COVID restrictions waned and redevelopment
work could resume. We visited one final time before the inn fell, to
walk about the place in the sunlight. Though the skies were clear
that day, a strange atmosphere still hung over the property, and we can
only imagine it remaindered until the structure was no more.
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
Below are reviews taken from TripAdvisor. We copied the text to share here for posterity, in the event that TripAdvisor expunges the reviews for the defunct inn as years go on.
Stayed here 09/09/2017..toilet would not stop unless we opened the lid and fixed "the flipper thing"; floor was carpeted and very sticky; good thing I brought my own drinks as I would not drink the water even to brush my teeth, did not take a shower; it was obvious that some people were living here as they were all sitting in the doorways; and when went to office in the morning there is a sign that they no longer do breakfast, was able to get a cup of coffee. IHOP just down the road !!! only good things was only in room a few hours and the bed was comfortable ....DO NOT STAY !!!
We found this through Hotel.com and
couldn't believe how bad it is... considering that it was supposed to
be 3 stars...middle of the road. Should have checked trip advisor
first but labor day weekend and prices were all jacked up and lots of
traveling with taking kids back to school (several colleges in
P'kp.)
Leaking toilet was loud and annoying. Itty bitty TV was
barely big enough to watch when there wasn't interference. Bed was
lumpy. Pillows hard. No towels in room and had to go to the lobby to
get our own because they didn't have anyone on shift to assist
guests.
We're going to complain to Hotels.com. this place
should not even be on their website.
Literally the worst experience I've ever had&I work in the hotel industry so I should have known not to book by cheapest price,you get what you pay for sometimes.Dirty&bathroom light didnt work at all
Don't stay at this Hotel! First: ROBERT the manager is a liar when taking reservations, and a credit card to hold the reservations over phone. He states one price, then when you get their he increases rates! He is a very confused man, and believes his own lies. The hotel facility after having backup drainage issues never even addressed the problem until check out. How this hotel is still in business is beyond me. DON'T Stay HERE!!! It's not worth the drama and stress.
I booked this hotel for a Vassar graduation stay. When I was 5 minutes from the hotel I received a phone call from the front desk. She had just arrived for her shift (11pm) and found that every room was occupied, and ten families still hadn't checked in. She was told to call and tell all that they didn't have a room for them. I said I'm here, I have my kids and my dog, and nowhere to sleep. Everything was booked due to 2 area graduations the next day. She called her manager - who didn't answer his cell for a while - and when he did, we actually heard him yelling in the background. Nothing he could do. No apology or offer of a solution. BTW, the place looked awful.
I cannot rate the hotel because I did not stay there. I cancelled my reservation weeks in advance and was told I was all set. It was a shock to learn 3 weeks later that they took the money from my credit card. I was told to contact the manager for a refund; the manager has not responded to several phone messages.
Room itself was what one would expect for the <$100 I paid for this accommo. Felt very much like a tight budget roadside motel. Rather lacking in customer service in general. For example, I had breakfast in the lobby and asked for milk to go with the cereal which was offered. There was none but for coffee creamers. A few mins later someone delivered a gallon of milk which was sent to the back office for employees, I guess, and not provided to customers. I'd give one star only, but I did pay a low price for the room. I guess you get what you pay for, but I won't be returning.
This was the absolutely worst place I have ever had to stay at in my life. Exterior of building full of decay, rust and chipping paint. Room was from the 80s with tube tv and old cable box bolted to table. Room had a old musty smell masked by perfume spray. Surprisingly they had wi-fi but signal was very weak. Broken old heat/air conditioner in window all busted up, but it did work. I was the only one that stayed there that night out of a 200 plus room location!! The shower was very old and the was more or less broken and you had to twist it all the way to get hot water..spray was all screwed up so it was a very quick shower. This place should be condemned.
Never, I REPEAT, Never Stay Here!!!!!
A "1" rating is generous. The rooms have not been update since the 1970s. The rooms are in desperate need of painting and updating--walls very dirty and upholstery on chair was filthy and disgusting. The shower was broken and, therefore, very difficult to turn on. In addition, the water would not drain in the tub. The ceiling fan in the bathroom was noisy and vibrated so bad I thought it was going to come down on my head. Needed to air out the room when I first arrived. Internet passwords were provided but could never access because signal not strong enough. The options for "breakfast" were very limited. If I paid $40 - $50 a night I may not be so disappointed but I paid more than double that and booked two rooms and was unable to get any of my money back. The only good thing I can say was the staff was friendly and polite.
Place Looks ten times worse in person than in pictures. I lost all my money that I paid to stay at this place - cos I could do nothing better than just walk out. It looks dingy and dirty. Does not meet any standards (probably has no standards) of a hotel/motel in terms of cleanliness or maintenance. Please do not stay here
You will want a refund, it won't work, they got your money, ha ha ha ha
Charged $170.71, refused to stay at the hotel. If you are planning to do some filming and need a location that screams "you have hit the rock bottom", look no further. You won't need to do much work to add character beyond "ever cleaned bathroom?" "cigarette burns all over the bedding" "strange stain on the chair, I think they could make any pants dirtier" "strange broken machine in the wall, looks like an air conditioner from a different generation". Perfect for typical "end of the line chemical addiction" storyline, but a bit severe looking for "sappy bad luck guy ultimately makes good". Maybe useful to test how strong your antidepressants are?
When we first arrived it was obvious this place was not an Inn but a motel. The doors are facing the street and did not look inviting. When we got the key to the room and went to the room the outside smelled like urine. When we opened the door the room also smelled like urine. We went back to the front desk and asked for another room. The second room was not any better. The bathtub had brown stains and the sink was a laundry sink. We pulled the covers off the bed and there was a dead bug on the pillow. What a rip off for $100/night. We decided not to stay and still got charged the $100 for the night. Awful, Awful, Awful!!
Worst place in Poughkeepsie. Checked in/dropped off luggage/went to an event. Came back after 11pm to find pounding bass music resonating through walls. Lot's of activity in parking lot...cars driving in and out fast/coming and going/taxi cabs pulling in & waiting. People walking around/shouting outside. Called desk offered to put in another room but it was a party throughout the place. We left and went to another hotel. The manager is balking at giving a refund even though they had to call the police to get things sorted out. At least 22 people were in the room adjacent to us. I think a full refund in short order would be the first priority of a reputable business. Don't even think of going there.
If you like the stench of sewar gas in your room...stay here!
On a trip to Vassar College, I booked here due to its low prices. Upon arrival, the room smelled a little strange. When we returned late that night, the stench was horrendous! Here the toilet was missing a floor bolt and there was a thick, sloppy glob of caulk around the base. Water leaked out when flushed and the smell of sewage was everywhere! The night clerk came and insisted the room was "fine". Really? We had no recourse but to wrap the toilet in towels and open the window for air. Nice huh? New management for 6 years according to the morning clerk. Try to avoid staying here, unless you don't mind poop.
The area surrounding this Hotel makes you think it's a cheap safe place. Don't be fooled. Heroin needles in the parking lot and a blood stain the size of a basket ball on the side of the mattress. I'd swear by the size of it, who ever it was from couldn't have survived. Cops in the parking lot every night. Tonight they were here due to a missing person. Do some research before you stay here!
My boyfriend and I woke up in bed after one night of staying at the Poughkeepsie Inn to find ourselves surrounded by live bed bugs. After seeing the bugs crawling all over the bed, management was apologetic and refunded us for the room, but we are both completely covered in bed bug bites after just one night. Worst hotel experience of my life. If you stay here, beware, and check the room thoroughly for bed bugs before you stay.
Keep in mind, we came up to
Poughkeepsie for one night...
The website makes this place look
wonderful for the price, but it's almost completely different when
you get there. My sister, her friends and I arrived and were
questioning whether it was the place we had reserved. I decided to
check in to make sure. After I check in, I walked outside and found a
guy spraying the front window with a hose and he got water all over
me and didn't even acknowledge I was there. Then, we go to our room,
not realizing that it was a motel feel where you drive up to your
room. We enter the room, not thinking it was too bad until we lifted
the sheets and found remnants of food and hair pins and a stain.The
bathroom smelled horrible as well. As we debate about staying there
we notice three young kids enter the room next to us, they stunk of
pot. Then we go to grab something to eat nearby and ask a waitress if
this "inn" is okay to stay at. She didn't even have to say
anything, her facial expression said it all. So we went back
immediately (during our dinner) and attempted to get our money back.
As my sister packs up the car, I go to the front desk and explain
nicely to the receptionist that this place is not what I expected and
that our room is dirty. She tried to convince me that I couldn't get
my money back because we have been renting the room for more than 15
minutes (whatever!). I explain to her again what I saw, she pauses
and goes to a back room to talk to someone for some time. She then
comes back and says she will void the charge, but she also wants to
take pictures of the mess. She said she supposedly has issues with
the housekeeping employees. So here I am two nights later and I look
up my credit card account and it's NOT voided so now I have to waste
more time tomorrow on this h*ll hole to get my money back. DO NOT
stay here. By the way, we stayed at the Courtyard Marriot (right down
the street) for $70 more a night but it was well worth it.
Calling this place a craphole is insulting to crapholes.
Do NOT stay at this place. Chalk up the extra money for the Holiday Inn. Even the Super 8 is better than here. If there are no rooms available anywhere else in Poughkeepsie except here; do yourself a favor and stay down in Fishkill. Its worth the drive. Marist friends, family, alumni - do not stay here! Yes its one of the closest hotels to campus but so not worth it. The owners should be ashamed of themselves. There is no reason this place should look like this.
Stayed here because it was the closest vacant hotel near Vassar College. In short I paid $300 to sleep in dirt for 2 nights. As soon as I walked in the room I was greeted by the cheap decor of a street walkers work place & a horrible smell that remained throughout my stay. Everything in the room smelled!! The bathroom was far from clean....the shower looked like nobody cleaned it since the place was built. There were stains everywhere...on the walls, floors, toilets, & tub. The sheets were paper thin & although they didnt smell...the rooms odor made it very hard to sleep. I was also bothered by the fact that you had to go to the front desk for an iron, to place additional money on your room to make phone calls, & other things I thought just came with the room. Now I knew before coming to stay here I wasnt going to the Hilton but honeslty I would have rather saved my money & slept in my car. I slept fully dressed & took showers with flip flops on. Lastly, I ALWAYS put the do not disturb sign on my door knob....for some reason room service bypassed the door sign, came in my room, replaced only the toilet paper & towels, while leaving the bed unmade. I hated every minute of my stay @ Poughkeepsie Inn.
Could only get a king smoking
room.Cobwebs on ceiling.Bathroom stinks of urine.Shower does not work
-if you unscrew showerhead you get a little stream of water out.Linen
stink of smoke.Ciggarette burnmarks on bedcover and on
bathedge.Blanket on bed washed out-full of holes.
BEST PART OF OUR
NIGHT-The guest in the next room start banging on walls approx. 11
pm.Try to sleep..No sucsess,went to frontdesk 2 am and
complain.police arrived.warned guest.Slept until 4am.police out
again.warned person again.Police arrived 3rd time approx.5.40am
.-took person away.No further sleep for us.
Was still charged
$123.29 for this experience.Booked out-luckely their was a
cancelation at the MARRIOT-what a difference.
Luckily it was only an overnight stay in this place. If it wasn't because of Vassar's homecoming and all the other hotel's being booked, we would have stayed elsewhere. It smelled like someone's stale basement when you first walk in, all the furniture looked mismatched like it was picked up from a garage sale. The bedding looked liked it gets changed about once a month. You are better off sleeping in your car if this was your only choice in hotels.
I was very skeptical about staying at this motel based on the past reviews I read. Unfortunately, I had no choice because all the other motels around the area were completely booked. Upon arriving at the motel, check-in went smoothly. However, when we entered the room we were greeted with such an unplesant smell. Immediately, I took my lysol and began to spray, but our biggest surprised came when we were getting ready for bed. As I pulled down the covers the sheets were stained with bodily fluid, the pillow cases were filthy with black spots on them (both beds were filthy). I immediately call the front desk to complain, the sent me som clean sheet but I could not sleep the entire 2 nights I stayed there. This motel should be closed down for good.