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The end of this place
Back in March 2013, I posted some photos of an abandoned small-town motel, Crider’s Motel, in Johnson City, Texas. One of the blog posts was titled “Crider’s Motel may be past its prime.”
Time passed. I never went back to Johnson City to see what was going on.
Then, on November 21, I had a comment on one of those posts from Sandra Trevino, who said, “The Crider motel was torn down today. It was a blast from the past.”
And sure enough, it was. Here’s the newspaper article about it. And here, bordered in black because I’m sad the place is gone, are those images from 2013:
Johnson City, Texas
photographed 3.9.2013
The chairs remain the same*
Evidently, this place has been out of business since around 2003, when the long-time owner Byron Crider passed away.
But the chairs are still here, carefully arranged along the porch.
That’s the kind of place Johnson City is, I guess.
Johnson City, Texas
photographed 3.9.2013
*Sorry for the lame Led Zeppelin reference. I couldn’t help it.
Room Seven, Crider’s Motel
In addition to carpet and alarm clocks, each room also comes with outdoor seating. And an electric meter (just above the air conditioner). I wonder if guests got a bill for electricity when they checked out.
Johnson City, Texas
photographed 3.9.2013
Crider’s Motel may be past its prime
I had a feeling that there’d be something good to see in Johnson City. And I was right. Crider’s Motel was exactly what I was hoping for.
The sign by the lobby entrance used to say “Weekly – Monthly – Carpet – Alarm Clock – Budget Rates” making this the first time I’ve seen carpet AND alarm clocks featured as selling points for a motel. One or the other, sure. But both? That was completely unprecedented.
I also like how the big sign says the motel is 1/2 block away, when clearly it is RIGHT THERE. But I guess that was a way to lure people in from the highway which is (you know what I am going to say), about a half a block away.
Along South Ave F, just south of Main Street
Johnson City, Texas
photographed 3.9.2013
One Day | One Image 