After a great time in Cleveland Saturday night, it was not easy to leave. The traffic was fine, the road signs were reasonably marked. But we were having a lot of fun. Being with some good, old friends who I hadn't seen in years — and knew their way around the city (except where to get a beer before the game).But we had a schedule to keep. We planned this trip out months ago. And part of the plan was to drive a little more than an hour southeast from Cleveland — a little more than halfway to Columbus — after the game. This would leave us within three hours of Cincinnati for the 1:10 start to today's game against the Blue Jays. So on we went along Interstate 71.
When we told the Ohio Nicks at the game that we're staying in the Econo Lodge in Mansfield that night, one of them asked if we like bedbugs. The other one said, "They're from New York. They're probably used to bedbugs."
We made the Econo Lodge reservation over a month ago because it was cheap. We planned, like we did before getting to Scranton, to scan the Internet for some last-minute deals. This led us to that lovely Best Western (Plus!). Well the Econo Lodge is on to this game. We didn't read the fine print. Those crafty titans of mediocrity said we had to cancel our reservation by two days ago. Every other hotel we booked allowed same-day cancellations.
I must say we were pleasantly surprised — surprised at how it took three men to drive over 600 miles from New York City to be scared for their lives.
The following review posted by Staysurgar of Long Beach, Calif., on TripAdvisor.com, which we found on our way down I-71, was the most accurate of them all:
I hardly know where to start complaining about the hotel. I have been using Expedia often for years and never expected to book a hotel like that Econo Lodge. It had none, none I repeat, of the amenities listed, not even a clock.
We can confirm this. There was no clock in our room either, Staysugar. There was, however, a rather round stain that appeared to capable of becoming a sun dial. Of course we arrived at about 1 a.m.
It was filthy, and as a woman traveling alone I really feared for my safety there.
As three men traveling together, we too feared for our safety. As we drove under the highway overpass and through some tall grass along a gravel road and a couple boarded up buildings, Brian said: "This could be the place where we all get murdered."
I ... was so furious about getting stuck there I called Choice Hotels at 8 pm soon after I arrived to tell them the place is shockingly bad. The restaurant is boarded up, dilapidated, the pool is filled with concrete with weeds growing out of it.
We inspected the pool (That's the daylight picture above) — or "wildflower garden" — which was across the side parking lot from our room. It seemed like an odd place to store a snowplow (it's the brown thing on the other side of the "garden"). So I guess the truck drives across the "garden" to attach it. Or is left over from the nearby, boarded up "spa's" yard sale?
No other businesses in sight of the desolate hotel - except for the boarded up, bright green Rainbo Spa next door and the Gentlemen's Club half a mile away! This was unbelievable.
Staysugar might be slightly relieved to hear there is now a fireworks store. It's across the desolate field from the gentleman's club. There was only one car in the club's parking lot. The neon sign was flashing "Open." We wondered if that car belonged to the dancer inside or some really disappointed customer.
If I hadn't driven a UHAUL by myself for 350 miles that day I would have kept going.
After reading your review, Staysugar, and several other similar posts we started calling hotels from Mansfield Columbus to see if we could find something else worth it. It's amazing what these hotels wanted to charge us for finding a place to sleep for seven hours. We decided our lives weren't worth another $110 for a room at the Holiday Inn Express closer to Columbus.
The shower curtain was ripped, as were the lamp shades. The carpet in the hall was filthy and frayed, the room's 2 chairs had huge, disgusting stains on them.. I even took pictures - my favorite is of the back of the door of my 2nd room where the room rates/safety info should be - there was only a black sticker with a skull and crossbones on it. Yikes - beware is right!
Our room was not as bad as this. But the skull-and-crossbones was assumed.
• • •
We survived the night. No one seems to be itching. And we stopped at a Bob Evans just outside Columbus. Nick and Brian tried one of my dad's favorite culinary creations: Bob Evans' sausage gravy. I love most things that Bob Evans cooks. I would be willing to attempt to live off their biscuits. But the sausage gravy is something I've never wanted to try. Nick said: "I couldn't go to a Bob Evans and not try the sausage gravy." I said: "I've been going to Bob Evans since I was a kid and have never tried the sausage gravy."But my dad would be proud – of them. And it is Father's Day.
But the Big Breakfast was everything I remember. At the game last night, an Ohio Nick reminded me of one late night that turned into morning at Ohio University, a group of us tricked a kid with a car into thinking he had to drive someone to the hospital at 6 a.m. so we could go to Bob Evans. The walk back to the dorms was well worth it.
We're less than 60 miles outside Cincinnati. First time back since 2002. It's raining.
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