Named after the blooming rhododendrons found in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Rhode’s Motor Lodge is a transformed 1950s motel that now stands as a 54-room boutique hotel in Boone, North Carolina.
Loden Hospitality, the Raleigh-based group behind the Longleaf Hotel, spearheaded the design of the new property. The team uncovered original starshine breeze blocks and other midcentury elements once the exterior stucco was removed.
“The development of the Rhode’s Motor Lodge was influenced by the property’s midcentury modern history and the outdoor adventure spirit of Boone,” says Christine McDonald, creative director for Loden Hospitality. “We strived to combine the essence of a mountain lodge with a midcentury modern motel offering 21st-century amenities and comfort. Rhode’s was purposefully designed to appeal not only to out-of-town guests, but locals as well. This isn’t a typical hotel experience.”
Upon arrival, guests encounter a covered front patio with a fire pit, Adirondack chairs, and communal seating. Inside, the lobby features a terracotta tile centerpiece fireplace surrounded by cozy seating and leather and birchwood banquettes. A second outdoor patio, located off the lobby, offers additional fire pits encircled by Adirondack chairs and a canopy of string lights.
Rhode’s Motor Lodge offers king, double queen, and king with daybed suites. Envisioned by designer Joshua Gajownik, the guestrooms convey a nostalgic-yet-refined narrative. Each accommodation includes custom furnishings such as tree trunk nightstands, tent light-inspired pendant fixtures, three-legged camp stools, and branded Coleman coolers.
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