5 Unusual American Hotels

You’ve stayed at all manner of chain hotels, with their lifeless business centers, uninspired restaurants and bland, generic rooms. You’d love to break the cycle and check in someplace truly unusual and different. I told you recently about Stockholm’s Jumbo Hostel, a hostel located inside an actual 747 at Arlanda Airport. Is there anyplace this unique in the USA? Yes, siree, Bob! Here are some hotels, motels and assorted other lodgings that are way, way outside the box.

1. Wigwam Motel
There used to be a whole series of Wigwam Villages, Native American-inspired accommodations built between 1933 and 1950, but only two slices of this retro Americana now remain. These Wigwam Motels, located in Holbrook, Arizona and Rialto, California, offer guests the opportunity to stay in teepees built of concrete and steel along historic Route 66. In Arizona, each teepee is 32 feet tall and contains two double beds, cable television, air conditioning and a small bathroom. Luxury accommodation this is not, but for those who are looking for a bit of American nostalgia and eccentricity, the teepee’s the thing.

2. Dog Bark Park Inn B&B
Ever wanted to spend the night inside a wooden Beagle? No? Well, if you change your mind, head out to Dog Bark Park Inn in Cottonwood, Idaho and check into one of the more unique bed and breakfast accommodations in the country. Climb up to the second story deck to enter the B&B. Inside you’ll find a queen bed, fold-out futon and a kitchenette. The owners of this unique property also create and sell wooden dog figurines on the premises and have operated the B&B since its opening in 1997.

3. Jules’ Undersea Lodge
Located thirty feet under the waters of Key Largo, Florida, Jules’ Undersea Lodge is America’s only underwater accommodation. Guests must scuba dive to the lodge, where they will find two bedrooms and a common room awaiting them. Originally an underwater research habitat, the lodge now functions primarily as an artificial reef for local sea life and a luxury hotel. Stays include all dive gear and two meals served by a chef.

4. East Brother Light Station
If you think lighthouses are romantic, how about an island lighthouse B&B? Located on an island in the strait that separates San Francisco and San Pablo Bays, East Brother Light Station is a 133-year old lighthouse that has been converted into a charming, Victorian-era inn. Take a 10 minute boat ride into the bay and you’ll arrive at the lighthouse, which offers four rooms in the main house, each containing a queen bed and Victorian decor. Soak in the sweeping views of the San Francisco and Marin County coasts and bask in the island’s windswept isolation.

5. Treehouse Treesort
Thirty-seven feet above the trees in Takilma, Oregon is the Treehouse Treesort, a collection of 13 treehouses spread across 30 acres. The buildings at the Treesort are connected by a series of ladders, swings and rope bridges, guaranteed to bring out the 12-year old boy in every guest. While certainly a rustic and outdoorsy environment, the Treesort maintains some modern amenities. Each treehouse boasts heat, electricity and modern plumbing. While staying on the property, guests can enjoy a zip line and the “Tarzan Swing” which allows you to swing from the trees into a grassy meadow.

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