Wow, I almost didn't recognize this as a Dan Bell video without all the usual creepy darkness, the graffiti, the used hypodermic needles, the muffled respirator breathing, and the soothing sound of scuffling feet. A nice change of pace. Place looked great, especially that scenic pool view. Pity about that damn highway traffic noise.
Absolutely gorgeous view. They have kept the motel in great shape. Glad you guys are enjoying the beauty of the scenery and having some relaxing time, too.
You know I could totally see you having a travel network show. Then again they'd probably make you have some dramatic fight with Will each episode and go to sponsored locations to ramp up the ad revenue, so maybe not.
Plus a bunch of forced product placement like having to repeatedly mention the brand names of your gear and conspicuously show logos. I think one of the silliest I've seen was the host specifically mentioning the entire name of his credit card and the camera zooming in on it as he handed it to the cashier.
Loved this Dan and Will - what a beautiful place and so good to see a Vintage Motel still in very good working condition , loved the room/cabin lovely wood colour.The wildness of the mountains were great too! Thank you. Hope you enjoyed your stay all be it working I know how that feels but you make the most out of what's available so relaxing.
Dan, you are by FAR my favorite urbexer. I watch a good number of other filmers, but your videos are definitely my favorite! Thank you for working on new footage for us!
Thanks for all these adventures into motels and reviewing them. As a broke, disabled college student that wants to explore regions around NC, videos like this help me find safe places worth the little money I receive. Keep up the great work!
This is great!! My family, wife and 3 kids and I stayed here one time years ago when we traveled back and forth between Eagle Rock and Roanoke before we moved to the area. I still pass by this motel on occasion traveling between Stuarts Draft and Eagle Rock. If you cross the overpass at the bottom of the hill and turn left you will go into the town of Buchanan which is an old vintage kind of town. Its worth a walk down the street and in the past was an old resturant with good food and an old movie theatre. The James River borders the town and Rt 11 crosses it into the town and there is a old footbridge over the river. This is worth a walk across. The highway below the motel where all the noise is coming from is I-81. James River is a major river and at its mouth at Newport News and Norfolk it is 5 miles wide. From Buchanan the Peaks of Otter Lodge on the Blue Ridge Parkway is very close and easily accessable from the town of Buchanan. It too is very much worth the short drive to a super fine lodge, dining, room accomadations and hike/bus ride to the top of the peaks where you can see for MILES in all directions. You can tell I love this area. Its worth your time. Enjoy.
I live about 30 minutes south on 81. Been by here countless times and the view never gets old. Just a little fun fact: This town is often pronounced BUCK-cannon by a lot of locals. Also, if you drive into town there is an old swinging bridge that spans the James River -- It's a really neat spot!
The view would be wonderful all year-round. I'd like to stay there during all four seasons. Early spring is my favorite time of year. Imagine seeing the light green appearing on the sides of the mountains and hearing the birds in the early morning. What a great idea to have chairs in front of the rooms so people can just enjoy the view. It must be calming to look out at that scenery.
I cannot get enough of this place. Watching this over and over. I'm definitely going! Beautiful views! Thank you for introducing us to this gem. And Will, I want that tshirt!! 😜
I have stayed @ Wattstull about 10 times since 2015. It really is a "find' as you stated! Actually, I'm staying here tonight and they are always improving yet, keeping the nostalgic value in play. Awesome video, awesome place!
You should travel back to Buchanan soon! The restaurant near the hotel has almost doubled in size and is AMAZING! I love seeing videos made about my hometown
Love staying at places like this that you just come up on as your traveling. Some people want the name brand places like Quality Inn or Motel 6"s . I like the independent owned places .
Hi Dan and Will, The outside says 1950's, the lobby too. Neat Place!! The rooms are very now. What a beautiful view, absolutely awesome. And to have a pool to lounge by while working hard, and a view to rest your eyes on. Are you in heaven? Anyway... Thanks for sharing such a lovely, quaint piece of America wit us. Kathy B.
This is such a great place to stay. They also have a little building behind the motel, where you go get your coffee, and swear to God, every damn breakfast snack item you can think of, it's amazing. The morning we left, we couldnt even see past the little road for the fog. Great motel.
You are in my neck of the woods Dan. And just an FYI that you might be interested in is the name "Buchanan" usually gets pronounced Buck kanan by the locals in Appalachia. It is an easy way for us to recognize an outsider by the way it gets pronounced. Keep up the good work!
Great video, nice sort of change of pace with a video of a nice motel. Checked their website and restaurant is now open, with a bar and outdoor patio too.
I am always on the look out for these older hotel/motels when traveling it's an amazing place very clean looks like it had no old smells which is so hard to find! Love the vids guys! B safe keep up the great works!😊💗
Dan I want to thank you again (if i have all ready) for sharing this. I make videos as well. I actually go up to Maryland every year and I LOVE vintage motels/hotels. I will be staying at this place and filming it.
Holy shit! I totally stayed there when I was thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail! That even looks like the room I had and everything! Very nice place, almost too nice for a backpacker guy who was covered in dirt and hadn't done laundry in a month. You guys should check out the motel in Bland Virginia. I stayed there as well and had a super weird experience happen to me there. I woke up at two in the morning to the room phone going off, so I answered it and on the other line was the desk clerk frantically asking if I was ok. Confused, I told her that everything was fine and apparently the guy in the room right next to me called down to the front desk and said he thought that I had killed myself because he heard a gunshot come from my room. Creepy stuff.
My mom has that style of chair that are all outside the front of the place when u walked in. Its outback by our new shed, its not as old as those chairs tho, its just maybe ten years old..and painted red.
I came across this by accident. It's sad to see a bit of the past with you and Will together. The quality and quantity of your work are both lower without him, not that I watch your videos anymore.
OMG!! I thought you were throwing shade at that lovely woman, at first. When you said "I'm assuming this mountain over here is called...", and then you panned over to her. Great video
What a beautiful location. Looks like nice motel, if you get lonely, you can always come to lobby and meet a lot of friends, their always HANGING ARROUND!! HA!
The way "killer" was uppercased I thought you were going to say someone was killed here and it was cursed or haunted or some shit like that.......sorry just force or habit to expect that.
Dan you should get a drone, I feel like you'd get some really beautiful shots and when you're in abandoned places you can get some views that are usually inaccessible due to being dangerous
Wow, I almost didn't recognize this as a Dan Bell video without all the usual creepy darkness, the graffiti, the used hypodermic needles, the muffled respirator breathing, and the soothing sound of scuffling feet. A nice change of pace. Place looked great, especially that scenic pool view. Pity about that damn highway traffic noise.
This is Dan's other channel/film it, both are excellent.
he doesn't edit his film its as much
Don't forget the crunching Glass ;) lol
Nice find. You can tell the management takes pride in their business.
I really like the documentary style of this video, excellent job.
Absolutely gorgeous view. They have kept the motel in great shape. Glad you guys are enjoying the beauty of the scenery and having some relaxing time, too.
You know I could totally see you having a travel network show. Then again they'd probably make you have some dramatic fight with Will each episode and go to sponsored locations to ramp up the ad revenue, so maybe not.
Plus a bunch of forced product placement like having to repeatedly mention the brand names of your gear and conspicuously show logos. I think one of the silliest I've seen was the host specifically mentioning the entire name of his credit card and the camera zooming in on it as he handed it to the cashier.
Beautiful view from the pool!
so quiet and serene in that pool... looks awesome!!
someone wants to swim. with will
will is hot
Yes please
Lol. Yo will hit 'em up and you're welcome.
Loved this Dan and Will - what a beautiful place and so good to see a Vintage Motel still in very good working condition , loved the room/cabin lovely wood colour.The wildness of the mountains were great too! Thank you. Hope you enjoyed your stay all be it working I know how that feels but you make the most out of what's available so relaxing.
Dan, you are by FAR my favorite urbexer. I watch a good number of other filmers, but your videos are definitely my favorite! Thank you for working on new footage for us!
Thanks for all these adventures into motels and reviewing them. As a broke, disabled college student that wants to explore regions around NC, videos like this help me find safe places worth the little money I receive. Keep up the great work!
about time,a motel that's nice and not abanded and in the daytime!
This is great!! My family, wife and 3 kids and I stayed here one time years ago when we traveled back and forth between Eagle Rock and Roanoke before we moved to the area. I still pass by this motel on occasion traveling between Stuarts Draft and Eagle Rock. If you cross the overpass at the bottom of the hill and turn left you will go into the town of Buchanan which is an old vintage kind of town. Its worth a walk down the street and in the past was an old resturant with good food and an old movie theatre. The James River borders the town and Rt 11 crosses it into the town and there is a old footbridge over the river. This is worth a walk across. The highway below the motel where all the noise is coming from is I-81. James River is a major river and at its mouth at Newport News and Norfolk it is 5 miles wide. From Buchanan the Peaks of Otter Lodge on the Blue Ridge Parkway is very close and easily accessable from the town of Buchanan. It too is very much worth the short drive to a super fine lodge, dining, room accomadations and hike/bus ride to the top of the peaks where you can see for MILES in all directions. You can tell I love this area. Its worth your time. Enjoy.
I live about 30 minutes south on 81. Been by here countless times and the view never gets old. Just a little fun fact: This town is often pronounced BUCK-cannon by a lot of locals. Also, if you drive into town there is an old swinging bridge that spans the James River -- It's a really neat spot!
The view would be wonderful all year-round. I'd like to stay there during all four seasons. Early spring is my favorite time of year. Imagine seeing the light green appearing on the sides of the mountains and hearing the birds in the early morning. What a great idea to have chairs in front of the rooms so people can just enjoy the view. It must be calming to look out at that scenery.
My thoughts exactly! It was calming just watching the video!
I cannot get enough of this place. Watching this over and over. I'm definitely going! Beautiful views! Thank you for introducing us to this gem. And Will, I want that tshirt!! 😜
That view from the pool looking at the mountains is stunning.
It's a good day when Dan Bell uploads new stuff
Nice motel. Looks so pleasant to be in the pool. Makes me miss long road trips ❤️
It's nice to see such an old place still being taken care of.
What a great little place ! Feels like I'm there with the way you film it, great job!
I have stayed @ Wattstull about 10 times since 2015. It really is a "find' as you stated!
Actually, I'm staying here tonight and they are always improving yet, keeping the nostalgic value in play.
Awesome video, awesome place!
You should travel back to Buchanan soon! The restaurant near the hotel has almost doubled in size and is AMAZING! I love seeing videos made about my hometown
I actually love that you are not always 100% sure where you are in these videos. You are like a touring rockstar. :D
stunningly beautiful, breath taking, gorgeous views. I might travel there, just to see the beauty.
I moved here to Buchanan from Illinois a couple years ago. It is gorgeous here! Glad you enjoyed! Love your videos!
I absolutely love finding cool places like this!! All that lobby needed was Rudolph 😉 what a gorgeous view and great seeing you guys!! Hey to Will 🙋😊
That view you did from the pool was absolutely gorgeous. Looks like such a nice and cozy place.
That view was just PRIMO ! wow....magnificent video Dan, one of my very favorites of yours.
The view from the pool is beautiful! I missing traveling!!!
Love staying at places like this that you just come up on as your traveling. Some people want the name brand places like Quality Inn or Motel 6"s . I like the independent owned places .
Hi Dan and Will,
The outside says 1950's, the lobby too. Neat Place!! The rooms are very now. What a beautiful view, absolutely awesome. And to have a pool to lounge by while working hard, and a view to rest your eyes on. Are you in heaven? Anyway... Thanks for sharing such a lovely, quaint piece of America wit us.
Kathy B.
that is so retro, please try and stay in more on your trip. loved the motels look from the outside.
Enjoy all your finds along your road trip! Safe travels and look forward to more videos by you and Will--- they make my day so much better :)
that is an amazing view with the clouds 👌
Nice place and beautiful scenery! Nice bonus seeing Will in the pool....lol!
Life is good with Lay's and Coke!
I love this video. It's very soothing somehow. That motel is so tranquil.
Beautiful hotel inn. What an incredible view :) Great video :)
Very Cool short video!
You are one of my favorite UrbEx videographers!
Outstanding view looks like a great place to stay.
This is such a great place to stay. They also have a little building behind the motel, where you go get your coffee, and swear to God, every damn breakfast snack item you can think of, it's amazing. The morning we left, we couldnt even see past the little road for the fog. Great motel.
"Great", "aqua green", and "car port". Words I never thought I'd hear together, lol.
That view is crazy gorgeous! Hope you guys are having a good time. Safe travels!
That location is absolutely stunning!
You are in my neck of the woods Dan. And just an FYI that you might be interested in is the name "Buchanan" usually gets pronounced Buck kanan by the locals in Appalachia. It is an easy way for us to recognize an outsider by the way it gets pronounced. Keep up the good work!
Great video, nice sort of change of pace with a video of a nice motel. Checked their website and restaurant is now open, with a bar and outdoor patio too.
The hills are beautiful. Great video Dan!
Those views are absolutely stunning!
Lovely place. A series about interesting quaint motels would be awesome. The more relaxed style is a great change of pace.
Gorgeous view indeed! Thank you for the video.
as a landscape painter who does plein air occasionally, I would kill to stay in this hotel for a few days!
really liked the view from the pool with the camera, Thank You!
I am always on the look out for these older hotel/motels when traveling it's an amazing place very clean looks like it had no old smells which is so hard to find! Love the vids guys! B safe keep up the great works!😊💗
Dan I want to thank you again (if i have all ready) for sharing this. I make videos as well. I actually go up to Maryland every year and I LOVE vintage motels/hotels. I will be staying at this place and filming it.
jumps in pool with dan and will.ahhhhh lovely,lol,
This Vintage Motel is beautiful! Thanks for sharing :)
I would never expect that nice of a room from the outside. Gem.
Can you believe people see that backdrop daily and think nothing of it?
Just made it to my visiting wishlist.
"It's lit......
..... with lamps."
It's views like the one at 4:46 that have me missing Va; I should have never left there, 10 years ago. Gorgeous, I love the blueridge.
Did you tell that nice lady she's gonna be a youtube star, viewed by over 130,000 people? This was cool, THANKS guys.
Holy shit! I totally stayed there when I was thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail! That even looks like the room I had and everything! Very nice place, almost too nice for a backpacker guy who was covered in dirt and hadn't done laundry in a month. You guys should check out the motel in Bland Virginia. I stayed there as well and had a super weird experience happen to me there. I woke up at two in the morning to the room phone going off, so I answered it and on the other line was the desk clerk frantically asking if I was ok. Confused, I told her that everything was fine and apparently the guy in the room right next to me called down to the front desk and said he thought that I had killed myself because he heard a gunshot come from my room. Creepy stuff.
Holy shit, this is honestly the best motel I've ever seen. God, I wish I lived in this town.
Please get some postcards Dan. Looks really cool
Really Cool. For a Moment there, I thought it was going to turn into the Undersea World of Dan Bell.....Ha!!! Thanks Dan.
Drove by this place a couple days ago and recognized it right away. Wish I'd stopped!
I bet it felt good to be @ regular hotel as opposed to an abandoned one for a change.
Welcome to VA. It's beautiful everywhere. You must see more.....
How LUCKY to see this every day!
Dan at his best.
Will's shirt. 👍💙💜
Ya. Beetle juice memories!
Wow, this place is gorgeous.
This place looks rad! So gorgeous!
Great view - looks like a fun throw back to stay in. The lobby lady though 😂with wall of deer heads. Smh.
My mom has that style of chair that are all outside the front of the place when u walked in. Its outback by our new shed, its not as old as those chairs tho, its just maybe ten years old..and painted red.
Wow! I've never seen a motel/hotel room without drapes; not that they're necessary and the Venetian blinds did look clean.
this is a wonderful motel. stayed there last year.
everything is relatively commonplace and then- BAM!- the edge of the world beyond the pool.
Amazing find!
That place is right off Interstate 81. I wonder which one of those cars wasyours. Surely not the Cadillac, correct?
His is the black BMW , you can see it in other videos too☺️👍🏻
Thanks for the tour bud
Just casually sipping a Bud through a straw. Classy! I love wills hair cut!
I love Will's haircut to, it really suits him, now you can see his eyes.
Stunning views thanks Dan for posting this ;-)
Beautiful place!
I came across this by accident. It's sad to see a bit of the past with you and Will together. The quality and quantity of your work are both lower without him, not that I watch your videos anymore.
OMG!! I thought you were throwing shade at that lovely woman, at first. When you said "I'm assuming this mountain over here is called...", and then you panned over to her. Great video
LMAO! That's so funny! I think I pee'd a little! 😂😂😂😢
Awesome place and the view is breathtaking!! By the way William looks like boyfriend material. lol
What an amazing place! I would love to go there!
Overlooking beautiful I-81
Purgatory Mountain, sounds foreboding.
That view is awesome!
Wow! The views are amazing!!
It reminds me very much of the Vila Boa hotel in Cidade de Goiás, Brazil.
What a beautiful location. Looks like nice motel, if you get lonely, you can always come to lobby and meet a lot of friends, their always HANGING ARROUND!! HA!
Incredible place, great views.
Dan, welcome to my neck of the woods. Hope you were able to get down to Roanoke and maybe Floyd County!
The way "killer" was uppercased I thought you were going to say someone was killed here and it was cursed or haunted or some shit like that.......sorry just force or habit to expect that.
Hahaha! Me too!
Dan you should get a drone, I feel like you'd get some really beautiful shots and when you're in abandoned places you can get some views that are usually inaccessible due to being dangerous
Wow what an absolute Gem!
Hi Dan ... Hi Will ... love that view!