El Rancho Motel looks to upgrade image

BARSTOW — The El Rancho may never return to its glory days, when movie stars and musicians passing through on Route 66 would check in for a night, but changes are afoot at Barstow’s famous and infamous motel.

Over the years, the historic motel declined into disrepair, beset with frequent reports of crime and several fires that took out large portions of the old building. Since the motel changed ownership about a year ago, general manager Tracey Ellison said motel staff have embarked on a process of cleaning up the place. Rooms are getting a facelift, with new carpets and paint, and the roof of the motel’s west wing is being retiled.

More than that, Ellison said the atmosphere of the motel has changed, moving from seedy to quiet. With rooms renting for $500 to $575 a month with all utilities paid, the motel has traditionally been a haven for the down-and-out.

“A lot of people choose to live in a motel because they don’t have to pay utilities,” she said. “And that’s how they make it.”

Although the motel does not perform background checks on its clients, Ellison, who lived in the motel before she worked there, said she is familiar with many of the faces that have been evicted over the years. When they walk into the office, she turns them away. Increasingly, she now rents to senior citizens, who are quieter and have a guaranteed source of income in the form of Social Security, she said.

“They pay their rent on time and just take care of their business,” she said.

John Bates, who works as a manager at the Copa Cabana bar across the street and has lived at the El Rancho for two years, said he has seen a marked change since current owner George Madrigal took over.

In the old days, Bates said it seemed like the police were on the premises every 20 minutes and drug addicts would try to hustle him every time he stepped out the door. Now Bates said he can sit on a bench outside of his apartment in peace.

“You sit out here, you don’t have to worry about ‘Can I have this, can I have that?’” he said. “... Now you can sit out here in peace and quiet and talk to your good neighbors.”

The Barstow Police Department still make trips to the motel on occasion. A couple of weeks ago two people were arrested there during a drug search, said Sgt. Andy Espinoza via e-mail. He was not aware of any other recent activity at the motel but said he had had not noticed a marked change in the number of calls.

City building official Bob Cooper said that numerous building code violations from the previous owner have been resolved under the new ownership.

Jorge Avalos, a maintenance worker at the motel, said he feels like he is helping to restore a piece of Barstow’s history bit by bit. His current project is retiling a large section of the roof.

“Whoever made this place, he had a dream at one time, and you can tell,” Avalos said, pointing to the flagstone walkways and stone work on the outside of the building. “... I feel privileged being out here, because it has a great significance to this little town.”

Ellison said the clean-up process will continue slowly but surely. El Rancho owner Madrigal could not be reached for comment.

History of the El Rancho

• The El Rancho was built on the grounds of Barstow’s first high school in 1943, using wooden railroad ties from the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad.
• In its heyday, it is believed that celebrities including Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra stayed there.
Source: local historian Steve Smith

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