I think the hotel was clean, though I admit to being somewhat afraid to sleep in the bed and thought seriously about keeping my clothes on. I hope that the reason the hotel and the room was so dank and dingy was, in part, due to a renovation. If not, this place is in serious decline free-fall. Now, I understand that choices of places to stay in Lamar are limited, but can this really be the best that they have to offer?

First, my room. As in the title, it looked like the kind of place that you see on TV where the FBI puts you when you are in the witness protection program. The decor was out of date and seemed both dingy and dusty if not dirty. The towels were thin as where the sheets and the blanket. My "window" looked out into an interior stairwell that was lit all-night and allowed lots of light to flood in around the curtains. Also, it is hot in Lamar in the summer and you need air-conditioning. However, throughout the night, every time the air conditioner roared-on, it woke me up....the first time, I thought something was crashing into my room.

Further, I think the place is something of a fire trap...thinking about it, I am not sure how I would have exited my room quickly and safely in the case of an emergency.

There was also an old-upright piano in the hall right next to my door that small children could not but help to bang keys as they passed throughout the evening.

Next, the facilities. The hotel has a sad indoor pool. It and the surrounding indoor garden was poorlly lit and certainly didn't seem clean. There is also a basic and not very good restaurant. I figured, there in the middle of cattle country, I could at least count on a good stake, but that wasn't the case. At least the beer was cold.

I don't know what to tell travelers to Lamar...I was there on business. I hope there are better options than the Cow Palace. I would seriously suggest staying in LaJunta and commuting to whatever you need to do in Lamar.