Weird and Wonderful: 7 of the Wackiest Hotels in the USA
Featured destinations: USA
Published 22 June 2016
Alexandra Gregg
America is full of innumerable things that are often a bit weird, sometimes wacky and - more often than not – wonderful. This love of the unusual even extends to the plethora of hotels that span the USA’s 50 states. In fact, some of the world’s quirkiest abodes are here, and we’ve got seven of them right here for you:
Little Palm Island views
(Image: Flickr/Dan Gray id:53036708@N03)
Little Palm Island, Florida Keys
Accessible only by boat and home to roaming wild deer, Little Palm Island is a paradise-full, tech-free enclave just off the Keys. Private rooms have minimal electronics – so that means no TVs – and mobiles are banned in public areas. Waving goodbye to your technology attachments is weird for some, but wonderful for others. Whatever your preference, this is the perfect place to unplug and get off the grid, which is what makes it a popular hideaway for celebs.
The desert-dusted Amangiri hotel
(Image: Flickr/Steve Jurvetson id:44124348109@N01)
Amangiri, Utah
You have to squint to catch a glimpse of the Amangiri. This sandstone property is like a chameleon, buried deep in the desert and blending in with the dusty, alien Utah landscape with ease. It does so much more than blend in on the inside though. Minimalist yet luxurious interiors boast sharp, sleek edges that marry up with the wild, wind-carved and otherworldly backdrop outdoors. It’s certainly an unpredictable spot for a desert oasis.
Heartbreak Hotel sign
(Image: Flickr/David Jones id:40732538582@N01)
Elvis’s Heartbreak Hotel, Memphis
The King is alive and well in Memphis! Well, stay at Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel and it’ll certainly feel like he’s been resurrected anyway. Each of the 128 rooms is decorated with black and white framed photographs of the fifties star and there are even Elvis-themed suites, such as the Art Deco-style Hollywood Suite and the retro Gold & Platinum Suite. You can even explore a replica of Elvis’s ‘Jungle Room’ den in the Graceland Suite. A must for any hardcore Elvis fan.
The view from Ink48
(Image: Flickr/Aurelien Guichard id:28536568@N00)
Ink48, New York City
This ex-1930s printing press pays homage to all things Gatsby. Located in the historic Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood, its décor is wonderfully decadent – sometimes swanky and other times funky and modern – and feels like its fusing together its fascinating heritage with upscale amenities and an unrivalled service. Dine at PRINT., the on-site restaurant that doffs its hat to the building’s former use.
SLS Beverly Hills exterior
(Image: Flickr, id:53999363@N00)
SLS Beverly Hills, Los Angeles
Disappear down the rabbit hole in this ultra-hip, Alice in Wonderland-style hotel. With décor that feels like it’s been plucked straight from a Lewis Carroll novel, the SLS Beverly Hills is an explosion of colour and quirk – but would you expect any less from a property in LA’s flashiest neighbourhood? Even Bazaar and Tres, the hotel restaurants, look as though they’ve been set up for a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, complete with candyfloss-infused dishes, sweet treats, wacky tapas dishes and a contrast of dark piazzas and white marble tables.
Wildcatter Ranch reception area
(Image: Flickr/William Foster id:87565570@N03)
Wildcatter Ranch & Resort, Texas
Ready to step into the Wild West? The Wildcatter Ranch & Resort not only gives guests the real ranch experience (we’re talking yelling ‘yeehaw’ on horseback), but its western-style façade (minus the swinging wooden doors) is completely unique. Even the interior – boasting an open fire, brown leather armchairs and a dual staircase/gallery that's reminiscent of a scene from Maverick – takes on the cowboy theme with gusto.
The 'human nest' at the Treebones Resort
(Image: Flickr, id:20868483@N00)
Treebones Resort, Big Sur
Treebones takes glamping to the next level. You can pitch your own tent on this coastal site, stay in one of 16 super-luxurious yurts or bed down in one of the weirdest accommodations we know of: ‘the human nest’. Perched in the trees and virtually open to the elements, this wooden cradle is exactly what the name suggests and, as far as Californian stays go, this is as wacky as it gets. It also offers uninterrupted views across the Pacific Ocean, and that makes it a pretty wonderful, one-of-a-kind experience.
