Rode Inn Motel — Hotel in Clifton

As I have mentioned in many of my other reviews, my husband and I travel all over the West with our hot-shot delivery business and have stayed in 100's of accomodations. Last week we had a transport to the Mine in Morenci, AZ. So after driving the 1000 miles from Reno, NV, through heavy rain most of the way, we were really tired and weren't looking forward to driving the additional 48 miles back to Safford-Thacher for a decent motel room. We have had some rather "iffy" stays at small-town older privately owned motels. But given the circumstances, we decided to give Rode Inn a try. And we were very impressed with our accommodations! Yes, the motel building is definitely older and is located in Clifton (next to Morenci). The town of Clifton is quite old and run down. But the Rode inn is kept up as tidy as is possible in a decaying mining town out of the Old West. The interior of our room was VERY clean and comfortable!! The furniture was identical to what is used in newer Comfort Inns. No thrift store-odds-and-ends that we have found in most small town older motels. We slept well in the comfortable clean bed with fresh linens and a good mattress. The flat screen T.V. was quite small.......but we weren't there to watch T.V. Upon check-in we were given a list of rules, and then again posted on the wall of the room were a few more do's and don'ts. This was uniquely different. and a bit daunting. But given the circumstances and location of this motel with it's highest percentage of clientele likely ruff-and-tumble miners and mine-related contractors, there likely needs to be some established house rules in order to keep this older establishment clean and in good updated repair. So we were okay with the rules and regs. However, the posted rules in the room may be more impressive, professional appearing, taken more seriously, and not look so tacky if they were printed, framed, and displayed on the desk in the room-------rather than as a paper flyer taped to the wall. But of course, that didn't affect our comfortable stay. Also, the room had only one towel and washcloth. The housekeeper explained that usually there is only one occupant in a room. But she generously provided us an additional towel when she realized there were 2 of us. If we ever have occasion to deliver in the Morenci area again, we will not hesitate to stay at the Rode Inn. Also, we will recommend it to any of our drivers who may delivering to the...

Recently stayed at this facility with the following experience. 4:30am a double diesel locomotive, after sounding the horn for the prior 1/2 mile, parked directly across from the Inn. Note that the tracks are within 50 yards and at the base of a 50ft. hard rock cliff which reflects sound directly across the roadway to the Inn. The locomotives remained parked in that location with engines idling until 7:00am during which the onboard air compressors were repeatedly blownoff and recharged for 2.5 hours. Recognizing that the railroad's activities are not under the control of the Inn, the fact that this occurs as a random, arbitrary event is enough to dissuade me from ever staying at this facility in the future, particularly at the excessive charge. I don't mind funky, and an occasional train passing in the night are conditions to be expected from time to time, but 2.5 hrs. of maintenance on 2 diesel locomotives in your back yard exceeds the bounds of reasonableness, particularly when the lodge, as part of their admonitions to guests states, ". . . . No loud music or loud conversations after 10:00pm. Please be respectful of surrounding guests." My advice, be respectful of the interests of prospective guests and advise them prior to booking rooms of the potential for interruptions in sleep due to excessively loud noise from locomotive...

The Rode Inn has been the most reliable lodging in Clifton for as long as I can remember and I've depended on it for decades. The decor does look stuck in the 80s, but the rooms are spacious and comfortable. There's a fridge and a microwave, comfy beds, a coffee maker and all you need to relax and enjoy your stay in the town tougher than Tombstone. The air conditioning and heat work well. The sounds of a real working mining town are not anything to worry about. It's part of the charm of being in Clifton and to me, the train lets me know I'm home. You, may be in Clifton just passing through, but why not explore the historic town, take a day to fish on the San Francisco River, or go up to the lookout point to see the open pit mine? Clifton is steeped in history, and the Rode Inn has it's part in that history. The people who run the hotel are friendly and accomodating. The Rode Inn is what it is, and what it is is a clean, comfortable, friendly place that will most likely exceed your...