Cobmin Ridge Motel — Hotel in Frankford Township

Almost exactly 1 year ago today, my step-son and I spent an evening at this motel. As a backdrop, he and I travel together a LOT representing our little sauce company, and we've stayed in some very interesting places. I have to say that our evening at this "fine" establishment was an especially memorable one. I strongly feel that the English language is incapable of properly articulating the experience we endured. In all sincerity, I hardly even know where to begin.

If you've ever lived on the streets -- as in, the inner city streets, not some suburbia excuse for homelessness, but the truly rancid human equivalent of living like a rodent, or a cockroach -- then perhaps your stay here will be most enjoyable. For the rest of western civilization, herein lies an opportunity to get a little glimpse into what it must have been like to be towards society's lower rungs during the Dark Ages.

Don't get me wrong! There is electricity, running water, and a toilet, so it is not an altogether 3rd world experience, nor entirely on par with spending the night in a maggot infested dumpster in a back alleyway. I mean, there is a shower, for example ... if you don't mind the shower curtain being so caked with mold and mildew that it takes genuine effort to pull the individual folds apart. It was not simply sticky ... each pleat was solidly stuck to the other by a more than moderate layer of black and other unappealing colored muck that must have taken some time to accumulate to such appalling levels.

On a positive note: the owners do take the time and effort to press together slivers of used soap from prior guests and leave them available for you on the soap tray as a loosely knit "semi-bar." No, there were no unopened mini bars of soap to use in the stead of this conglomerate of tiny, used slivers; that was your soap. Perhaps the owners are of the opinion that other leftover soap embedded with pubic and other random body hairs somehow provides a unique exfoliating benefit not found elsewhere upon this strange planet we call home; I know not.

Thank god I keep an old pair of Crocs in the van with me when I travel. The funk on the shower floor was equally as repulsive. In the spirit of full disclosure, I must admit that it contained more filth than the worst of the worse public showers I've ever encountered in my short 52 years. It defied belief to a level where I believe it would surely qualify for an episode of Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe, or at least a more than mildly bizarre episode of "World's Weirdest." To call the shower floor "gross" would be an insult to many of this world's foulest receptacles of refuse.

At evening's end we decided we had possibly hit rock bottom after being cornered into some truly freakish bouts of one sided conversation with a couple of the "natives" ... or, should I say, weekly tenants, quite possibly escapees from the local residential rehab or sanitorium.

After gracefully breaking free from the vortex of the bizarre that enshrined the pair of would-be new friends, we shook our heads, calling it a night and looking over our respective double beds, Will chuckled and said, "Well, at least the beds aren't plagued with bugs."

That misguided assumption was instantly exposed for the delusion it was as he pulled the bed cover back to expose his pillow; to wit, a little minion straight from the bowels of perdition scampered hurriedly across. I slept, atop my bed cover, fully clothed and with a hoodie pulled over my head, my ear holes stuffed with my ear bud headphones in the hopes that none of the of denizens of darkness would invade said space.

This "adventure" served a powerful lesson. If nothing else, we view any motel hanging a sign that reads, "ABSOLUTELY NO REFUNDS" with suspicion ... no, scratch that: with utter disdain and a healthy sense of fear.

It is truly a shame that the lowest rating we can offer is a full sized one star. A fraction of a star would still...

A Hidden Gem with Great Value

I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Cobmin Ridge Motel during my visit to Branchville, NJ, and overall, I would highly recommend this establishment. While the motel's exterior may not inspire confidence at first glance, the quality of the rooms and the fantastic location more than make up for it.

Let's start with the rooms. I was pleasantly surprised by the well-maintained and comfortable accommodations provided at the Cobmin Ridge Motel. The rooms were clean, spacious, and equipped with all the necessary amenities. The beds were comfortable, ensuring a good night's sleep after a long day of exploring the area. I found the room to be well-furnished and inviting, creating a cozy atmosphere.

One of the standout features of this motel is its affordability. The reasonable rates make it an excellent choice for budget-conscious travelers. Despite the modest exterior, the rooms offer great value for the price paid. I was pleasantly surprised by the level of comfort and amenities provided at such an affordable rate.

Another highlight of the Cobmin Ridge Motel is its convenient location. The motel is situated near some incredible restaurants that offer breathtaking lakeside views. This adds an extra touch to the dining experience, creating a serene and picturesque backdrop. Furthermore, the proximity to Buttermilk Falls is a significant advantage. These stunning falls are a must-visit for nature enthusiasts, and being so close to them was a real treat.

Additionally, I was delighted to find the Yellow Cottage Deli & Bakery located right across from the motel. This hidden gem offers delicious breakfast sandwiches that are a perfect way to start your day. Their offerings are mouthwatering, and the convenience of having such a fantastic bakery nearby is truly a bonus.

Although the motel's exterior may seem a bit intimidating, don't let it discourage you. Once inside, you'll find comfortable and well-maintained rooms that are worth every penny. The proximity to the enchanting Buttermilk Falls and the nearby lake-view restaurants adds a touch of beauty to your stay. And of course, the Yellow Cottage Deli & Bakery across the street is a culinary delight.

Considering all these factors, the Cobmin Ridge Motel is a hidden gem that offers excellent value for money. It may not be the most visually appealing from the outside, but the comfortable rooms and convenient location make it a worthwhile choice for budget travelers. I would gladly return to this motel and recommend it to others who seek affordability without compromising on comfort and...

I am UNSURE of why this place has raving reviews. Pictures looked great and we read the reviews so we booked it for a weekend. It was disgusting. We had room 3. Upon entering our first night, it was pouring. Whoever “cleaned” left the bathroom window wide open resulting in the whole bathroom being wet and damp. It never dried even leaving the fan on because I’m certain the ventilation is poor. It smelled like straight mold in there and every corner you looked, was black. Dirt or mold.. I don’t know. Either is unacceptable running a hospitality business. While we’re on the bathrooms. We were left with a quarter of a toilet paper roll with no refills. We had to buy our own. Also.. I don’t know about the “Snow White” towels that they speak of. We got two crusty purple and green towels that looked like they came from a grandmothers bathroom in the 80’s. The water also reaked of sulfur/metal. I felt even more dirty after showering.

The rest of the room was a disgrace. The floors are either laminate or vinyl and were slimy and gritty because of the moisture in the hotel. It was so thick and heavy that upon leaving our things had a stench and were damp and had a weight to them. I lifted an area rug to clean the floor and it wasn’t even vacuumed. There was hair from a previous person, bugs, and god know what else under it. The chairs were just covered with these seat covers that didn’t even fit properly. The bed had a mattress cover for a “fitted sheet”, two regular sheets and then a thin fleece blanket that had holes in it.

There were also multiple large spiders we had to kill that were crawling around. You’d think that spraying for pests would be a priority for your guests.

The door also looked like it had been kicked in and was put back together. The deadbolt didn’t even match up. So to protect you, you have a lock someone can pop open with a card and a chain a few inches long.

This was the worst place we have ever stayed. Unfortunately there was nothing available in the area that we needed this weekend. I would not recommend to ANYONE. Please don’t read the reviews and put your family here to sleep. You’re better off pitching a tent out back...