Davis Arcade and Motel

We have been to Mount Airy, NC numerous times.  I love that every time we go we discover several things new to see or do.  Walking downtown I have seen this sign at the end of an alley for Davis Arcade.  This trip we decided to go find out what is was.  I thought it was a pinball arcade.  However that is not what the word Arcade actually means here.  It is the definition of "a covered passage way that includes many shops"

As you can see...It is a super long hallway.  Most of the businesses were not retail (lawyers, and a psychic) and so it was kinda nice that on Friday evening the hallway was deserted and could be explored some. 

I loved this green asphalt tile on the floor!

As we came out the other end of the Davis Arcade, we found ourselves at the entry to The Davis Motel built in 1930.  The front door was open to this little lobby waiting room.  

Check out those amazing 1960 era chairs!

This is the front desk window.
  I think the sign "Limit your calls to 5 minutes please" may be giving you a hint as to what the Davis Motel is.  In present day it is a low rent, month by month, kinda half way house for men.

The supervisor/manager was there and a super cool guy.  He let us look around and take photos and told us about the history of the Motel.

The Davis Motel was where a ton of country western and blue grass performers and actors of past stayed when in town or passing through: Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl, Little Jimmy Dickens, Audrey and Hank Williams Jr. along with many others.

Check out the little windows in those rooms overlooking the hallway and stairwell.  The manager said the other side of the windows are bathrooms.  Odd.

Beautiful art deco wall sconces.

Awesome wallpaper.  Not sure of it's date, but I guess it could be original.

Stumbling on the Davis Motel was really awe inspiring.  So many legends climbed those steps and walked that hall.  We spoke with the manager at length.  He told us he still has the motel ledger books from 1940-1960 with signatures of all the guests.  The whole Davis building and complex is apparently bigger than I even realized.  He told us part of the building houses The Grand Theatre, which is one of his next restoration projects.  He was going to let us take a peek at it but a photographer had rented it out for the day.  Next time!