However, both promise to hit sometime next year. In the meantime, the biggest, most impossible to miss place to stay in downtown Port Angeles is still the Red Lion. Its footprint in downtown and on the waterfront are huge.
But what is its footprint online like? What sort of profile does this white elephant of a Red Lion have visible to the world?
To explore that, let's spend a few minutes perusing the Red Lion's reviews on Yelp, shall we? Currently, the Red Lion has a three (out of five) star rating overall, but that's mostly due to what you could call the great Yelp smoothing effect, or, the make no waves approach to "reviewing" businesses.
Anyway, here's the most recent Yelp review, from 5/28/2017: (ONE star) All I've got to say is it's the2nd worst hotel I've ever been to. Dropped a lid on the (floor) and went to pick it up. What do I find? A bunch of toe nails...everywhere. All I wanted to do was pretty much vomit. I moved the table next to the bed and there was more behind it. I will neverrrrr ever ever as long as I live on this earth stay here again. That review came from Sara B., from Everett.
Next, we've got Lea C. from Kent, who wrote her brief review on 5/10/2017: (ONE star) The hotel is run down and very old...Room stinks like wet dog. I will not revisit.
Next is Doug D. from Boise, with his (TWO star) review from 4/4/2017. He tells of getting a room with no heat, which prompted him to request a new room - a request the staff only grudgingly responded to. When he got to his new room, he discovered it was filthy, and so he "went to call the front desk - phone didn't work." Cue the laugh track, Doug - you've been punked Port Angeles-style!
The month before Doug, Victoria S. from Bellevue also gave it a TWO star rating, and spoke about the filth she found. And there was no respite from the dirty room because, oops, her room didn't have hot water.
Please note that all these examples I've cited are from people who live in the greater Northwest. In other words, they could be said to represent the regional reputation of the Red Lion (and to some extent, Port Angeles itself). In further other words, the Red Lion is a big, filthy pit, and I'd think that any downtown competition - Hello, Elwha! - will really put it in a tough spot.
What? And give up luxury like this?
Let's say the Elwha Hotel and No, Really, Not Even a Casino opens as planned, and is, if nothing else, clean and new. Let's say they don't have toenails in the carpet and used syringes under their mattresses (remember those reviews?) and do somehow manage to have, say, hot, running water. It would stand to reason that such a place would steal business first and foremost from the nearest and shabbiest lodging establishment - the Red Lion. It would not seem unlikely that, in such a trying economic situation, the Red Lion might respond by cutting even more corners and becoming even more of a pigsty. Which would lead to one of two outcomes: Port Angeles would have an even scummier anchor business downtown (and on the waterfront), or, Port Angeles will be saddled with a closed scummy former hotel downtown. Either way you'd, at the very least, have more visual blight, and another reputational black eye for PA. That's at the very least. At worst? How about hello, shooting gallery and homeless hangout! Maybe with a side of graffiti showroom? Hey, need a place to dump your old tires and appliances?
Do you think anyone in City Hall is thinking about these possibilities? Do you get a sense that anyone is clocking anything? Do you think anyone in a position of authority cares? Now, again, this is all a hypothetical, but it's not a far-fetched one. Pretty much all of downtown Port Angeles fears competition (Hi, Edna!) and the Red Lion absolutely has good reason to worry. Right now they have location, location, location, but soon enough, there'll be more location right across the street. And, it should be added, that it won't be difficult at all for the Elwha place to have a restaurant that's better than the widely-derided Crab House (which has its own Yelp problems).
Of course, even if all this comes to pass, I have no doubt that the people at City Hall won't break a sweat. Heck, maybe they could get a grant, raze the place, and Nathan West could put in a second chapter of his expensive, artificial Boondoggle Beach. (Hollywood Division, doncha know?)
Or, maybe Nathan would once again move Heaven and Earth to get the Red Lion fixed up and back in business. After all, he put in a lot of work to get the old abandoned Chinook turned into the open for business Holiday Lodge.
The Holiday Lodge which, currently, has an even more dismal one-and-a-half (out of five) star rating on Yelp. Another Port Angeles success story...
Dale Wilson is a psychopathic, self-indulging whack job who talks to his many egos back and forth between themselves. Coo-Coo!!!
ReplyDeleteAs someone who actually has watched what Dale Wilson does over the last year or two, I can clearly and honestly say you are only trying to destroy the reputation of one of the most generous and most community minded people this town has ever had. You are absolutely and completely wrong, and there is absolutely no factual basis for your statements.
DeleteI am saddened to see that there are people in Port Angeles that resort to this kind of crap.
Who ever you are, call up Mr. Wilson, and get involved in his daily work. See what he actually does every day. See if you can even keep up.
As an example, look at his post on the previous thread, about what he did yesterday. Helped local kids get to Seattle so they can attend the Emmy Awards ceremonies, where, because of Mr. Wilson's work over the last year or two, local kids were nominated for an Emmy! It is an honor in the film industry for seasoned professionals to get an Emmy nomination. Our own children, here in Port Angeles have accomplished this.
And you, Anon 2:00PM have done exactly WHAT for Port Angeles? Other than demonstrate what a piece of sleaze you are?
Hola, Mr Chamberlin!
DeleteFirst: You're off topic, but whatever.
ReplyDeleteSecond: You're off target, and wrong.
Third: You're clearly a status quo shiteater who fears change and honesty, and represents the inbred mindset that has turned Port Angeles into the poverty-ridden, drug-addled laughingstock that it is.
Fourth: Hey, thanks for writing. I'm sure Dale Wilson is really broken up. No, REALLY.
Fifth: Hi, Adam! (Which is to say, Adam Chamberlin, convicted felon and bullyboy loser.)
Oops! This was supposed to be in response to the Dale Wilson basher above...
Deleteyou mean the anon who didn't actually say anything.
DeleteYou are an idiot. MY daughters made summer money to pay for school. Your bad talks need to help not hurt the economy of PA.
DeleteAnonymous 8:02 PM...What the hell are you trying to say???
DeleteUh oh! Someone let Edna get on the computer again!
DeleteLOL! Speaking of the former Chinook, who has noticed the used mattresses piled up under the trees on the property? Yesterday, the weekend of the Olympic Discovery Marathon, they were strewn about the parking lot and landscaping. Priceless!
ReplyDeleteYes, CK, you are once again right on target. The idea of the new hotel downtown is as much a pipe dream as Dan's Fantasy Tram. Nathan and the local leadership may not think needs assessments are of value, but the people who pony up the real money do care. There just are not the people to support such a venture here. Yes, there are people moving through Port Angeles, but obviously few want to stay here, if they can avoid it.
The last three weekends in a row, the area has been dead. Despite the holidays and weather.
BUT, as you so correctly point out, they do get the financing to build the hotel, the impacts to the existing local businesses will be devastating. And then what? We have even more unemployment, and the new hotel loses patronage as few tourists want to vacation in a city full of closed down, empty businesses. Overlooking a harbor filled with oil tankers and military ships. Smelling the stench of the cardboard mill (if it does re-open), as they watch logs being loaded up to head to China. To enjoy the Oly Nat Park as a weapons testing range.
How can this not be success and wonderment?
Meanwhile, looking ahead at one of the people who will potentially be addressing the problems in Port Angeles...
ReplyDelete"PORT ANGELES — A City Council candidate whose Facebook page included a March 2013 posting that joked about assassinating then-President Barack Obama said last week his account was hacked.
Artur Wojnowski, a candidate for Port Angeles City Council Position 3, suspended his account on Friday."
RIIIGHT. Because you, Artur Wojnowski - aka: Who? - yes, you are so important and so high-profile that someone took the time to hack your Facebook account. In 2013. RIIIGHT. That's SO believable. RIIIGHT.
And which way does Artur admit his politics lean? RIIIGHT.
Well Artur is in charge of the maintenance for Dungeness Meadows! You know what all that entails. What with the keeping the pool clean and making sure the golf course is mowed and the club house is cleaned I can see where he has probably made many enemies.
DeleteAnd, what does this episode reveal about Artur? That he can't tale responsibility for his own actions, and will lie to cover up what he does?
DeleteSee also: "The dog ate my homework" and other classic excuses.
DeleteYes indeed. Let's look at this logically, shall we?
DeleteHacking takes some time and some skill. Not a lot of either, but still...Why would someone "hack" the Facebook page of this fool in 2013? As a political candidate, sure, anything can happen. But back in 2013...Who even knew this guy existed? Why would someone expend ANY amount of effort to "hack" his Facebook page? It makes zero sense.
You know what makes more sense? Artur, you racist right-wing reactionary, you did it. In the (at the time) safe cocoon of your far-right Facebook friends, you said it, and laughed about it. Ha ha, kill the president - a laugh riot, right?
But now, Artur, you wannabe self-sufficient manly conservative know-nothing, now that you've been caught doing SOMETHING THAT YOU DID, you're taking the coward's way out, and trying to shift blame.
What a wuss. What a liar. What a racist. How pathetic.
And thus how perfect for elected office in Clallam County.
Be sure to write, Artur, and share some of your other views with us, won't you? We'll be waiting...
Aw, c'mon guys, it was aliens.
DeleteAt least some of the other candidates are sharp enough to methodically sanitize their online presences. But even then, some people have long memories, and search engines cache everything there ever was. You shouldn't assume anything you ever did online won't come back and bite you on the ass.
The last thing I want to see after running 26 miles is Cherrie Kidd trying to high-five me for a fucking photo op.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. But, were I put in that situation, I would give her a big, SWEATY bear hug and then shake my SWEATY hair like a dog, right in her face, then go about my business.
DeleteI didn't see that in the PDN - where was that gem?
DeleteDirt on the ground is smarter than Kidd.
DeleteO/T, but who was that purple clad woman trying to grab the glory of the marathon winners immediately at the finish line?
ReplyDeleteAnyone notice the Carnegie Library is now off limits?
ReplyDeleteWhen the tribe took it over it was written into their agreement the historic library would be forever available for people to come in off the street and tour the building. Has this been taken away from us?
Ypu are smart and could help but hide. Is that called a coward behind the internet. Grow some skin and learn to see the good not the not so good in others.
ReplyDeleteHow did you know I am Ypu?!?
Delete"Is that called a coward behind the internet." Is that called a question? Where's the question mark?
"Grow some skin..." I am absolutely covered with skin. So I guess I'm ahead of the game, or...
"...see the good and not the not so good..." A classic!
In other words, Anonymous 8:11 PM...What the hell are you trying to say?
Here we see what the "opposition" to truth and reality have resorted to. Clearly the same moron that is trying to defame and discredit Mr. Wilson in he previous attempt, tries to do the same thing to you, CK.
DeleteBut, what do they offer to discredit you, Mr. Wilson, or any of the other critics of the very well documented institutionalized corruption that is Port Angeles? Does this moron ever offer ANY evidence to counter or refute the obvious corruption that goes on in Port Angeles? NO. Never. This idiot just tries to discredit those that point out the problems. You know, "kill the messenger".
We can postulate this moron's motives. I'm guessing they like the status quo. Kill he messenger, keep things the way they are. As if things are so great in Loserville Port Angeles.
Use your talent to do good.
DeleteI am trying to do good. It's BAD to ignore the idiots running, and ruining, an entire community. No, make that an entire county. So I point out this BAD to try and bring about GOOD change, see? It's like alchemy, except you don't know what that is.
DeleteOk.. I will look up that word. Over and out. Last time I will comment. Glad to not know you.
DeleteExposing criminality, corruption, lunacy, and plain old stupidity is very, very good for human beings. It means we all subscribe to the common set of values and laws that citizens consent to (the social contract, if you will). When a handful decide that they are above the values of the rest, and steal public funds which belong to everyone, or when public officials do things that are meaningless, all that & more is destructive to real community.
DeleteTo be more blunt, what if everyone acted like the crooks and idiots depicted here? Would that be a good thing? Therefore by definition this blog does good by prompting bad actors not do their bad deeds.
Whether or not any individual personally likes this blog is of no consequence. It lives up to its byline by providing facts that other so-called news publications very intentionally obfuscate (which is also a very bad thing). It appears that 8:11's and 2:18's comments should have much more appropriately been directed to the Black Publishing conglomerate.
Man it's impossible to NOT see the bad in PA. It's rampant and constantly being shoved down our throats around every corner. The "leaders" want to pretend it doesn't exist though, and the PDN is complicit in that ruse. CK *is* doing good by shining the light on it and bringing transparency to these issues and hopefully saving some poor family from relocating here thinking it's something it's not.
DeleteBack to the former Chinook. It now has piles of used mattresses in their parking lot, in front of their rooms-for-rent, with a "Free" sign on them!
ReplyDeleteThat's how you do quality business in Port Angeles!
"How do we keep our prices so low? Volume, volume, volume! How do we keep our standards so low? Cherie, Pat, Nathan!"
DeleteSorry this is off topic but I have a quick question or two. I first had my eyes opened to Unearthed/POC and current PA sagas a bit ago. I caught wind of the "illegal camping" community meeting thing on FB when it went down last fall or whenever and intuitively thought that it wasn't going to be a good thing. I pictured uptight super frustrated people that were probably going about things wrong. Then I read the article where Dale was critical of that meeting and possibly a certain group of people. These people didn't take it well. It's been a guilty pleasure that I've been monitoring the push-pull of the whole thing ever since. Possible harassment of the homeless that totally gets argued both ways. The AC saga where he did some pretty nasty despicable stuff. His group defends him to no end like the weirdo stuff he did just gets swept under the rug like it never happened or doesn't mean anything. The people that actually pointed guns at homeless campers! How do you get away with pointing a gun at someone? The group is obviously all over the PA Facebook page still relentlessly permanently pissed at Dale Wilson and the Port o Call, tearing him down with claims he's a terrible guy that has done all this bad stuff to them. If you bring forth an opinion that's not in line with their narrative it will be deleted, then buckle up for the onslaught of crybabies attacking you for disagreeing with the gang. They say that Dale has slandered and hurt their friends and family. They make it seem like there has been a lot of it and it's been going on forever. But I just came online at the aforementioned timeline. My question: did all this our town/Dale drama exist prior to the article that was critical of the unlawful camping meeting? If so, what are these specific claims of all this terrible slanderous stuff that Dale has done? If I asked the "their town" gang what would they say?
ReplyDeleteThat question has already been covered here. The OT group, whomever they are, simply have no facts, whatsoever.
DeleteThe problem is not so much their unstated complaints about PA, but rather their mindset, which is utterly devoid of any intellect. Which raises the question: just why ARE alot of folks around here so dang stupid? What is wrong with having a rational adult conversation, about anything of interest or concern? Are most people here on drugs (seems like it sometimes!)? Why is it that there is no rational public discourse of people's vision for this area? Are we that bad off?
The candidates for council need to be more accessable and vocal about their fresh new ideas, should they have any.
Most of the remaining PA residents are trash. (Minus my folks) They are in denial. It'll get better. My house value will go up. Crime will go down. The Lefties will succeed. None of these things will happen in the near future. The only hope is to take your lumps and move. Move to Poulsbo. Port Townsend. Gig Harbor. Anywhere but PA. Staying is a death sentence for you or your kids. Got it? :D.
DeleteI don't got it. Please explain how it's a "death sentence" to have a residence in PA.
Delete@ Anon 1:29 You must be new in town! Not experienced everything that deadens the souls, hearts and minds of those that get poisoned by Port Angeles.
DeleteThe constant flow of failures and corruption seeps into your body, somehow, and creates a sense of worthlessness.
This is a town of 29 churches, and none can be bothered to provide shelter for the needy. But vigilantes can point guns and harass the homeless, and that is supported.
Port Angeles, a place where parents brand their children like cattle, and people crush neighbors houses with bulldozers over petty disputes.
People move here thinking it is some kind of nature lovers paradise, only to find out it is run by people who rape, plunder and pillage.