When my wife and I travel, we like to try out the independent places and don't mine the adventure of trying someplace different.

Since we do most of our traveling in the Spring and Fall, we usually do not make reservations, but instead look for the little unique motels along the way. Because we where making this trip in the heart of tourist season we decided to go ahead and make and advance reservation. While checking out rates on the net, the Dude Rancher came up and was less than any other motel in the area so we booked a room.

The Dude Rancher is a typical 40's and 50's motor motel, that doted the landscape. The motel is ideally located in Downtown Billings within easy access of most the area. The only downside, because it is downtown, while there is plenty of restaurants in the area, there where few fast food type places around which was an issue since we had our 13 year old niece with us.

All the employees we encountered where extremely friendly and willing to help out any way possible.

Parking at the Dude Rancher is in the center of the U-shaped motel. Rooms on the inside of the room have doors directly to the parking area, while rooms on the outside of the U reached their rooms along the hallway that travels through the center of the U.

The hallways and the rooms are paneled with wood that gives the motel a very rustic feeling. We had a room with two double beds, but there was plenty of room for the 3 of us. The fixtures in the bathroom where straight from the seventies in that nice burnt orange color. The bathroom also had a full tub and sink.

The room has a dresser, a cabinet for the television that includes additional storage space, but does not include a table and chairs. The rooms are small compared to most modern motel rooms.

There is a coffee shop in the motel across the driveway from the office, but the facility does not include a continental breakfast.

The only downside to the whole experience was the weather and the a/c. It was very hot and the air conditioner decided to give up. There was one main a/c unit for the entire complex. The employees worked very hard to solve the problem and where very gracious about it. They finally got the unit working the second night of our stay but the complex had heated up so bad that day, it took until the next morning to cool off.

While the a/c situation did cause a little discomfort, overall the experience of staying at the Dude Rancher was good. The room was a good value for the money, and the atmosphere helped complete the package. It is great place to stay for those who love to stay at places that remind you of the days before the cookie cutter motels and hotels became the norm.

Recommended: Yes

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