We have a bit of a debate when we travel sometimes. One of us really enjoys trying to find historic hotels, and B&Bs.
The other enjoys staying at an established, consistent chain hotel.
When we started planning this trip, we did decide that we absolutely had to visit the Hotel Alex Johnson for at least a brief stay. Look up the place's history. Ghost, politicians, and Alfred Hitchcock have spent time here.
We did enjoy our time at this place.
First off, it feels old and historic. By old, I mean that you can walk in and feel it's history. It is kept up, but it has maintained a great historic vibe. It almost feels like a set from a movie set in the 20s or 30s.
Look at the lobby! The Alex Johnson is one of the few hotels where we actually set around and read for a while. It is cozy. it is nice just hanging out there and soaking in the history.
Our room was a little small, but we did not mind. Again, we felt that that was part of staying at a cool historic place like this.
About the only modern thing we noticed at the hotel was the attached Seattle's Best Coffee Shop. It is a nice, clean well kept place though, and it did not take away from the historic vibe at all.
Back to the chain vs. historic debate. We did notice a couple of small issues that we would probably not have experienced at a chain place.
Many businesses in Rapid City seem to close early. We asked a staff person at the desk for some restaurant suggestions, and they seemed a bit confused by the question, and they expressed that they weren't real sure of the restaurants around the hotel, or their times.
The hotel has partnered with a local pizza place. An advertisement was in the room, and there was even a call button on the phone. The ad stated that the place place delivered at the time we called, but when we called, they said that they stopped delivering at 8 to the hotel.
Both of those issues were easy to over look and they didn't distract for the fun of staying at such a cool old place.
And, that kind of settles the historic vs. chain hotel issue for me. At a chain hotel, they do maintain a certain standard, but there is also a certain sameness to each hotel. I remember things that have happened at specific chain hotels... and I can't remember what town (or state) I was in. You aren't soaking in the local feel at a chain place.
The Alex Johnson has a different standard than the chain places (not a lesser standard, just a different one), but it is part of South Dakota. Staying there is a great way to really experience the area. AND it is full of character!
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