The Waning of Roadside America

I have seen it in many many places, but am always sad when I do. Today we took Route 2 west from Boston headed out towards Williamstown. Lots of beautiful road, fringed with trees, abutted quite often with ponds and rivers (first Millers River heading West, then the Deerfield River as the road rises into the Berkshires). But  populated with all too many old motels and other attractions that have just gone to seed, with faded paint at best, all too often just abandoned and with roofs caved in, forlornly hearkening back to simpler days of American summers and touring.

At the top of one mountain there was one motel, the Mt Whitcomb Resort, which was still operating and was freshly painted. I rejoiced inwardly and we stopped and checked out the view. But the shops out in front of it were themselves ramshackle. We kept moving.

We were due at this swank riverside hotel (on the banks of the Mohawk) and casino in Schenectady, where I had gotten a room at a very reasonable price, I'll have you know.