Green River is a small town in Wyoming, known mostly for its connections to the railroad. We visited as part of a trip around Utah, Colorado and Wyoming, it was pictures taken at Green River that first inspired my fiancés interest in American trains several years ago. We booked the motel through ebookers, and when we arrived the receptionist said she recognised our name but didn't actually have our reservation for that evening. However she quickly assigned us a room, exactly as we had booked and took a copy of the email print out I had with me to sort out any problems that arose later. We were given our room key, along with a brown paper bag containing a breakfast voucher, shampoo and coffee.
The reception area had an ice machine and other vending machines, and I believe that these were also available in the doorway to each building.
As all Oak Tree Inn's they are primarily set up for Union Pacific Railroad employees, but fill any spare capacity with paying guests. This was not obvious during our stay, I only read this when I arrived home. We did have views of the railroad, which of course pleased my railroad fan fiancé, and the motel is just off the interstate. I did not notice any noise from the road or railway during the night. Their website states that the rooms are deliberately noise and light proofed to help the railroad employees on shiftwork to sleep.
The motel is a very large complex; spread over 4 separate buildings each with 2 floors. I didn't find out the total number of rooms. Rooms on the ground floor, (1st floor in America!) have doors opening to the carpark space outside the door. Access to upstairs rooms was via stairs at either end of the building and the doors open on to internal corridors. There is a Penny's Diner in the grounds; this is a traditional 1950s American Diner! The food was great, typically cheap and plenty of it. Very little choice for vegetarians, but then that's normal for Wyoming too! The diner is open 24 hours a day, presumably to feed the hungry engineers and railroad staff who come and go at all times of day! The inn supplies a voucher for free breakfast at the diner, this cannot be used for dinner, but is valid for the most expensive breakfasts on the menu! You do have to pay taxes and of course the tip.
Our spotlessly clean room had a king sized bed, and a recliner to sit in whilst watching the large TV, in the corner was a fridge and microwave. The bathroom has a bath with shower over. There is a hairdryer in the room, and we had too many TV channels to count.
We only had one night in Green River so I can't tell you what the room servicing was like. The inn has a gym and whirlpool, but we didn't use it.
We paid $78 plus 8% tax for a room for two people through ebookers, getting a little cashback thorugh Quidco. A quick look at their website shows that booking direct may be a little more expensive, but it would be possible to guarantee a king sized bed. Rooms with two queen sized beds are also available.
We would definitely go back to this hotel, and will look out for others in the same chain on future visits to the USA. read more