Astro Motel / New Astro Motel / Rodeway Inn / Road Side Inn, 1725 Highway 17 North: Fall 2023 no comments
Believe it or not, there were really not that many Grand Strand hotels south of Myrtle Beach until quite recently. This motel, or pair of motels, on Business 17 just south of SC-544, caught my eye many years ago because of the space-age name of the northern building Astro Motel and because of the proud boast of Jacuzzis.
The pictures above were taken on 25 November 2012 when I noticed some ongoing work and demolition on the site. Judging from the google reviews, this may have been when the Astro Motel became New Astro Motel and when the two operations (Astro & Rodeway) came under the same ownership and management.
Also from those reviews (not particularly positive) it appears that the Astro side (north) was an extended stay facility, and catered to trade and people down on their luck (and also possibly was boarding for hotel employees who were in that second class).
As you can see from the pictures below, taken on 14 January 2024, the whole place, both sides is now being razed, though that seems to have stalled out, as I saw no progress over the course of a week.
(Comparing the two sets of pictures reminds me why I really liked the color balance on the LX7 vs the later models too.)
UPDATE 24 January 2024 -- Found an earlier set of pictures from 27 April 2012:
