Behind the Design of River Lodge’s Motel Makeover
FROM ROADSIDE DIVE TO RETRO CHIC RESORT
For decades, the Paso Robles motor lodge originally known as ‘The Suburban Lodge’ has sat vacant at 1955 Theatre Drive - a street named for a drive-in theatre that existed there once upon a time. Like its neighbor, River Lodge, was eventually slated for demolition too, until Nomada Hotel Group came into the picture.
In 2022, the San Luis Obispo-based hospitality group swooped in to save the property and begin a two-and-a-half-year rescue mission that would become the company’s most ambitious restoration project to date. The plan of action: to preserve the iconic property’s original ‘Googie’ architecture while elevating the design with a complete collection of custom furniture, decor, and finishes created by Nomada Deco or in collaboration with independent artisans both locally and globally.
Known for its Space Age, retro-futuristic aesthetic, the Googie style swept Southern California in the 1950s due to the growth of car culture, expansion of freeways, and suburban spread. Roadside businesses (like coffee shops, car washes, gas stations, and of course, motels) needed a way to capture the attention of busy motorists – and Googie’s sculptural structures, dramatic angles, bold colors, and neon signs could do just that.
River Lodge, with it’s boomerang-shaped building, room-front parking, original kidney bean pool, and iconic sign are all markers of a quintessential ‘motel’ but that archetype stops with the architecture. Now, the design is that of boutique luxury, bespoke craftsmanship, and a boots-off kind of spirit.
BEFORE
Photo: San Luis Obispo Tribune
Photo: San Luis Obispo Tribune
AFTER
Now, the three-acre property has 28 stylish guest rooms that open up to beautiful central grounds (the former parking lot) with rose gardens + lush lawns and hand-woven hammocks + fire pits tucked throughout the landscape. At the heart of the hotel, there is a 21-and-over swimming pool + hot tub surrounded by shaded chaise loungers + daybeds, and a swanky poolside restaurant + bar called ‘Ciao Papi’ which serves up Cal-Italian eats, craft cocktails, and local wines.
The hotel interiors have been furnished and decorated with original pieces designed by Nomada’s creative director, Kimberly Walker. While all Nomada hotels feature custom furniture and decor, River Lodge is the first to debut a full capsule collection, which includes the velvet-upholstered bed, wing-back club chairs, and walnut nightstands in each guestroom.
“There’s a freedom to Paso. There’s this sort of anything-goes attitude, like innovator-meets-cowboy-meets-winemaker. I wanted to design something that had a lot of that cowboy culture and energy, but with some softness and elegance,” said Kimberly. Take the bed, for example, which is covered in luxe velvet and accented with rustic brass nailheads around the headboard.
The same performance velvet is used for the cushy seat of the ‘El Patron’ club chair, while the button-tufted backrest is covered in a fabric inspired by Mexican serape blankets. When designing this piece, Kimberly imagined how a hardworking rancher would kick his boots off after a long day in the sun – the chair needed to be sturdy and comfortable enough for a cowboy, without sacrificing the clean lines of a stylish mid-century silhouette.
Many of the materials used in these pieces, like the handforged hardware on the front of the walnut nightstand (inspired by bridle rosettes), were sourced from Kimberly’s travels to Mexico and Morocco.
“I love color and texture and things with stories. I love to travel, meet the makers and incorporate those items into my hotels,” she said in an interview with Marin Living Magazine. “It makes your environment feel more intentional and more thoughtful.”
To celebrate the centennial anniversary of the founding of America’s first motel, River Lodge is offering 15% OFF midweek rates now through June 30, 2025. Just use code ‘MOTEL’ (case sensitive) to unlock the discount *and* get a complimentary souvenir gift at check-in to commemorate your stay.
Offer valid Sundays - Thursdays through June 30th, 2025. Blackout dates apply. Offer cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotions. New, direct bookings only. One merch kit per stay.
