A MOTEL TO CHECK OUT

The motel is populated with an out-of-this-world cast of characters

Something strange is afoot at the Madcap Motel

By Sean Davies

Every room is different inside the Madcap Motel

Deep in the city of Los Angeles, lies a remnant of the past. A vintage motel, seemingly unassuming, decked in yellow stripes, and doted on by bellhops clothed in khaki. For the modern traveler, it would appear to be a respite for an evening’s snooze in the city, but this motel isn’t accepting reservations. Instead, it’s offering glimpses into another dimension, a place known only as Elsewhere, where the laws of reality no longer apply. For the staff, it’s just another day at the Madcap Motel.

On 940 East 4th Street, the salvaged bones of an abandoned 1960s motel have been turned into an interactive and photo-friendly adventure full of story-building performances sure to take guests out of their world and into a new and exciting universe. After checking in, guests of the Madcap Motel are invited to roam the kitchy corridors and tour the rooms at their leisure to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of J.P. Sando, the motel’s enigmatic former owner. Staff are available if anyone gets lost, though the tour itself is almost completely selfguided. A trip through the museum will reward keen-eyed customers with hidden passageways, infinity rooms, floating furniture, hungry hedge people and other odd residents that need to be seen to be believed. All tickets must be purchased in advance from the motel’s website. While interdimensional travel seems like it would run up quite the price tag, a trip through the wormhole only costs people ages 12 and up $40. A single tour promises 17,000 square feet of adventure, with 18 rooms of interactive art, theatrical and magic performances, and immersive 1960s sets. Tickets for children 4-11 only run at $30, though all minors must be accompanied by an adult, lest they slip into Elsewhere, never to be seen again. madcapmotel.com