Author: Dusty at the Bates Motel
Before and during WWII this was the officers barracks for the Farragut Naval Base at Ponderay where there was (and is) a submarine testing and research facility. After the war, the War Department sold it and it was turned into The Roadway Inn, a motel on the main highway through town. Later it was sold to Mr. Randy Bates, a prominent accountant here in Coeur d’Alene. Of course, it was renamed The Bates Motel. When the movie Psycho was released in 1960, the Bates Motel became quite the attraction and the brunt of many jokes and prank phone calls. In fact, the prank phone calls continue. Many times, when the bars close at 2:00 am, we get phone calls asking if Norman or Mother is here.
I can’t verify this but I’ve heard from several sources that Robert Bloch (the author of Psycho) stayed here during the late 1950’s. At that time the golf course behind the motel hadn’t been built yet and there was an old rickety house up on a hill. Also, about two blocks away on CDA Lake Drive, there is a pond. I’ve heard that in the late 50’s this pond was partially filled in because kids were pushing cars into it. So the story goes that this is the place Robert Bloch used as the setting when he wrote Psycho. Then sometime in the early ‘80’s a movie was made here (I’m still trying to find out which movie). The movie production crew put up the now famous sign and left it here when they wrapped up and left.
Now the motel is just another budget motel in Coeur d’Alene, but this one has a rich history in both fact and fiction. We have souvenirs available including long and short sleeve t-shirts, ball caps and of course, key fobs for the infamous Room #1.
Dusty
Owner of the Bates Motel
2018 Sherman Avenue
Coeur d’ Alene, ID 83814