Sunset Falls on the Pancake House

From Mick Melvin:

I drive from Connecticut to Pennsylvania quite often to visit family. My father gave me a scenic route so I can avoid tolls. I see plenty of content for the Backside blog, but rarely stop to take photos because I just want to get to my destination. I've been taking trips for 15 years now. One particular stretch of highway going through New Jersey has always caught my eye. Along Route 202 in Branchburg, there is an abandoned restaurant, next to a dated motel. I finally made the stop on the way back home on my last trip.

The stretch of highway has many restaurants, shopping spots, gas stations and hotels. It has always struck me funny that this place has been abandoned for such a long period of time. It is definitely an eyesore in a nice suburban area. I often imagine what this place would have been like if my family had eaten there, or if I'd stopped in for a meal on my travels from PA to CT.

Well on this particular day, I parked in a public parking lot and walked past the Sunset Motel to get to the Sunset Pancake House Family Restaurant. The motel is still in operation, but it looks outdated and a little creepy. The metal sign out front looks like one from the '70's. The space the restaurant occupies is in good condition for being abandoned for such a long time. There are no broken windows and the building looks relatively clean.

As I snapped a few shots, I felt like I was being watched. I was about to take a closer look at the restaurant when I noticed a gentleman talking on his phone next to the motel. I waved but got no response, just a blank stare. I took this as a sign to keep it moving. All I could think about was "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and being trapped in this motel, never to be seen again.

I made my way past the motel and the silent man to my car, unharmed. Many questions, however, filled my head. When I returned to CT, I looked up the restaurant and hotel but the searches didn't yield much. The motel is still in operation and is used by people who don't mind scarce amenities or like their stays a little rustic. I found nothing about the restaurant, but found some reviews about the motel. People gave it fair ratings. I'm not sure how long the restaurant has been out of business or how long it operated. I'll be sure to keep my eye on the location and give an update when I can.

Chrome & Neon

From James M. Surprenant:

I love the stuff that James M. Surprenant shares with us. Here's a small sample of his more recent shots from around America -- D.B.

(Paso Robles, California)

(Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey)

(Outside Troy, New York)

(Waterbury, Connecticut)

Garden State Works

From Peter Arnemann:

Peter is quite the urbex guy, as regular Backside visitors know. He has two sets of a fascinating water works facility that he will only tell me is located somewhere in New Jersey. I'm amazed at how elaborate and beautiful these behemoth buildings are.

Here's an old set. And here's a new set.

Enjoy! -- -- DB

Dark Side of the Motel

From Dave Brigham:

When I was a kid, my grandparents lived in Lakehurst, NJ. Most times when we visited, we stayed at their house in a retirement community. But on at least one occasion, we stayed at a place called the Moon Motel (after a bit of research, I'm pretty sure that this is the place. Located in Howell, NJ, this motel is about half an hour from Lakehurst, and is described in a few locations online as being "infamous" and "easily the shadiest place in town.") I don't recall much about the place, but I remember swimming there in the evening and thinking that was really cool. Nobody in my family has much recall on the place, either, other than to remember that it was either "a dump" or "not anything fancy."

Still, I have a soft spot in my heart for old motels, especially ones with loads of neon, nice pools and just a hint or two of mystery. I never stay in them, however, so I'm a party to their demise.



The Picture Lake Motel in Bourne, on Cape Cod, seems like it was just such a place, minus the groovy neon. The abandoned motel is located a few doors down from the spot where the My Tin Man Diner burned down 10 years ago (see Backside's "Two Hearts Beat As One," 7-28-10).

A thorough search online turns up nothing whatsoever about the place, other than generic listings in lodging directories. It's like the place never existed.

The pool, at least, is probably listed in the minds of Bourne-area skateboarders as a cool place to ride, late at night. But watch out for the cops cruising on Route 28, especially under a full moon.