Lodging near Lancaster

I’m waiting on more entries to arrive from Ted. Meanwhile…

Visitation at Lancaster work camp is on Saturday and Sunday (and major holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lancaster C.I. is located in Trenton, about 10 minutes from Chiefland, Florida.

There are three small motels in Fanning Springs, six miles from the prison: Suwannee River Inn, Park Inn and Crystal Inn. In Chiefland, there are two hotels: Holiday Inn Express and Best Western Suwannee Valley Inn.

I first stayed at the Suwannee River Inn and the nightly rate is $49. The room includes a air-conditioning/heating unit, a refrigerator and microwave and two queen beds. Unfortunately, there were also six cockroaches in the room with me – two dead and four live ones.

The next time, I stayed at the Park Inn. The sign out front advertised a rate of $32. The rate with tax was $35. The woman who checked me in was friendly. Two weeks later, I again decided to stay at the Park Inn. The proprietor, an older Indian man, informed me the rate was $45. When I informed him that was a $10 difference from the previous time, he brought the rate down to $40. When I went back outside, I noticed the former rate of $32 was no longer advertised on the sign in front. The Park Inn also has an air-conditioning/heating unit, a refrigerator and microwave and two queen beds, and thankfully, no bugs were in evidence.

The third motel, the Crystal Inn, is for sale. There is an unheated pool out front and a Chinese restaurant right next to the motel. I called for the rates and found out that a single room is $38 and a double is $42.

All three motels have showers only, no bathtubs. They also have cable TV, but no Internet access.

The rates in Chiefland are much higher, but the amenities are better. Chiefland is about 13 miles from the prison. The rates for the Holiday Inn vary from $75 - $110. The Best Western Rates range from $71 - $93. Book through the Internet to get cheaper rates for both hotels.

Park Inn
17850 NW Us Highway 19
Fanning Springs, FL 32693
352-463-2069

Suwannee River Motel
17210 NW Us Highway 19
Fanning Springs, FL 32693
352-463-7563

Crystal Inn
16951 NW Us Highway 19
Fanning Springs, FL 32693
352-463-7214

Best Western Suwannee Valley Inn
1125 N. Young Blvd, Chiefland, FL 32626
352-493-0663
Pool, satellite TV with Starz movie channels, microwaves and refrigerators in every room, with free continental breakfast.

Holiday Inn Express
809 NW 21st Avenue, Chiefland, FL 32626
352-493-9400
Pool, whirlpool, continental breakfast, high-speed Internet, laundry facility, coffeemaker and hairdryer in each room.

Photos: Park Inn, Park Inn room, Suwannee River Motel, Crystal Inn