This year my plan is to experience things that are out of my comfort zone. Staying at a motor lodge did just that!! On a trip back home to NC I decided to see what the hype was all about at Mother Earth Motor Lodge. When we arrived my daughter had a look of concern because it didn't look like our usual hotel choice. Check-in was super easy and the front desk person (can't recall his name) was very friendly...love Southern hospitality. I reserved a double-double suite. The suite was so cute with the 1960s vibe. We had a view of the pool which was surrounded by palm trees...in NC The room was super clean and the beds were quite comfortable. We had a great experience and the hotel is located in the downtown area so we were close to restaurants. We will surely stay again especially when the weather is warmer and we can take advantage of the pool and other outdoor amenities. Moral to this review....NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER. read more

Absolutely a gem. In town for a dinner , stayed the night. Couldn't ask for a better and unique place to spend the night. Very large and clean room. Excellent price for what was provided. read more

Amazing staff. Clean rooms. Bright and cherry rooms with a 50s feel. Very convenient location. You can easily walk to town or restaurants. read more

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Dean at the counter greeted us with a smile and a warm personality. We stopped in to inquire about getting lodging for two weeks from that day - He could not have been any more helpful or knowledgable. We are BOOKED!!! He allowed us into the dining room and showed us the vintage amenities. I have a special appreciation for things from the (60's and EARLY 1960's deco era. Here are a couple pix - more to come during our stay... read more

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Any excuse I can find to stay here, I'll do it. The themed decor and atmosphere are top notch. The people are super nice and everything is just relaxing and cool. You'll love it! read more

I'm a fan of mid-century modern design so this place has been on my bucket list. We came the last weekend in May and it really was like a time warp staying here! I loved all of the retro furniture, bright colors, breeze bricks, big windows and neon sign. When we checked in the staff seemed to just be going through the motions. I was hoping for more personality since I was so excited about staying at this unique spot. We did get a nice gift bag with treats and Mother Earth goodies which was cute. The lobby had a cool map mural of Kinston and fun swings - great photo op! Our room was on the second floor and gave us a view of the pool and the parking lot since the suites go from end to end. Plenty of space and a comfy king bed with all the retro details that took us to the 70's! They do have pet friendly rooms but not the suites. The pool area was large and we enjoyed hanging out there with a Mother Earth beer. I wish we did the mini golf and shuffleboard since you don't see that often at a hotel. The location was within walking distance to the brewery tap room, restaurants and more which was perfect for exploring Kinston. read more

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I would give 5 stars except the room was non smoking and smells of smoke. Not their fault, it was beautiful! The pool was awesome. The putt putt, swings and ping pong was fantastic. All the 60s details. My kids and I enjoyed it so much! I will come back! The staff is friendly and it is pet friendly. read more

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Nice retro motel right in downtown Kinston. Easy to walk anywhere around town and a quick drive over to the ballpark and the history sites in the area. Room was clean and neat. Ample parking. Continental breakfast each morning and cookies in the lobby in the afternoon. Be aware that housekeeping is by request, so you need to set that up in advance if you need it. We were only in town for 2 nights so didn't bother. There were plenty of towels & soap in the room. The one con is how close to the train it is. A few times later in the evening we could hear the train going through town. read more

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An old favorite with an excellent vibe, man. If you like eclectic places between Raleigh and the coast. This is a must read more

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This place is a hoot and a half. This fully-restored 1960s motel has been given a mid-century mod makeover that makes it feel as though Don Draper porked many a floozy within its walls. Pay the extra $30 and get a suite, which gives you a sitting room with a butterfly-shaped swivel chair; a sofa with coffee table; and sink area with olive or orange vinyl countertop, microwave, and fridge. The bedroom comes with period textiles, light fixtures, and a rounded designer chair. It's a delightful throwback environment and it made me giggle. Staff were extra nice and the lobby also has lots of period artifacts, plus free cookies and popcorn. They do a breakfast off the lobby in the morning. I didn't go, but the friend traveling with me did and said it was "sparse". They put a $150 incidental hold on your card in addition to the room rate. There's really nothing to charge to your room; I suspect that is really to cover cleaning if you smoke or vape, because they seem vehemently against that behavior. The pool area in the courtyard is very pleasant. It's surrounded with palm trees, which are lit in blue, green, and red in the evenings. It's a nice, unexpected touch. Everything that you're likely in Kinston to do (Chef & the Farmer, Boiler Room, Mother Earth Taproom) is within an easy 5-10 minute walk. There's plenty of parking in a private lot at the motel and it's free. I would definitely stay here again if I do another trip to gorge at Chef & the Farmer. read more

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Small town vibes with a big city feel. Mother Earth Motor Lodge is a hidden gem. Definitely would stay here again. read more

Mother Earth Motor Lodge - Outside signage - Hotels Near Me - Kinston, North Carolina

Very nice great location to walk downtown. The staff were friendly and helpful. Room was clean and has personality. Only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is not the hotel's fault. The train tracks run right next to it and because it does run through downtown they have to blow the horn multiple times. During the day that is fine, but that night 2 trains came at 2 am and 3 am. Second noise complaint, and again not the hotel's fault, the family that lives across the street decided to have a loud fight in their front yard at midnight. Would stay again, just with ear plugs! Although we didn't take advantage, they have a pool, mini golf and table tennis in the courtyard. read more

Mother Earth Motor Lodge - View of the sunset from the parking lot - Hotels Near Me - Kinston, North Carolina

Super clean and love the 70s retro furnishings and look of these brand newly redesigned large rooms. The front desk staff were very helpful and they even sell beer from their namesake The Mother Earth Brewery. In the afternoon fresh popped popcorn, lemonade and just baked chocolate chip cookies were offered in the lobby. The pool was not warm as I'd expect in midJuly in NC. It was refreshing--must be the fountains. Actually we were pool view and our room was so quiet, we could hear the fountains. Once we realized we weren't experiencing a major water leak, we slept comfortably on the King bed. Great location to walk to arts, museum, shops, restaurants and the brewery. Put a road trip to Kinston on your bucket list. Just don't make it a Monday as most businesses are closed. read more

Mother Earth Motor Lodge - Hotels Near Me - Kinston, North Carolina

If you want a peak into the past accompanied with the latest upgrades in an overnight stay, we'll you found it HERE!!! This "motel" is so not what you may think of when you think of that word but instead an amazing place with such fun amenities along with super clean rooms and Bfast in the morning. Pass on your loyalty points from a major chain when visiting this area, this is THE place to stay and I will be back! read more

Mother Earth Motor Lodge - Hotels Near Me - Kinston, North Carolina

Very unique and charming hotel. Exceptionally clean and organized. And pet friendly .A diamond in the rough.

Looking for a slice of mid-century Palm Springs, California while you stay in the charming little town of Kinston, South Carolina? You've found it! This place is really amazing. The service when you walk into the reception area is fantastic, the decor is classic mid-century cute as all get out, the pool is clean and kids are playing/having fun, and the rooms are clean and spacious, decorated well and have fantastic amenities. I stayed in a king room with a desk and sitting area. It was wayyyyyy better than I expected. It had a fridge/tiny freezer, a coffee maker a table to sit and read, a couch, a comfortable bed, plenty of space to put clothes away, and complimentary laundry. Yes I said complimentary!! Kind of beyond five stars here. Oh and the neighborhood is safe and mellow, there is a great coffee shop, brewery, Japanese restaurant, breakfast spot, and bookstore all within short walking distance. Love this place! Would take place this over Palm Springs any day! read more

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What a delightful stay! Everything was clean, all the staff were accommodating, and there were fun activities to do around the grounds. The decor was so much fun; we got some good decorating ideas for our home, too. Lovely town with lovely folks, food, and brews! read more

We wanted sooo badly to like this place! Unfortunately it fell short for us. The concept is great, but the service did not live up to the standards of a motel six. There was no flexibility whatsoever, and when you are paying $200 to stay in a small town motel, it seems like checking out 30 minutes late would not be an impossible thing to accommodate. read more

Mother Earth Motor Lodge - The breakfast area - Hotels Near Me - Kinston, North Carolina

We checked in last night. I called in and spoke to the general manager. She was friendly and sweet. Excited to help. We snagged the last room, it is a king suite. The area is pretty unimpressive. Late at night, McDonalds was the only option. The motel/lodge is completely and utterly RAD! The room is decked out floor to ceiling MCM. Sofa, chairs, dressers, tables, colors etc. The bed was a platform bed with a very comfy foam mattress. It sounds weird...but I assure you its awesome. The room comes with a keurig and there is breakfast served in the lobby. ( I'll update ya) The pool looks like an amazing place to chill. But it's way too cold. The lobby sells snacks and booze. The room is HUGE! But again we got a king suite. There does appear to be some cool shops close by. We will check em out after check out. read more

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This is such a cool place, and it's within walking distance of the places and the reasons you were probably in Kinston anyway. The front desk people were extremely pleasant, very helpful, and easy to talk to. There is fresh fruit, popcorn, cookies and hot tea all day long, and a continental breakfast in the morning. The pool is just so beautiful with the lighting, the palm trees, and the fountains. The rooms are as pictured, and have plenty of space. Putt putt was fun and was needed after a very big dinner at Chef & The Farmer. I hope to be back in the fall with our friends! read more

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This hotel is even better the second time around! The pool is finished and I can't wait to go back in the summer to take a dip! The outdoor area is now complete with a massive shuffle board deck and a small mini golf course! The rooms now have a Keurig coffee machine, too! The beds were much more comfy this time, as they were a little hard the first time. That is to be expected though being brand new. Love staying here! read more

We stayed here for our trip to Chef and the Farmer, and it was an incredible experience. The amenities were gorgeous (as pictured) and so much to do. Will be coming back in the warmer weather for the pool! Very clean and so much to do (shuffle board, rentable bikes, outdoor ping pong, pool, grill, mini golf course) all right outside of your door. The rooms were very clean and the beds slept great. The front desk women were extremely helpful and beyond sweet. A great time and a great stay!! -pet friendly -kid friendly -popcorn, cookies, etc. waiting in lobby when you arrive! read more

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My ONLY complaint is that the bed was a little hard. Everything else was delightful. They have decorated in a 1960s motif, even to bell bottoms on the manager. It's conveniently located to wander around Kinston with parks and restaurants in walking distance. Or you can stay at the hotel and play putt putt or shuffeboard or play in the pool. They even have grills available if you want them. There are no in-room coffee makers or refrigerators in the single rooms. But, there is fresh coffee in the lobby 24/7 and the continental breakfast was good. Also, Mother Earth beer on tap. What can I say? They make some the very best in 3 states. read more

Mother Earth Motor Lodge - Pool, putt putt, shuffle board, ping pong and grills. No mini fridge, though. - Hotels Near Me - Kinston, North Carolina

What an awesome place. They did an extraordinary job renovating this old motel. They did it in a theme to remind you of a 1950s-60s California motor lodge and they nailed it. Room has all the amenities of a new hotel but be style and feel of an old motor lodge. Beyond the look and the feel, the customer service is extraordinary. Every staff person I encountered was very polite. Southern charm and kindness at its finest. It is two blocks from Mother Earth Brewery and four blocks from Chef and the Farmer restaurant. read more

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My husband and I visited Kinston for the first time specifically to visit Chef and the Farmer, which is located just four blocks away and easily walkable. Aside from the super-cuteness of the entire property, I was very impressed with the security measures in place. Key cards were needed to access the property, and all visitors had to ring a bell to be let into the front desk area. All guests wore masks while on the property, and there was plenty of hand sanitizer around the common areas. If it would have been warmer I would loved to have checked out the rooftop lounge area and perhaps even gone in the pool. The motel captures the artsy vibe of the city, and I'm glad we decided to stay here. I also love that it's pet friendly, so if we come again we will definitely bring our dog with us! read more

I typically enjoy staying at Mother Earth, especially considering the limited availability of hotels in the Kinston area. This is also one of the newly renovated hotels, so my family and I love to stay when we visit. However, my family and I have recently had a disheartening situation regarding the general manager, Stephanie. She was entirely too rude to us as customers when we were trying to figure out a confusion. She raised her voice repeatedly at my mother and talking over her, resulting in my mother and her going back and forth. I tried to speak with her also regarding the situation and asked her to please speak with me in a nice manner because I was talking to her with respect. I understand that she was more than likely livid prior due to her conversation with my mother, but as a manager, you need to know how to handle every customer with respect. I do not wish to be biased towards a hotel because of one bad apple, but if that bad apple is the general manager, I'm honestly disappointed. We have never received that amount of disrespect from anyone else in this company. Maybe she had a bad day? Because I see others saying she was nice and helpful. I just hope she isn't like this to anyone else. I'm not writing this review in spite, I'm writing this review so others will not feel singled out by her behavior if it persists. read more

This place is a gem! Clean, updated, but with so much character, fun amenities, we can't wait to go back and use the pool when it's warm!

I love the concept. Front desk could stand to add another staff member. Furniture in rooms, while kitschy and fitting, is soooo uncomfortable. And the bed linens, particularly the blankets, really are not what will get the job done. Scratchy and hot! Otherwise, love the idea, the pool, the room layout (we had a deluxe suite) and would recommend. Just a few things that could be improved and I'd give it 5 stars! read more

Cleanest place I've ever stayed! Staff was incredibly friendly and the best Retro decor!! We want to make this a monthly visit!

We were disappointed to learn that all pet-friendly rooms are in the same location in the motor lodge: the far right side, near an alley, with streetside access to the room. If you're traveling with a pet, just know that you'll be in a kind of sketchy situation with the location and access to your room. It would be great if the motor lodge would add a security latch to the inside of the doors in these street-facing rooms (like you see in most hotels), to add another layer of security. The reason I'm not giving this place a five-star rating is because it didn't feel very secure, which is important to me when I'm traveling. Aside from security concerns, the motor lodge is awesome. The room was very clean, the bed was comfortable, and the service was friendly. They provide a nice breakfast spread in the morning with 70s music playing in the background. The motor lodge is within walking distance from the Boiler Room, Chef and the Farmer and the Mother Earth tap room. read more

I cannot recommend this place highly enough! An absolute gem in a growing community. Good for families, or ladies weekend where you just want to hang out somewhere affordable and nice, eat good food and lounge by the pool. Most of the "must visits" of Kinston are walking distance, so you really can't beat the location. The hotel itself is adorable and it is clear how much love and care went into designing the building. The rooms are beautiful and fun, lots of bright colors and definitely have a cool retro vibe! Spring for a suite if you can, it is only a few dollars more, but the suites are spacious and comfy. The pool is delightful, try to take a dip at night, they have cool lights that make the pool glow with beautiful blues and greens. Towels are provided poolside, a nice touch so you don't have to use your room towels. If you have kids, they have a little put-put course, shuffleboard and ping pong table with a few grills for a little BBQ at the hotel! They also have a great outdoor space upstairs to have a small gathering or just sit and look over downtown Kinston. The front desk ladies were both fantastic! Ashley was especially warm and welcoming and clearly has invested a lot of her own time, sweat and love into this place. Everyone on the staff was delightful and really cared about making the place as wonderful as possible. If you are visiting Kinston a few musts: Mother Earth brewery (do the tour!), The Chef and the Farmer for dinner (gotta make a reservation), and the Boiler Room for brunch! There are other restaurants we didn't get to visit, but we will be back! Kinston is a town that is growing and everyone we met talked about how much they love this little town and how much it is growing. Can't wait to visit again! read more

The Mother Earth Motor Lodge is a restored motor lodge from the 1960's and is a fun place to stay for a night or for a weekend. The rooms are decorated just like motor lodges in the 60's, but are very comfortable. They have a wonderful outdoor swimming pool in the center of the lodge. Security is well done. You can't enter the motor lodge without your room key. It is also located just a few blocks from Chef and the Farmer, one of the best restaurants in North Carolina. So, a reservation at Mother Earth Motor Lodge and Chef and the Farmer can make for a magic weekend in Kinston, NC. The Mother Earth Brewery is also located nearby, as is the Boiler Room, a less fancy place to eat that is very good. read more

Imagine checking into a hotel that looks like the house you grew up in - that's Mother Earth, and you must have been a child of the 60's or 70's. This property is an old-fashioned courtyard style motor inn but updated for today's guest. The lobby is truly retro from the counter to the chairs to the popcorn machine in the corner (and don't forget the tray of fresh cookies that mom left for you). The courtyard holds a beautiful patio and sparkling swimming pool with a miniature golf course to boot. Our room was super clean and inviting and the hotel works hard to be "green" - no little plastic bottles. They use small paper containers for their toiletries: very cool. Plenty of hot water in the shower with sparkling turquoise tiles just like home. We would definitely stay here again! read more

I'll keep this short and to the point, my wife and I have been loyal guest to Mother Earth Motor lodge for about four years and have never went to the front desk and told them that we couldn't stay in the room due to the cleaning chemicals that they used. Well on April 13th we checked in to a room that was pet friendly so what ever they use to sterilize the room as soon as we walked in I started to get a migraine, and my wife started getting nauseous. So we took our bags. My wife went to the car to get into the air conditioning to try to get rid of the odor and I went to the front desk to tell them that we were unable to stay in that room. The girl at the front Dess was very concerned, but never offered me to switch rooms but asked me if I wanted a refund and I said yes.. while this was going on, my wife booked a room at the O'Neil, which is owned by the same man and has the same GM as Mother Earth lodge. The room at the O'Neil was $125 more and then on the following Monday I received a call stating they were not a refund of money from Mother earth that we canceled which we did not cancel nor did we have the option of switching rooms. For the next three days I called the front desk in very nicely. Ask Lee Yunker to call me who is the GM of both properties so I could explain the situation and she never did call me, but they refused to refund my money which I was offered, went to the front desk immediately after leaving the room, so please beware my wife and I like I said oh loyal yes for roebucks for years, so what do you think would happen if you were a first time guest there and there's something wrong with the room. read more

Kinston is my father's home town and we came for a Lee family reunion.The exceptionally friendly staff is dressed in 60's clothing and the whole atmosphere is super cute! We changed our plans and they were so kind about changing the reservations. The hotel is extremely clean and they replace towels every morning. We slept well, were next to the pool and heard no loud noises. We walked to town and went to the art galleries and shops nearby. I found 2 vintage stores and a Goodwill not too far away. We ate at the Chef and Farmer that evening and it was very good! Not much of a night life on the weekend but they have some really cute venues. read more

Fun, Funky, Fresh and Friendly. What a great surprise. Very clean too! Don't forget to try their beer.

Wow! I had such a great time at the Mother Earth Motor Lodge. What fun! It's like going back in time. The room was great. Charming decor, clean and quiet. Good A/C system. The pool is beautiful and refreshing. They have bikes to rent for a ride around Kinston's historic downtown area, as well as miniature golf. The staff was super friendly. I can't wait to stay here again! read more

My wife and I brought our mothers (and our dog)to Kinston for a belated Christmas present (dinner at Chef and Farmer-wonderful experience see separate review). I looked into places to stay near the restaurant and this place popped up. What a cool place! My wife and I are both 30 year plus flight attendants so needless to say, we have stayed in a few hotels over the years. We truly loved this motel! I also am a real estate agent so from a real estate perspective I loved the incredible renovation of this place, to say it's cool and funky is an understatement! The rooms were so comfortable with great attention to detail throughout. The pool area was beautiful with renovated shuffle board and putt putt course. A nice free breakfast with well stocked pantry with local beers, snacks, etc for sale. Every member of staff (front desk, housekeepers, etc) was so friendly and incredibly helpful. The proximity to the restaurants, Mother Earth Brewery couldn't be better. An incredible value for the money. read more

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This place is awesome clean rooms walk to restaurants and brewery pool area very nice. Friendly owner and staff can't wait until next getaway read more

This was a great place to stay. The renovations they have made were very well done. We had a pet economy king room which was very nice. The bathroom was spotless and it was obvious that this is where the renovations were done to a high standard. We had an end room which made it easy to take our dog out. The decor was very colorful in the style of the 60's. Both Hattie who checked us in and Jennifer who checked us out were great. Also right down the street is Lovick's Cafe. They have really reasonable prices, good sized portions, and friendly waitresses. Both Mother Earth and Lovick's made our stay in Kinston wonderful! read more