The Gateway Motel
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is an iconic depiction of American life along many state routes in the late 1960’s. In the movie, droves trailers are being pulled by personal vehicles as families pass through on their way to their vacation destinations. This was, by no means, an uncommon site to see. After World War II, many Americans found themselves with more financial freedom, and renewed interest in exploring the culture that was America. After having seen Europe rip itself apart for the second time in less than 40 years, Americans sought out National Parks and other destinations inside their country. With this, they took their families and drove all over the country, by car. With the increased travel, cities and businesses alike, boomed. Travelers needed places to stay, and they needed places to eat. This created the iconic American diner and the roadside motel. Towns based their economies on this seasonal travel, but the endeavor to do so was ill-fated from nearly start. In 1956, less than a decade from when car travel started to boom, the Federal Aid Highway Act was passed. This is would be the eventual death knell of tens of thousands of motels and restaurants along state routes.
Newton Falls Ohio is no stranger to this history. Located along state routes, they saw increased travel and population growth after World War II. As the city grew, modestly, small businesses like the Gateway Motel popped up. As the interstate highways were completed across the United States, less travelers passed through. This was not a steady decline though. It fluctuated, and some years were better than others. Many saw the writing on the walls and left, others did not want to believe it, and yet others knew what the future held but stayed because they had no other options. These mom and pop shops are nearly all closed today, with very few remaining.
The Gateway Motel was a similarly fated mom and pop motel. The owners had lived inside the office of the building, equipped with all the amenities of a house, several bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen and a sun porch. As travelers would pass through and look for a place to stay at all hours of the day, this allowed them to tend to their customers easily. Traffic slowed but business remained strong enough to stay open, but meagerly. Eventually the property was purchased by Jitendra Kapasi, who used it as a front for a drug trafficking operation. He was arrested after a 3 month investigation in 2010. The EPA also fined him for improperly dumping untreated sewage into Ohio waterways. Kapasi still owns the property but it is likely that it will be torn down soon. Today, it is a solemn reminder of what life used to be along many state routes.
