Motels: Season 3

A room full of motel room dividers in the Art Department

The places Sam and Dean stay during each episode provides a very important backdrop to each episode. Whether they stay in a motel, squat, stay at Bobby's, or sleep in the car, we are reminded of their nomadic existence. The sets are always excellent, with wonderful attention to detail, the work of Production Designer Jerry Wanek and Art Director John Marcynuk.

The motels in particular have become a signature of the show, with each one having a different theme, and the set detail often contains in-jokes that only the most dedicated fan will get. Jensen said of the motel rooms: "Jerry Wanek's just a crazy guy, and likes to use his talents when he gets the ability to, and the motel rooms are his passion. source."

This entry also lists places the boys travel to in each episode.

• Jensen talks about the motel sets - June 2008.
• Gimme Shelter: Motel and Inns of Supernatural: Season 3 by Bellanut
  • Part 1; archive link
  • Part 2; archive link
• Love Shack fanvid by Ash48

See also Motels: Season 1, Motels: Season 2, Motels: Season 4, Motels: Season 5, Motels: Season 6, Motels: Season 7, Motels: Season 8, Motels: Season 9, Motels: Season 10, Motels: Season 11, Motels: Season 12, Motels: Season 13 and Motels: Season 14.

Episode	Accommodation/ Motel name	Motel Location & Other Locations	Trivia	Picture
3.01 The Magnificent Seven	Tamara & Isaac's house (most likely).	Oak Park, Illinois, just west of Chicago Just outside Lincoln, Nebraska		Tamara and Isaac's house
3.02 The Kids Are Alright	Cicero Pines Motel	Cicero, Indiana	The motel name “Cicero Pines” is the same name as the flashback motel from 3.08. Prop re-use: Flower arrangement also used in 3.11. The exterior of the motel is the same as the exterior of The Adobe Hotel seen in 2.03	Cicero Pines Motel Cicero Pines Motel
3.03 Bad Day at Black Rock	City Centre Motor Hotel	Black Rock, Outside of Buffalo Queens, New York	Prop re-use: headboard also seen in the previous episode, 3.02. The actual City Center Motor Hotel was used as the exterior. Also seen in 2.07, 4.07 and 8.02 Lamp reused in 1.19 and 3.14 Jerry Wanek states “We used the metaphor that Sam’s in a bubble about to burst, so we had things like the screen with round details.” (source: Supernatural Magazine July/Aug 2009)	City Centre Motor Hotel
3.04 Sin City	Unnamed hotel	Elizabethville, Ohio	It seems appropriate that a motel from an episode called "Sin City" would feature mirrored ceilings and a return of the Magic Fingers (also seen in 2.13 & 6.02). Wall ornament returns from 2.08 and 2.20 Bed headboards also seen in 1.19 and 1.14. Hanging lights from 2.20	Unnamed motel
3.05 Bedtime Stories	Unnamed	Maple Springs, New York	Headboard from 2.07 and 2.10 Dresser from 2.07.	Unnamed motel
3.06 Red Sky at Morning	Abandoned house	Massachusetts	The boys squat in an abandoned house rather than stay in a motel.	Abandoned house Abandoned house (note the ship painting in the background)
3.07 Fresh Blood	Unnamed	Somewhere in New York State	Jerry Wanek states: “That motel room was essentially a kill room for the boys. The motel was way off the beaten path, they might have been the only occupants that night…” (Source: Supernatural Magazine July/Aug 2009) Print also used in 2.07	Unnamed motel
3.08 A Very Supernatural Christmas	Unnamed motel - “The Kinkade Suite” Flashback: Cicero Pines Motel	Ypsilanti, Michigan Flashback: Broken Bow, Nebraska	On the back of the motel door it says "The Thomas Kinkade Suite" and the painting is reminiscent of a Thomas Kinkade painting. This is a shout-out to Jared's role as Kinkade in The Christmas Cottage. Bedding from 1.12, 2.17 and 6.04 Flashback motel: Blanket used from 1.20 Cicero Pines Motel sign also used in 3.02	Unnamed motel, The Kinkade Suite
3.09 Malleus Maleficarum	The Conquistador Motel (room 5)	Undisclosed	Mediterranean style décor. Bedding also seen in 2.11 and 7.05. (Interestingly 7.05 is also an episode with witches). Wall painting (bull fighting) also used in 2.08.	The Conquistador Motel
3.10 Dream a Little Dream of Me	The Aviary Hotel (with the Birdnest Lounge and Restaurant)	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	The theme is one of birds. It features bright blue and green bird wall paper, Escher-esque dove room divider and various birds paintings. Starburst clock also seen in 1.14 and 1.13	The Aviary Motel
3.11 Mystery Spot	Flamingo Des Palm Motel The Bounty Inn (Sam’s motel)	Broward County, Florida	Flamingo theme. This hotel has flamingo wallpaper and room divider, and large flamingos painted above the beds. Lamp used in 1.12 and 3.14 Lamp in The Bounty Inn used in 3.08 The Deer's Head makes an appearance in this episode (not in the motel rooms). The actual Buck & Ear Bar & Grill used as the exterior for the second motel.	Flamingo Des Palm Motel The Bounty Inn
3.12 Jus in Bello	The Wagon Trail Motel (Room 12) (episode 12)	Monument, Colorado	Cowboy theme. Horse and cowboy room divider, horse and buggy bedding and wall paper, horse paintings, cowboy hats hanging near the door, various horse ornaments, and a tree branch wall lamp. Bed frame also used in 3.08	The Wagon Trail Motel
3.13 Ghostfacers	none	Morton House is in Webster Springs, West Virginia, though Ed and Harry’s car has Wisconsin plates so the episode could take place somewhere in Wisconsin.	The Deer's Head makes another appearance in the Morton House.
3.14 Long-Distance Call	The Starburst Motel	Milan, Ohio	A Retro "style"room. It's not stylised retro, rather it looks as though it's actually that old. 50s style fridge and stove, formica table, faded wallpaper and room dividers, etc. Floor lamp used 1.19 and 3.03. Table lamp used 3.11	The Starburst Motel The Starburst Motel
3.15 Time Is on My Side	The Erie Motel (Room 15) (episode 15) Bela is staying at Hotel Canaan, Vermont (room 39)	Pennsylvania, Canaan, Vermont	Headboard reused: 1.18, 2.12, 4.15, 5.04	The Eire Motel
3.16 No Rest for the Wicked	Bobby's house	Sioux Falls, South Dakota and then New Harmony, Indiana		Dean's accommodation for 40 (hell) years