How Blue Doors Came to Be...
In the 1950's when Americans were being encouraged by Madison Ave to "See the USA in your Chevrolet," apparently a lot of us did and motels of all kinds sprung up all across the country!
One such place was the "Shangri-La," a motor court-style motel built near the newly formed Tenkiller Ferry Lake just north of Gore, OK. Shangri-La was a popular place for quite a while.
Over the years the motel changed hands several times; rose and fell in popularity; lost several buildings to highway expansion; and fell into disrepair.
Janie & I would drive by on our way to the lake for weekends and wonder if anybody was ever going to do anything with that place.
On one such trip a "For Sale" sign appeared in front of the place almost as a dare. After a brief negotiation with a reasonable seller, we found ourselves standing in front of stark reality - in stunned silence - wondering what we had gotten ourselves into!
We built bon-fires for days and stoked them with everything combustible from a decaying Shangri-La. We salvaged what even remotely seemed useful for the future and roasted the rest. When the smoke cleared we had concrete pads, block walls and possibilities.
We want to THANK the many new friends who have helped us "repurpose" the bones of "Shangri-La" into "Blue Doors."
Come stay with us!
Check us out!
We want to be your, "Place at the Lake!"
Janie & Pat
