Wow...This brings back memories. I am from Lexington, Kentucky, my grandparents lived in Delray Beach, Florida. Going to visit them driving down I-75 when we would see this hotel we knew we had crossed the border into Tennessee. Get past the Jellico Mountain and that is when the billboards for the Fireworks shops started up that you would see all along I-75 in Tennessee. Let's not forget the See Rock City and Ruby Falls billboards and barn signs.....
I remember this old motel as far back as 1975. My grandmother lived in Corbin, KY most of her 96 years on this earth. My family lived in Texas and I remember passing the Jellico Motel frequently. In the early 1980s, I went to school at the University of Cincinnati and used to pass it going back and forth to TX for the summers. A shame to see that piece of Americana has gone out of business.
I live in jellico and I pass the motel everyday when I leave my house, me and my friends went through there one time at night and was terrified, glad to see someone else has interest in it too
that motel was up and half way operational in 2011. half the rooms were open and the pool was half-assed maintained. i stayed in it that year, it was a very eery visit even when it was running. i’m 30m from jellico 🙂
My mother is from Jellico. Her forefathers were the founders of the town. I have actually stayed at this motel and eaten at the restaurant. That was many years ago when it was nice. I’m sad it has fallen into decay. It could be a cool retro place if the right person comes along. Here’s hoping!
It was a KFC - a loooong time ago. It's been closed up for probably going on 20 years. We used to stop there on every trip back from Pigeon Forge, and my dad would always get into it with whomever was working the drive through. There was also a pretty large fireworks store next door that we frequented when the good fireworks were still illegal in Kentucky.
@@jeffreykidd4929 just show how memory is. Left that highschool in 93. Thought it was already closed, but not arguing,. Summer if 94 or 95I worked for the guy that lived in the house above it. Still it was the best Kentucky fried Chicken back in the day. None now compare.
I know it was still active in 1991. Because I recall it being on the blue signs for the Jellico exit unless it closed before and they didn't take it off.
im here to agree with the 1996 closing. Grew up there and father ate there when he was a kid. That used to be a great place to eat at. And the blackcat fireworks gastation is still there with the dam huge fire works. Miss that place.
My Mom & Dad got Married in Jellico Tennessee over 60 years ago because you could get Married @ 15 & 16 with a parents signature. They are still together today. Apparently they got married at the local I.G.A because it was a Sunday and the justice of the Peace worked at the grocery store. I am not sure how many motels are in town but they stayed at one for their honeymoon. So when I saw this I just had to watch it. Good job
I had family in jellico when I was younger. My grandparents would take up down to see them and we would always stay here. It’s crazy at one time I once swam in that same pool, and slid down that same slide. Back then it was always popular there and so much fun! Sad to see how times have changed. I’m only 29 and I last stayed there in 2011.
The tape cartridge the guy was holding is the 3M Cantata 700 Series background music library. Also known as the largest cassette cartridge ever made. It fit into a special background music machine that could be piped into any locale. Techmoan here on UA-cam did a video about it. Needless to say, it is very rare to find these tapes or players nowadays. And you could probably date the Jellico Motel by when the Cantata 700 BMS was in use. Which ran from the mid 1960's all the way up to the 90's.
Kind of sad that so many mom and pop motels have lost out to the big chains. Unfortunately the only ones that are still doing well are those located in areas too small for the big chains to bother with. The ones in more developed areas that haven't closed are mostly hooker havens and drug dens.
Any time it snows a lot in Jellico the state highway department shuts down the interstate because they don't want traffic sliding down Jellico Mountain. I remember the last part of March in 1993 there was a very late season blizzard that shut it down. A bunch of college kids headed to spring break in Florida had to spend a couple of nights in the Williamsburg, Kentucky National Guard armory.
So cool Carpetbagger. Being from Indiana we vacationed a lot in Gatlinburg as a kid and we always stopped at the Jellico rest-stop. It always made us feel like vacation was starting.
I love it man. Coming from the horrible midwest (Ohio) I can understand what you do. Found you after we ventured off the road to Jellico motel and googled it. The restaurant is falling down in the back but the hotel is open for buisness! Needless to say we took a break and got back on the road 😅
I'm from Willamsburg so I'm not far from the area, the Hardee's also went out of business. Jellico has a bad problem of everything shutting down even though it's on I75 at a busy area.
We would stay there every time we were on vacation, we had family in Corbin and would stay there and get up and eat in that restaurant and then head on to the Smokey mountains! Good memories
I live in Jellico, and my whole life ive wondered what that old KFC looked like on the inside but never wanted to get tetanus or rabies so i just stayed clear lol. But the Hotel has been open in my lifetime and recently closed in the last 8 or 9 years i believe. Im actually pretty shocked you only found a couple of rooms that looked like it had been squatted in. But ive lived here my entire life and ive still never been in the old KFC so thanks for posting this. I also dont know who Janice Bowling is and why shes running for congress lol.... Theres a few more slightly interesting places then you can see just "Off the Exit" and we also have a few "haunting/urban legends" also if your ever on your way north or south of 75 and come back by, maybe check out some of that. ........... ALSO- FUN FACT- A kid died in the pool at the hotel i think back in the 60s or 70s and a not sure which room,but a girl my age also was killed or died in one of those rooms before it was shut down.... Thought youd like to know lol
When I was little my aunt used to work there and I would be there all the time there was a door you can see in the office and it was like tunnels the cleaning people used to get to different parts of the room
Jellico Motel closed due to "bug infestation" but in reality, the owners allowed druggies to stay there "on credit" and they never paid it, and they lost money.
This reminded me of old classic carpetbagger! Very cool! Should have taken that bucket of pure evil from behind the restaurant and poured it on the slide then you'd go! Lol
KFC still sells chicken littles in Virginia to this day. I know because that's where I live and I just got KFC coupons in the mail the other day. One of them was for 2 chicken littles for $1 or something like that.
We stopped and explored that same exact area on our way to S.C. in January. The bed in the KFC had someone staying there - there was fresh laundry and beer. Must of moved out since then. Bout the only thing to do in Jellico besides get fireworks. There's a great trip thru the mountains right behind there, definitely worth checking out man.
That looks like it was a very large motel. Got to love the old playground equipment . The metal slide that took a layer of skin when you went down it in the summer heat.and the the merry go round that upchuck machine. Had those in our school playground. Awesome explore. Keep Safe❤Keep Well❤
I'd love to see you poke around Walsenburg Colorado, I had fun but I don't think I'd have as much as you guys do, lol. There's a giant abandoned brick school there you can buy for 500k, I'd love a look. So many interesting old ruins by the tracks!
Chicken Little’s were like a Krystal’s hamburger but instead of a small square hamburger patty it was a small square chicken patty. Because they were so thin it was basically nothing but the skin. They were delicious.
Hello Jacob please visit the Boss Hoss Factory in Dyersburg Tennessee were the V8 Boss Hoss Motorcycle and Trikes are made I have a 2004 trike its the 32 ford and no one has really done a good tour of the factory there
I would think this would be the last parts of country or even the world to find an abandoned KFC. It's right in the vicinity were colonel Sanders started KFC. It's like finding an abandoned Ikea in Sweden.
How was the slide ride Jacob? 😂😂 you looked disappointed. Do you ever worry about squatters when you go to abandoned places? I get too scared at the thought so I don't explore lolol
I wish I had that marry go round and that slide for my grandkids. I remember staying in some motels like that when I would go on vacation with my parent's . Condos weren't as popular back then . Interesting places !! Thanks for sharing !! P.S. you might have to get a bicycle to ride down that slide Jacob . 😉😁👍
@@kookiemonster9222 , I know I should be ashamed too , but you have to admit it was funny . 🤣 I couldn't help but to laugh too . Poor Adam , bless his heart . I love Adam the Woo !! ❤ Hope that doesn't hurt his feelings....!!
Prompts to the people of Jellico for not trashing this place or using it for a drug house. Still has lots of valuable items inside and out and that Exon sign... 👀😳👀
What a rare thing that this place hasn’t been destroyed by vandals. It looked like it was a nice place to stay. Isn’t it crazy that cell phones now are just thrown out like trash. Loved the old tech Background Music tapes. Bucket of pure Evil😂
The most awkward slide ride I've ever witnessed 😂
I've done worse lol
Wow...This brings back memories. I am from Lexington, Kentucky, my grandparents lived in Delray Beach, Florida. Going to visit them driving down I-75 when we would see this hotel we knew we had crossed the border into Tennessee. Get past the Jellico Mountain and that is when the billboards for the Fireworks shops started up that you would see all along I-75 in Tennessee. Let's not forget the See Rock City and Ruby Falls billboards and barn signs.....
I remember this old motel as far back as 1975. My grandmother lived in Corbin, KY most of her 96 years on this earth. My family lived in Texas and I remember passing the Jellico Motel frequently. In the early 1980s, I went to school at the University of Cincinnati and used to pass it going back and forth to TX for the summers. A shame to see that piece of Americana has gone out of business.
I live in jellico and I pass the motel everyday when I leave my house, me and my friends went through there one time at night and was terrified, glad to see someone else has interest in it too
My Dad was born and raised there.... I still have family there also
These old hotels like this are interesting to see.
Passed by this place tons of times and always wanted a video made. Thanks for getting around to it, I enjoyed it.
that motel was up and half way operational in 2011. half the rooms were open and the pool was half-assed maintained. i stayed in it that year, it was a very eery visit even when it was running. i’m 30m from jellico 🙂
Someone definitley slept there, but they actually showed respect and didnt trash it! Yay!
Room 110 looks better than some of the Rooms Dan Bell has been in
Lmfao no kidding
My mother is from Jellico. Her forefathers were the founders of the town. I have actually stayed at this motel and eaten at the restaurant. That was many years ago when it was nice. I’m sad it has fallen into decay. It could be a cool retro place if the right person comes along. Here’s hoping!
Love your abandoned places videos, that's how I found your channel. You should do more!
It was a KFC - a loooong time ago. It's been closed up for probably going on 20 years. We used to stop there on every trip back from Pigeon Forge, and my dad would always get into it with whomever was working the drive through. There was also a pretty large fireworks store next door that we frequented when the good fireworks were still illegal in Kentucky.
I am pretty sure it closed in the late 80s. I grew up 30 minutes from there.
@@jeffreykidd4929 just show how memory is. Left that highschool in 93. Thought it was already closed, but not arguing,. Summer if 94 or 95I worked for the guy that lived in the house above it. Still it was the best Kentucky fried Chicken back in the day. None now compare.
I know it was still active in 1991. Because I recall it being on the blue signs for the Jellico exit unless it closed before and they didn't take it off.
im here to agree with the 1996 closing. Grew up there and father ate there when he was a kid. That used to be a great place to eat at. And the blackcat fireworks gastation is still there with the dam huge fire works. Miss that place.
My Mom & Dad got Married in Jellico Tennessee over 60 years ago because you could get Married @ 15 & 16 with a parents signature. They are still together today. Apparently they got married at the local I.G.A because it was a Sunday and the justice of the Peace worked at the grocery store. I am not sure how many motels are in town but they stayed at one for their honeymoon. So when I saw this I just had to watch it. Good job
That's the first time I've seen a real life " bucket full of pure evil" lol, loved the vlog Jacob and Jon x
I had family in jellico when I was younger. My grandparents would take up down to see them and we would always stay here. It’s crazy at one time I once swam in that same pool, and slid down that same slide. Back then it was always popular there and so much fun! Sad to see how times have changed. I’m only 29 and I last stayed there in 2011.
Every time I’ve passed Jellico i remember an abandoned Ferris wheel on the hill, it could’ve been another town near it but I swear it was there
The Ferris wheel is actually just down the road on I 75 its exit 134 I think
Yesterday, I found a 50 year old postcard of this place when it was the Quality Motel.
me too
Jellico is my hometown.We live a mile from Jellico Motel and the KFC.
The tape cartridge the guy was holding is the 3M Cantata 700 Series background music library. Also known as the largest cassette cartridge ever made. It fit into a special background music machine that could be piped into any locale. Techmoan here on UA-cam did a video about it. Needless to say, it is very rare to find these tapes or players nowadays. And you could probably date the Jellico Motel by when the Cantata 700 BMS was in use. Which ran from the mid 1960's all the way up to the 90's.
Kind of sad that so many mom and pop motels have lost out to the big chains. Unfortunately the only ones that are still doing well are those located in areas too small for the big chains to bother with. The ones in more developed areas that haven't closed are mostly hooker havens and drug dens.
Any time it snows a lot in Jellico the state highway department shuts down the interstate because they don't want traffic sliding down Jellico Mountain. I remember the last part of March in 1993 there was a very late season blizzard that shut it down. A bunch of college kids headed to spring break in Florida had to spend a couple of nights in the Williamsburg, Kentucky National Guard armory.
Baggerism of da day... "Oh God... don't be a body... don't be a body... ewww.. they pooped in the drawer...."
😁👍🏻
My eyes are bad, I thought it was weed
Please find more a abandoned locations
someone got paid to put up those "bowling for congress" signs.. a job well done. thanks for the neat video.. peace
So cool Carpetbagger. Being from Indiana we vacationed a lot in Gatlinburg as a kid and we always stopped at the Jellico rest-stop. It always made us feel like vacation was starting.
Pam Little bought the hotel she is planning on opening up sometime this month
Love your intro . Very cool
I love it man. Coming from the horrible midwest (Ohio) I can understand what you do. Found you after we ventured off the road to Jellico motel and googled it. The restaurant is falling down in the back but the hotel is open for buisness! Needless to say we took a break and got back on the road 😅
That one didnt age so well.
I'm from Willamsburg so I'm not far from the area, the Hardee's also went out of business. Jellico has a bad problem of everything shutting down even though it's on I75 at a busy area.
We would stay there every time we were on vacation, we had family in Corbin and would stay there and get up and eat in that restaurant and then head on to the Smokey mountains! Good memories
I live in Jellico, and my whole life ive wondered what that old KFC looked like on the inside but never wanted to get tetanus or rabies so i just stayed clear lol. But the Hotel has been open in my lifetime and recently closed in the last 8 or 9 years i believe. Im actually pretty shocked you only found a couple of rooms that looked like it had been squatted in. But ive lived here my entire life and ive still never been in the old KFC so thanks for posting this. I also dont know who Janice Bowling is and why shes running for congress lol.... Theres a few more slightly interesting places then you can see just "Off the Exit" and we also have a few "haunting/urban legends" also if your ever on your way north or south of 75 and come back by, maybe check out some of that. ........... ALSO- FUN FACT- A kid died in the pool at the hotel i think back in the 60s or 70s and a not sure which room,but a girl my age also was killed or died in one of those rooms before it was shut down.... Thought youd like to know lol
You're in my neck of the woods now. I'm very close to Jellico. It is partially in Kentucky, also. I like that, a town in two states.
When I was little my aunt used to work there and I would be there all the time there was a door you can see in the office and it was like tunnels the cleaning people used to get to different parts of the room
Jellico Motel closed due to "bug infestation" but in reality, the owners allowed druggies to stay there "on credit" and they never paid it, and they lost money.
Finally found answer to why this place closed, thanks.
The shaved look is great!
Stayed there a couple times between 2002 and 2004. Was nice then.
I would love to have seen some more of that grist mill. Good job guys!!!
When you tried to slide down that slide at 3:55 I felt that.
I stayed here many times in it's heydey. It was a nice motel and the restaurant was really good. Sad to see it like this
I really like the vlogs with both Jacob & Jon. Next stop, Exploration Unknown!
Came across an old postcard of when it was Quality Inn - I see at the beginning of your video the formwe sign is still standing.
Thanks for putting this up!
Please don't be a body. Please don't be a body. Lol!! Great video Jacob
😆
Love your abandoned videos, Jacob
I use to live in Jellico. All of this is accurate, the first KFC in the world was opened 30 minutes from Jellico, Tennessee.
I remember staying there back in the 70s when we were headed south from Michigan to Florida
Wow that rooms more clean than the places on another dirty room, and this place is abandoned!
This reminded me of old classic carpetbagger! Very cool! Should have taken that bucket of pure evil from behind the restaurant and poured it on the slide then you'd go! Lol
My husband's family is from Jellico, it's definitely Small"holler" town!!
We have definitely stayed at the Jellico hotel!😂
KFC still sells chicken littles in Virginia to this day. I know because that's where I live and I just got KFC coupons in the mail the other day. One of them was for 2 chicken littles for $1 or something like that.
Remembering Jellico 👍
I remember passing this place up on the way to pigeon forge
5:00 maybe I've played too many video games, but that totally looks like a false wall. ARE THERE POWERUPS BEHIND IT?
We stopped and explored that same exact area on our way to S.C. in January. The bed in the KFC had someone staying there - there was fresh laundry and beer. Must of moved out since then. Bout the only thing to do in Jellico besides get fireworks. There's a great trip thru the mountains right behind there, definitely worth checking out man.
That looks like it was a very large motel. Got to love the old playground equipment . The metal slide that took a layer of skin when you went down it in the summer heat.and the the merry go round that upchuck machine. Had those in our school playground. Awesome explore. Keep Safe❤Keep Well❤
I was born and raised a mile up that road... I’ve been swimming many times in that pool...
I got many a sunburn swimming in that pool as a kid!
Oh me too... We always had a great time... Miss it being open...
5:05 - 5:30 Whoa! And I just recently discovered that stuff has uploaded to old and exotic channels for a few years now.
6:00 mosquito metropolis...case of west nile waiting to happen
I’d be careful about being there as somebody recently purchased the land (I live in jellico)
I stayed there in 02 and it was pretty nice place to sleep it was clean and the staff was nice its a shame it is gone now
I'd love to see you poke around Walsenburg Colorado, I had fun but I don't think I'd have as much as you guys do, lol. There's a giant abandoned brick school there you can buy for 500k, I'd love a look. So many interesting old ruins by the tracks!
It's got a cool vibe. www.loopnet.com/Listing/201-E-5th-St-Walsenburg-CO/13810165/
I remember that place .We stopped and ate there a few times years ago .
Liked the abandoned video Jacob!!!!
Princess and the pea slept in here! Ha ha!
Chicken Little’s were like a Krystal’s hamburger but instead of a small square hamburger patty it was a small square chicken patty. Because they were so thin it was basically nothing but the skin. They were delicious.
Hello Jacob please visit the Boss Hoss Factory in Dyersburg Tennessee were the V8 Boss Hoss Motorcycle and Trikes are made I have a 2004 trike its the 32 ford and no one has really done a good tour of the factory there
He will and then a tour of the nursing home a block away.
I would think this would be the last parts of country or even the world to find an abandoned KFC. It's right in the vicinity were colonel Sanders started KFC. It's like finding an abandoned Ikea in Sweden.
Did you notice the base to the old Quality Courts sunburnt sign to the left of the Jellico Motel sign?
5:25 Possibly an invaluable timecapsule of technology and audio....I choose to store it here.
How was the slide ride Jacob? 😂😂 you looked disappointed. Do you ever worry about squatters when you go to abandoned places? I get too scared at the thought so I don't explore lolol
See thats what I always wonder especially when he went to slab city
He got creeped out last year when I asked him when he had a meet and greet in pigeon forge 🤣🤣
@@NPC_5120 why
@@Ashley-kd2su lol idk he nervously laughed and said no dead bodies yet
What state are you from mane.
I can confirm that was an old Kentucky Fried Chicken that closed in the 80s. In my opinion it the best KFC. I grew up 30 minutes from there.
Carpetbaggers greatest enemies, slides and quilts.
I stayed there a few times back in 2004.
Love abandon places videos. Keep up the great work
I would kill for an exxon sign that ones perfect 7:18! Put it in my trunk lol
You didn't slide very good Jacob 😁
You had "One Job" to slide down that slide.
Love seeing these kind of explores!!
Here's a pretty interesting look at the 3M Cantata 700 that plays the tape found at 5:12.
ua-cam.com/video/1WQbJ0VFrFQ/v-deo.html
I love seeing abandoned stuff like this. At least there were no dead teddy bears at this hotel.
*UPDATE* They have reopened this hotel under new ownership.
The KFC is owned by a local man. He has it up for sale. We talked to him yesterday.
You should have rode a bike down the slide like Adam the Whoo. Funniest thing I ever saw him do but he ate it at the end. Thanks again bro
From there and spent many night in that motel.
9:22 I bet somebody been scroggin on that mattress
I wish I had that marry go round and that slide for my grandkids. I remember staying in some motels like that when I would go on vacation with my parent's . Condos weren't as popular back then . Interesting places !! Thanks for sharing !!
P.S. you might have to get a bicycle to ride down that slide Jacob . 😉😁👍
Love that Adam the Woo reference. I'm ashamed to say I laughed & laughed when poor Adam came off his bike!
@@kookiemonster9222 , I know I should be ashamed too , but you have to admit it was funny . 🤣 I couldn't help but to laugh too . Poor Adam , bless his heart . I love Adam the Woo !! ❤ Hope that doesn't hurt his feelings....!!
What kind of tapes are those? They're huge and I don't think I've ever seen a player that size
Prompts to the people of Jellico for not trashing this place or using it for a drug house. Still has lots of valuable items inside and out and that Exon sign... 👀😳👀
Think of all the money you could save by collecting all the unused toilet paper rolls left behind from the abandoned motels you explore. 😆
Very nice place. Someone could buy it and renovate it.
I appreciate the videos its sad motels go down like that
Looking good, love abandoned stuff too.
as a child and even as a young adult i remember staying there.
We stayed there a lot when I was young. Got a lot of chicken from that Kfc....
What a rare thing that this place hasn’t been destroyed by vandals. It looked like it was a nice place to stay. Isn’t it crazy that cell phones now are just thrown out like trash. Loved the old tech Background Music tapes. Bucket of pure Evil😂
If your curious about that background music cartridge John was holding....
ua-cam.com/video/1WQbJ0VFrFQ/v-deo.html
*you're
Great video as always. Look like someone found the playground.
That other guy with you, looks exactly like my dad.
Dude Dan Bell gave you a shout out you rock dude
I recall seeing this place before. I don't recall who filmed it though. Dan Bell or maybe RnK All Day.