“A bomb threat at the Driftwood Motel? You won’t believe this.” That’s what the headline screamed. The Driftwood Motel. Right here on Colfax Avenue. It wasn’t always a place whispered about in hushed tones.
The Driftwood Motel once stood proudly among other motels. These lined Colfax Avenue back when Route 40 was the main highway. Tourists flocked to Denver. Motels like the Driftwood boasted modern amenities. It was a time of fierce competition a real Motel Wars. Postcards show a vibrant green corridor lined with beautiful buildings.
But times changed. Interstate 70 opened. The airport moved. The glory days faded. The Driftwood Motel became something else. It offered inexpensive rooms. Cash only. A haven for some and a nuisance for others. People living in the Driftwood Motel sometimes struggled with poverty and other challenges.
The police raided it often. They confiscated guns from convicted felons. Reports of bedbugs and mold plagued it. The city considered it a public nuisance. Yet for many it was a last resort. A place to escape abusive situations or homelessness. A place to stay while working low income jobs or living on disability checks. The city inspectors had a tough job. They needed to balance the safety and well being of residents against enforcement.
One day a man barricaded himself in a room at the Driftwood. He threatened to blow the place up. The SWAT team arrived. Residents were evacuated. The situation lasted for hours. Ultimately the man was taken into custody.
The Driftwood Motel represents a complicated past. It reflects the challenges of affordable housing. It speaks to the ongoing struggle to balance development with the needs of vulnerable populations. It’s a story of decline and resilience. A place where lives intersect. A place where history and present collide. The Driftwood Motel remains a part of Denver’s story. A story that continues to unfold.