It’s been 20 years since I moved away (almost 10,000 miles away!) from St. Louis, though. Maybe South County has deteriorated more than I know. Certainly I hope not. West County was an idyllic place to grow up.

Historically this was a very industrious area rich in manufacturing, mining, brewing, distilling, rail and many other forms of industry. Side note as a lover of jelly beans, The Jelly Belly Candy Company was stared by two brothers in downtown Belleville. In the 50s ESTL was a thriving metropolis of well over 80,000 entrenched in manufacturing and the rial system. It was even known of as the home town of Beaver’s mother, June Cleaver in Leave It To Beaver, a TV show of the time glorify family values and clean living. But then the scene started to side. As noted above ESTL has actually been used in many movies to represent post apocalyptic war zones. It was spoofed in one of the National Lampoon movies when the family stopped in ESTL to ask for directions and then have their hubcaps stolen. Also as noted above Belleville at one time did install gates between itself and ESTL. This was actually a focus on the American TV news show 60 Minutes multiple times. At least one set of these gates still exist but are no longer used. A large majority of the ESTL historic architecture is now rubble. Neighborhoodscout.com rates ESTL a 0 out of 100 on its crime index and safer than 0% of other US cities. Chances of becoming a victim of violent crime in ESTL is 1 in 16 and of becoming a victim of property crime is 1 in 10. Most have fled the destruction and the population as of the last census was in the low 20,000. In the state there is an average is 32 crimes per mile and 39.3 nationally. This number jumps to 215 in an are that is almost now uninhabited. As the inhabitants of ESTL flee they move to the surrounding areas, one of which is Belleville. And this is what you saw at your stay at The Executive Inn. But it isn’t just this hotel it is the area in general.

I have family that immigrated to ESTL, started business in and eventually fled ESTL and Belleville. My family left ESTL for Belleville in the 50s and then got them out of Belleville in the 90s. My last trip through this area was a short time back researching family genealogy. If your are into strip clubs, brothels or are looking for hard street drugs this is your area, you should feel right at home. If you are just traveling through the St Louis area I would recommend handling Belleville/East St Louis the same way the majority of its previous inhabitance have. Create lots of space between yourself and the east side of the river. Happy and adventurous travels.

If you have the unfortunate opportunity to drive through Greenwood, Indiana, keep on driving! All the bad reviews are countered with convoluted back-stories about the reviewer’s lack of character. Entertaining!!

To wit – That thought occurred to me.  I investigated.  The nearby comment by Dlo Burns the Pessimist is accurate.

WHY WOULD YOU NOT GO TO ST. LOUIS? Or even just down 55  into South County to find cheap deals out of the city?  Hell, you could actually go to a South County motel, get your meth, AND have a clean room!

However just going into the front office was bad, as it smelled of pee (possibly cat). Eventually got to room. Bed was so stained, dirty, and discusting, that I kept all my clothing on, pillow was so dirty, I used a folded up jacket instead. The whole evening, all you could hear were a pupetual party outside, along with drug deals and the like. I didn’t get much sleep as I was actually concerned about safty. It did seem most of the people there were living there full time.

Anyway never in my life had I such a horrible experiance with a hotel, and I have stayed a a few bad ones in my time. I think if I were faced with the same situation again, I would just try and pull over someplace and try and sleeo in the car.

Pessimist: half filled with piss

Apparently it has a ‘warmer tone’.

But they still bumped us and moved us to a place that was 20 yards from a rail road track, with a view of dumpster with rats, a used condom in the drawer,  and the bed smelled like pussy–I think.

St. Louis has since recovered–iirc the room they filmed the big fight scene has a nice restaurant now–but East St. Louis hasn’t yet.  There are signs of life, some nicer neighborhoods being built where there used to be derelicts, but it’s got a long way to go.

It was so shitty at one point that Belleville actually built gates on some streets, to keep the people from East St. Louis out.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/milshire-hotel-chicago

Go for hotels managed by immigrant families, with the whole family living on the premises. It’s the only way to find a safe room in large parts of the country.