The Gorge View is a notable landmark in the City of Niagara Falls, offering hostel and hotel accommodations, perfect for the budget-conscious traveler. It came to our attention that the Gorge View recently opened its doors (once again) in the form of accommodations. It was originally an apartment complex, probably built in the late 1800’s. We were given a tour of the building, and found it to be bright, clean, friendly, and intriguing from a historic perspective. There is nothing like a bit of mystery and subtle secrecy to grab ones attention. First we’ll show you a few photos of the building, and then we’ll get into more of the details.
Near the entrance way there is a lounge, adjoining their newly remodeled kitchen and eating area.
Here is a shot of their newly remodeled kitchen area. Very nice!
One of the rooms available for a night, a week, or longer. Simple, but comfortable and clean.
We just love the craftsmanship of the banister and the woodwork throughout the building.
This part of our journey becomes rather interesting. The owner took us into the basement, eager to tell us a little secret. We couldn’t imagine what he had up his sleeve. We downed the stairs and rounded the corner, and were told to look at several features that are not included in your average basement. For one thing, there was crown molding, for another, there was aluminium ceiling tiles. He also pointed out wainscoting around the room. This got our attention, and we speculated as to why these things were there. We wondered if perhaps there had been a business of some kind in the basement. That’s when he pointed out the door with the odd number, including “1/2”- this lead to an “ah-ha” moment for us. “could this have been a Speakeasy?” He gave us a knowing nod, and a grin – it seemed that this was his conclusion as well.
He led us to a separate room, with what appeared to be an eye-level peek-hole. Could this have been the room where they kept their stash of liquor during prohibition? We can just imagine being on the lookout for the “dry agents” that could pop in at any time, and then the bum’s rush, when they actually did come. And how!
After our prohibition escapades, we took a hike up to the roof-terrace to see a spectacular one-of-a-kind view. This was certainly one of the high points of our visit (literally!) and we truly enjoyed the panoramic view before us.
Niagara Falls, USA as seen from the rooftop.
Niagara Falls, Canada.
It was difficult to capture the beauty of the view in our photos, as the sun was setting and the mist was heavy – it hung in the air over the Falls and the city, on this very humid summer evening.
We were able to capture a golden glow as the sun set for the night. It was spectacular! There are firework displays every Friday and Saturday night at the Falls in the summer, and if you’re a guest of the Gorge View, you’ll definitely want to be there to indulge.
So you may just want to check this place out for your next visit to Niagara Falls. #liveNF
2chicks2go 