Pruce's Motor Inn

Pruce's Motor Inn is an abandoned motel, coffee shop, and restaurant. This place has obviously seen better days but at one time it was a thriving business on this Highway. There are signs that vagrants have taken refuge here with personal items throughout the building. Also it was collapsed and set on fire. The interior is rotting and reeks. Some roofs are falling down.

** From AlbertaMike, Feb, 2019 ***

Pruces Motor INN was a fantastic serendipitous find on a long road trip heading East. My wife and I were driving from Alberta to Owen sound Ontario to visit family, when we noticed on the northern parts of the trans Canada highway - there lies a plethora of abandoned buildings to explore. Motels, farm homes, and industrial buildings all litter the landscape up there.. but for the average commuter not looking for such opportunities i could see the reason why one could miss out all together.

As you head south into Heyden it should be on the left hand side of the road. Our visit was back in 2016 - when i checked google maps that summer, the INN was still standing. I rechecked again this winter and noticed google maps had updated it during the winter and it was still yet again standing.

This place is was stunning. It was a shame vandals have taken such a mark onto its interiors. The massive common area had a beautiful fireplace probably four feet six feet in diameter - with vaulted ceilings. The building itself is starting to rot away, so there is mold everywhere - having gaping holes in the ceiling does not help either keep the elements out. We traversed through as much of the building as safely as we could. There is quit a bit of collapsed support and Air ducting - explorers. The staircase leading up stairs didn't have any hand railings, and was covered in water and moss. Once we got to the top, every room we explored looked vandalized and covered in snow or mold.

There are some shining areas of this visit; bits of the old bar are still intact along with the skeletons of old booth seating. The common room still stands out as an area that would have been amazing to see in its hay day. the front entrance has been broken open, and there are plenty of other ways to get into the building, no security was in site, nor did we see any signs which prohibited our visit.

I believe this is a gem of a find for people wanting to explore peacefully. I think the hamlet of Heyden does not know what to do with the building and is letting it decompose by itself. I hope to go back one day during the summer, and photograph it with a little more green in the foreground of the canvas.

I will end with saying it is a bit of a mystery. Any online searches come up with nothing on its history, and there are very few businesses around to ask for an explanation. If anyone wants to add anything to this - please do so!