HUFFINGTON
05.19.13
LOVE AND HATE
automobiles that locals turn into
rolling works of art) and, among
other eclectic businesses, Brian
“Legz” Tagalog, a tattoo artist who
works entirely with his feet (he
was born without arms).
This confluence of alternative
lifestyles has long made Bisbee a
welcoming place for gay people.
Some businesses here are already
planning for what they hope will
be an influx of tourism as a result of the town’s support for civil
unions, and possible new residents should the ordinance finally
become law.
One of them is The Shady Dell,
a vintage 1950s trailer park that
now serves as a quirky motel. The
gravel lot features nine authentic,
This all may at first blush sound
like a hippie heaven — or, say,
Rush Limbaugh’s version of hell …
refurbished trailers that tourists can rent for the night, each
decked out with vintage 1950s-era
televisions, furniture, and decor.
It’s a campy gay paradise, all the
more savory given the irony of gay
couples staying in lodging themed
to reflect an era when gay couples
would have found it difficult to
find lodging.
Owner Jenn Luria — who is a
little bit Donna Reed, a little bit
Suicide Girl — is more than ready
for their patronage. “We already
have a lot of gay couples stay
here,” Luria says. “In fact, we just
The Shady
Dell trailer
park motel.