Have stayed here twice for multiple days in the last 2 years. Excellent motel. Friendly staff. Discount coupon for breakfast at restaurant within walking distance. Free Parking, Very, very clean. Nice rooms. Good value. Highly recommended.

We just spent 3 nights at Ray's Den Motel and it was a delight. My father and I were in Independence for a work weekend doing our part to help restore the #18 steam locomotive at Dehy Park (pronounced day-hee) and this made for a great base of operations. The Motel itself is small (only 8 or so rooms), quiet (I did mention it only has 8 rooms), and yet has most everything a modern traveler needs including wi-fi. From the outside, you are staying at a blast from the past - an old motor lodge (old by prestige not by condition), but on the inside, the rooms are just as well appointed as other modern chain hotels. The ambiance alone is worth the stay.

The rooms have a TV, refrigerator, microwave, coffee pot and wall mounted AC (that kept us perfectly cool) and a wall heater for the winter months. The beds, for me at least, were just right (not overly firm) and quite comfortable. The Bathroom has a shower, sink and toilet and was complete with a hair dryer, body and hair liquid soaps, plenty of towels and even a nightlight (talk about feeling at home). Everything was clean and well maintained. Linda, the proprietor, is a real sweetheart and made our stay there very comfortable. She is a one-woman-army in that she does it all there. She's the manager, maid and everything else needed to keep Ray's Den clean and welcoming. She is truly the Den Mother.

While there we ate at two local establishments: Jenny's Cafe located just a block away and across the street; and a new place (2011) called Dugan's (formerly Hooligan's I believe) a bit further down the street but on the same side as the motel. Both were excellent places to dine and had friendly staff and great food.

Overall - This is a place to stay at for sure. You just can't do any better than feeling at home while away from home. The price won't put a big dent in your traveling budget either.

Nice place, clean and quiet, - beer, dinner and breakfast @Jenny's

Ray's Den in Independence awards a step back in time. We stayed in a clean, well-appointed room with a king bed, a refrigerator, microwave oven, a coffee pot, airconditoner and a hairdryer for almost half of what we paid at a middle class chain hotel the day before in Lone Pine. Linda, the proprietor, was very pleasant, welcoming and efficient. The next morning, we ate our picnic breakfast in the wooden chairs set out under the eves just outside our room. The motel had been totally booked the night before, but we didn't hear a peep out of our fellow patrons. Even though the temperature was 104 degrees the afternoon we arrived, we were very comfortable in our room.