Located five miles east of Jasper next to Nickajack Lake, the Brendalene Motel is believed to be the first motel in Jasper to have a swimming pool. Constructed in the 1950s and owned and operated by Herbert and Ilene Cross, the motel was named for Ilene and her daughter, Brenda. Although the motel has long disappeared from the landscape, in its heyday the motel was very modern for its time period having not only a swimming pool, but air conditioning, electric heat, tiled combination tub, showers, a children’s playground, restaurant, and service station. Oh, and let’s not forget about the beautiful Chenille bedspreads on the beds.
-Submitted by David Head