The Desert Isle Motel

Living in Sin City, you become almost deaf to certain things that might cause a ruckus somewhere else. Half-naked people on billboards, strippers in the back of trucks, weed stores and strip clubs aplenty? Barely noticeable. But who doesn’t remember the Adult Movies and Pink Elephant out front of the Desert Isle? There was just something about it that made me wonder every time I went past it, “What the hell is going on in there?” And I don’t even think it was the Adult Movies sign, it was definitely the pink elephant out front.

I never went into the Desert Isle, in fact I only knew it as The Diamond Inn but when making the frame I knew I wanted something wild, exotic and sleazy. I also just so happened to be watching Wicked at the time of the build and noticed some trim in the library scene of the archways that looks quite interesting. I immediately went out in the shop and started making test pieces.

After a bunch of math, I decided to use this Ebiara, aka Red Zebrawood, for the frame. I mean, what compliments a pink elephant better than a red zebra? I felt Mango was the obvious choice for a mat given its tropical nature, and its golds and brown are reminiscent of a smokey motel room.