Guests staying at Patty’s Lodge in Hopewell have been told to leave by Monday morning, adding new uncertainty at a motel already connected to one of the region’s most closely watched criminal cases.
A notice dated May 21 says Patty’s Lodge will permanently close effective June 1 at 11 a.m., when all occupancy rights will end, utilities will be shut off and all rooms and common areas must be vacated.
Letter gives guests days to leave
The closure notice says water and electricity will be shut off when the motel closes, access to the property will end and guests must remove all personal belongings before leaving. It also says the motel will not accept extensions or renewals beyond the closure date.
The notice warns that personal property left behind after the closure may be considered abandoned and could be removed, stored, disposed of or handled under applicable law. Guests were encouraged to secure alternative accommodations “as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, guests said they did not receive the notice until May 21, giving them 11 days to find another place to stay. Some questioned whether the closure notice was legal and said they had contacted the Ontario County Department of Social Services for help.
Residents say they are scrambling
Several guests told News10NBC they had been living at the motel for months or had recently moved in. One guest said he had lived there since September, while another said he and his girlfriend moved in about a month ago and were frustrated they had not been told earlier about the possible closure.
The report also said guests believe the motel was purchased by a new owner about two months ago. News10NBC reported that attempts to reach the new owner were unsuccessful.
The letter does not state a reason for the closure.
Motel drew attention in Nordquist case
Patty’s Lodge became widely known earlier this year after authorities connected the property to the investigation into the death of Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old from Oakdale, Minnesota.
Nordquist traveled to the Finger Lakes region in September 2024 and stayed in Ontario County before his disappearance. His body was found Feb. 13 in a field in Yates County after authorities said he endured months of abuse.
Seven people — Precious Arzuaga, Kyle Sage, Patrick Goodwin, Emily Motyka, Jennifer Quijano, Kimberly Sochia and Thomas Eaves — have been charged with first-degree murder in the case. Court proceedings remain ongoing, with Arzuaga expected to be the first defendant to stand trial later this year.
Recent fire added to scrutiny
The closure notice also follows an April fire at Patty’s Lodge that drew firefighters from Canandaigua and Hopewell, along with New York State Police.
Emergency crews focused on the main portion of the building, and Routes 5 and 20 were temporarily blocked between Smith Road and Lakeshore Drive while firefighters worked at the scene. At the time, officials had not released the cause of the fire or confirmed whether anyone was injured.
The motel’s pending closure now leaves remaining guests with little time to relocate while questions remain about the property’s future and the broader fallout from the criminal case that brought it statewide attention.
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