MAXATAWNY TWP., Pa. - When a former motel in Berks County is torn down in the coming months, a piece of rock-and-roll history will be lost along with it.
"The greatest singer, Bruce Springsteen, stayed at the Campus Inn," said Harish Tailor, the former owner of the motel on Kutztown Road in Maxatawny Township, just outside Kutztown.
Back in July 1975, before Tailor owned the motel, Springsteen stayed there between a pair of sold-out shows at Keystone Hall on the nearby campus of Kutztown University.
He said Springsteen was in his motel room, playing a record that would go on to be the New Jersey native's most famous: "Born to Run."
"Something about that recording he didn't like," Tailor explained, "so he got all upset about it and he threw the record right from his room like a Frisbee, right into our Campus Inn swimming pool."
Springsteen would go on to release the album -- his third -- a month later.
Tailor said reliving memories like that is what makes it hard to leave the business he's run for 32 years.
"It's very difficult to let it go," Tailor told 69 News, "but I guess it's time to move on."
CHAD BLIMLINE / 69 NEWSThe property's new owners announced plans Thursday to replace the motel with a 100-room Hampton Inn and Suites, featuring an indoor pool, fitness center, and conference rooms.
The $13-million project is being spearheaded by Ursus Aureus and Golden Bear Ventures, subsidiaries of the Kutztown University Foundation.
"This hotel project really represents an investment opportunity for the foundation that will enable us to diversify our investment portfolio," said Edward Richmond, the foundation's chief financial officer.
The developers hope to break ground on the new hotel next spring and have it open in time for Kutztown University's 2019 graduation.
