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The Famous Urinal of Madonna Inn

January 8, 2003

What's this about famous urinals at the Madonna Inn? Today I found an article in The Truibune Shopping Cart about this very subject. It's in one of those good old fashioned newspapers, though, so I've taken the liberty to type it into this webpage so you won't miss out.

Top Spot For Pit Stops?
Atmosphere, creative decor make bathroom memorable
by Ryan Huff

    Many regard the men's restroom as the highlight of the world-famous Madonna Inn, but that's not enough for owner Alex Madonna.
    He wants the rocky waterfall to be voted the nations favorite place to pee.
    The bathroom, with its clamshell sinks and green-tiled walls, is among 10 finalists in a Web site's survey for the second annual "America's Best Restroom Award."
    The prize acknowledges restrooms that "present a pleasent, even memorable experience," according to the site at www.TheBestOfUSA.com.
    "It's nice that we're recognized," Madonna said Thursday, as the waterfall flowed and men relieved themselves in his pecurliar potty. "I hope we win it, otherwise that's a hell of a lot of gallons of water going to waste."
    The BestOfUSA contest isn't the first time the restroom has been showered with attention: It has been shown on Travel Channel and BBC programs.
    Madonna doesn't use the bathroom but estimates that about 1 million people a year visit the 8-foot-wide urinal. At least two tour buses arrive every day with visitors eager to take a look at the john, he said.
    "How could you come here and not see it?" Madonna asked. "People know more about this bathroom than any other part of the hotel."
    And all of the inn's famous guests--including George Burns, John Wayne and Monica Lewinsky--have visited the restroom.
    If it weren't for some fast construction and Madonn'a competitive spirit with his wife, Phyllis, the restroom might never have been built.
    The Madonna Inn opened with 12 rooms on Christmas Even in 1958. Three years later, Madonna was working 20-hour days with a 70-man crew to finish building the bathrooms in the wine cellar in time for a Mission Prep High School fund-raising event.
    He had nine days to finish the job, and he didn't have enough time to order two fancy antique urinals he had previously picked out.
    "I had to do something quick," he said.
    He also wanted to match the elegance of the women's restroom, which Phyllis Madonna designed with marble counters and red velvet-lined walls.
    So he decided to install large rocks around the urinal area and add a waterfall to the room. More than 100 people attended the fund-raiser, Alex Madonna said, and the restroom was the hit of the party.
    Four decades later, men and women alike make the bathroom a must-see on their trip to the inn.
    While Madonna talked about his creation, at least two dozen men came off a tour bus to check out the ol' water closet. Others on cross-state trips specifically pulled off Highway 101 to use the restroom.
    David Levine, from Berkeley, cleared the way for three female strangers to see the whimsical waterfall.
    "It's pretty cool that you can pee into a waterfall," said Rachele Perry, a teenager from Anaheim. "I'm jealous we don't have one in the girls' bathroom."
Madonna Inn was honored in past
    The Madonna Inn men's restroom is competing against nine other facilities for a Web site's second-annual award as "America's Best Restroom."
    The San Luis Obispo hotel earned seventh place last year but is vying this time for the top spot to make a pit stop.
    The contest includes a New Jersey gas station with a carpeted restroom that features flowers mounted on the wall.
    Another top entry is a women's restroom at a Mississippi casino where each stall door displays a portrait of a Victorian-era lady. Red ceramic sinks and gilded mirrors and chandeliers add to the elegance.
    To vote for your favorite, log on to www.thebestofusa.com/restrooms.

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Top Spot For Pit Stops? Atmosphere, creative decor make bathroom memorable by Ryan Huff
Many regard the men's restroom as the highlight of the world-famous Madonna Inn, but that's not enough for owner Alex Madonna. He wants the rocky waterfall to be voted the nations favorite place to pee. The bathroom, with its clamshell sinks and green-tiled walls, is among 10 finalists in a Web site's survey for the second annual "America's Best Restroom Award." The prize acknowledges restrooms that "present a pleasent, even memorable experience," according to the site at www.TheBestOfUSA.com. "It's nice that we're recognized," Madonna said Thursday, as the waterfall flowed and men relieved themselves in his pecurliar potty. "I hope we win it, otherwise that's a hell of a lot of gallons of water going to waste." The BestOfUSA contest isn't the first time the restroom has been showered with attention: It has been shown on Travel Channel and BBC programs. Madonna doesn't use the bathroom but estimates that about 1 million people a year visit the 8-foot-wide urinal. At least two tour buses arrive every day with visitors eager to take a look at the john, he said. "How could you come here and not see it?" Madonna asked. "People know more about this bathroom than any other part of the hotel." And all of the inn's famous guests--including George Burns, John Wayne and Monica Lewinsky--have visited the restroom. If it weren't for some fast construction and Madonn'a competitive spirit with his wife, Phyllis, the restroom might never have been built.	The Madonna Inn opened with 12 rooms on Christmas Even in 1958. Three years later, Madonna was working 20-hour days with a 70-man crew to finish building the bathrooms in the wine cellar in time for a Mission Prep High School fund-raising event. He had nine days to finish the job, and he didn't have enough time to order two fancy antique urinals he had previously picked out. "I had to do something quick," he said. He also wanted to match the elegance of the women's restroom, which Phyllis Madonna designed with marble counters and red velvet-lined walls. So he decided to install large rocks around the urinal area and add a waterfall to the room. More than 100 people attended the fund-raiser, Alex Madonna said, and the restroom was the hit of the party. Four decades later, men and women alike make the bathroom a must-see on their trip to the inn. While Madonna talked about his creation, at least two dozen men came off a tour bus to check out the ol' water closet. Others on cross-state trips specifically pulled off Highway 101 to use the restroom. David Levine, from Berkeley, cleared the way for three female strangers to see the whimsical waterfall. "It's pretty cool that you can pee into a waterfall," said Rachele Perry, a teenager from Anaheim. "I'm jealous we don't have one in the girls' bathroom."	Madonna Inn was honored in past The Madonna Inn men's restroom is competing against nine other facilities for a Web site's second-annual award as "America's Best Restroom." The San Luis Obispo hotel earned seventh place last year but is vying this time for the top spot to make a pit stop. The contest includes a New Jersey gas station with a carpeted restroom that features flowers mounted on the wall. Another top entry is a women's restroom at a Mississippi casino where each stall door displays a portrait of a Victorian-era lady. Red ceramic sinks and gilded mirrors and chandeliers add to the elegance. To vote for your favorite, log on to www.thebestofusa.com/restrooms.