Route 66 Hotels Face ‘Four-Lane, Divided Highway Called Progress’
Travel Blog • Michael Yessis • 05.21.07 | 4:40 PM ET
More hard evidence of the sad demise of Route 66: The AP reports that “at least 3,000 motels along the route are in various states of repair or disrepair.” They’re now “historical footnotes,” with little or no hope of revival. “Today, many structures that made the road what it was—the diners, family-owned service stations, barbecue joints—have fallen apart,” writes Justin Juozapavicius. “With efforts to fix up these architectural landmarks scarce, time has become the road’s worst enemy.”
Juozapavicius spoke with proprietors along Route 66 in Oklahoma—the state with the most miles of the Mother Road—and found a few bright spots.
Frank and Trudy Jugler opened the Chelsea Motor Inn, a six-room, Route 66 tribute motel. They have plans to put up teepees where guests can camp out, and they are restoring an adjoining 1890s house as a bed and breakfast.
In keeping with the traveling circus atmosphere so vital to luring tourists along Route 66 in the old days, the Juglers own a pet bison that roams in the backyard. It’s named, aptly, Chelsea.
“We thought, man, it would be cool to be sitting on a chair in front of a motel on Route 66,” says Frank Jugler, a fast-talking, 48-year-old Maryland native.
Like the Juglers, some folks are slowly reclaiming the few miles of Route 66 history that run through their city limits.
In Flagstaff, Ariz., residents are taking advantage of a facade improvement program that helps Route 66 building owners restore their neon signs. In Albuquerque, the city bought the historic De Anza Motor Lodge several years ago and recently selected a developer to restore the landmark as an upscale Route 66 destination.
For the most part, however, the situation along Route 66 is dire. As long as the interstates thrive, it’s hard to imagine the Mother Road returning to anything close to its glory days.
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Michael Yessis is the cofounder and coeditor-in-chief of World Hum.
TambourineMan 05.21.07 | 9:24 PM ET
Interesting read. A few years ago I stayed at the world famous Wigwam Motel on Route 66 in Holbrook, AZ. A cool place that’s still in relatively good shape. However, my wigwam smelled really musty and while I had the door open to air it out, an extremely drunk Navajo hobo stumbled inside and had a seat. Cost me five bucks and a bottle of beer to get him out.
Another good Route 66 motel is the El Rancho in Gallup, NM.
mike 05.22.07 | 9:14 AM ET
I know that smell, TambourineMan. Nevertheless, glad to hear some first-person reports that some Route 66 are still in good shape.
Ron W. 05.22.07 | 12:08 PM ET
Route 66 won’t return to its heyday simply because the traffic isn’t there. Most of the cross-country travelers are using interstates now.
The goal is to get enough of an increase in travelers (thank you, Pixar for the “Cars” movie) to help preserve a few of these motels and vintage businesses. There already are a number of success stories, like the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M. and the Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, Calif.
On my Route66News.Com’s listing of motels, there also are some historic hotels listed that are still operating/
James 05.25.07 | 10:30 PM ET
Of course it is naïve ? the economics are against these old motels. But perhaps more jarring is the politics in local planning departments that encourage developers to buy these old motels and flatten them. The City of Albuquerque, New Mexico, showed terrible bad faith in approving the recent demolition of the National Register designated Horn Oil Motor Motel so some half-baked architect from California could throw some Mediterranean townhouses. Same thing is happening in the other big cities along Route 66. Change zoning policies and save some these relics. James
guy 11.23.07 | 9:48 AM ET
Am interested in the possibility of riding motorcycle along route 66 in late Feb./early March. Cold’s OK but not snow. Is this doable? Thanks.