A few days ago, the Los Angeles Times took a deep dive into the checkered history of the Aztec Hotel, a landmark along Route 66 in Monrovia, California. For the uninitiated, Robert Stacy-Judd designed the 44-room hotel, built about 1925 and contains distinctive Mayan Revival architecture. Celebrities such as Bing Crosby, Clark Gable and Tom … Continue reading L.A. Times takes a closer look at the landmark Aztec Hotel in Monrovia
Category: Motels
Ceremonial relighting held for West Winds Motel’s neon sign in Erick
Folks in Erick, Oklahoma, held a relighting ceremony on Friday for the previously long-dark neon sign at the closed West Winds Motel. The sign had been restored and has been operating nightly since April. The ceremony last week served as more of a celebration. Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, was there … Continue reading Ceremonial relighting held for West Winds Motel’s neon sign in Erick
Relighting ceremony for West Winds Motel sign in Erick set for Friday night
A relighting ceremony for the restored West Winds Motel neon sign in Erick, Oklahoma, is scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, May 22. The sign has been lighted nightly since it was rejuvenated and reinstalled several weeks ago. The relighting serves as more of a celebration: More from KECO radio: The lighting ceremony will begin at … Continue reading Relighting ceremony for West Winds Motel sign in Erick set for Friday night
Whimsy Waypoint, which includes Flintstones-styled cabin, soon will open near Vinita
Whimsy Waypoint, which features a "The Flintstones"-inspired cabin and three other uniquely designed ones, is set to open this year a few miles east of the Route 66 town of Vinita, Oklahoma. The "Flintstones"-styled getaway is called Bedrock Grotto, containing one bath, one kitchen, a fire pit and a hot tub. It will allow up … Continue reading Whimsy Waypoint, which includes Flintstones-styled cabin, soon will open near Vinita
Developers of Petro Motor Quart motel in Galena abandon the project
Citing an issue that "is not in our control," the developers of a gas-station-themed, 10-unit Petro Motor Quart motel in Galena, Kansas, have abandoned the project. Aaron Perry, owner of Gearhead Curios in Galena, and fiancée Cassandra Rangel announced the project in early 2025 and broke ground for it about a month later. The site … Continue reading Developers of Petro Motor Quart motel in Galena abandon the project
Connie Echols, recent former owner of the Wagon Wheel Motel, dies
Connie Echols, the recent former owner of the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, died Saturday, just weeks after she sold the Route 66 landmark. The motel's new owner, Rich Dinkela, announced her death on Sunday. If you’ve ever traveled Route 66, you know the Wagon Wheel isn’t just a place to stay—it’s a place … Continue reading Connie Echols, recent former owner of the Wagon Wheel Motel, dies
Nonprofit initiative seeks to convert El Pueblo Motor Inn in Flagstaff into low-cost housing
A local nonprofit initiative aims to convert the historic-but-closed El Pueblo Motor Inn in Flagstaff, Arizona, into low-cost housing. El Pueblo Motel in 2019 Flagstaff resident Phil Scandura, a retired avionics engineer and architectural draftsman, talked during a phone interview about the site, also known as El Pueblo Motel, along Route 66. El Pueblo, at … Continue reading Nonprofit initiative seeks to convert El Pueblo Motor Inn in Flagstaff into low-cost housing
Neon sign for the West Winds Motel in Erick is restored
The neon sign for the long-closed but still-standing West Winds Motel in Erick, Oklahoma, has been restored and installed, but it may look a little different from how you remember it. During the restoration process, it was discovered that the business was originally named West Winds Court. So they went with that instead. The City … Continue reading Neon sign for the West Winds Motel in Erick is restored
Rich Dinkela purchases the historic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba
Today, Rich Dinkela and his wife, Christina, closed on the purchase of the landmark Wagon Wheel Motel along Route 66 in Cuba, Missouri. Dinkela said they bought the property for $1 million. He said there would be a "lull" of one to two weeks in the motel's operation while staff are being trained there and … Continue reading Rich Dinkela purchases the historic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba
Hotel Beale neon sign in Kingman to be relighted on May 2 as part of Fun Run after-party event
The historic Hotel Beale neon sign in Kingman, Arizona, will be relighted for the first time in more than 40 years during an after-party event of the Route 66 Fun Run at 7:30 p.m. on May 2. After the ceremony, there will be live music, a beer garden and dancing in the parking lot at … Continue reading Hotel Beale neon sign in Kingman to be relighted on May 2 as part of Fun Run after-party event