Tonya Pike, a Missouri roadie, reports that the Maple Motel & Restaurant at 2233 N. Glenstone Ave., a Route 66 alignment, in Springfield, Mo., has been torn down.
The property had been for sale. Pike said it was the third historic property in Springfield to be torn down this year.
The above image comes from an old postcard. Route 66 Photographs also has a nighttime image of the motel’s neon sign here.
It’s happening everywhere. Wildwood, NJ was hit hard the past few years as old motels were torn down for condos. It’s the same old story, the land is more valuable than what’s on it. Motel owners in Wildwood were “bribed” with large sums, $1 million and up to sell to developers so they could raze the motels and build expensive condos. There’s sites with pictures of neon signs from businesses and a lot of the businesses were lost recently. Las Vegas lost a bunch of googie, doo-wop motels, too. There seems to be no movement to preserve any of this stuff, they’ll sell the land when the right buyer comes along with the right price, Old motels will be demolished for Wal-Marts and luxury home developments, to developers and others it doesn’t matter anymore. What is our country coming to when we destroy our past even if it’s only 50 years old? What will the children of tomorrow have? I can name over 20 buildings in my area (Allentown, PA) that met the bulldozer in the past several years, including restaurants, motels, a downtown department store, and others.
I agree.
What happened to the Maples Motel sign – anyone know any info – email me: matguy70@peoplepc.com
thanks! 🙂
My parents ran this motel for several years! I loved this motel. I spent several years of my youth in that back office. 🙂 I miss places like these as opposed to the move in and out huge hotels of today.
I didn’t spend several years in the back office, lol. I meant I remember the back office, the pool, everything.. I helped my grandfather paint the hotel.. just everything about it.
I agree with Robert. These places are the culture of the U.S. These are places to be valued. This is our history. We should preserve these places. I remember having such good times there. Even if I was “working” at 5 years old. LOL! I WANTED to help paint the doors and walls.. it wasn’t work to me. 🙂
I love those old cars too. The chrome was thick and the engines were loud. Gotta love it. 🙂