Ilda Boots, co-founder of the Boots Motel on historic Route 66 in Carthage, Mo., died Friday at age 102 at a nursing home in Glenpool, Okla., reports the Carthage Press.
The Bootses also founded the Boots Drive-In restaurant across the road, which is defunct.
According to the newspaper, after talking to Ilda’s son Bob:
She was very much involved in the operation of the Boots Motel.
“In fact, she ran it during some of the World War II years when Dad was working down in Pryor, Okla.,” wrote Bob. “She had a friend named Zella clean the rooms, and she did the rest.”
Ilda and Arthur were divorced while Bob was still in the Air Force.
“Dad built Boots Drive-In, but my uncle and I bought him out after a few years and Mom worked for us for many years afterwords,” said Bob. “She looked after the gifts and souvenirs, reordering as needed, took cash and checked out the register and maybe the most important thing, greeted the customers with a smile. She was an integral part of Boots Drive-In for many years, even after I left and came to Tulsa.”
The Boots Motel was established at Garrison and Central in 1939. That was where Route 66 intersected with U.S. 71, and for many years was called the “Crossroads of America.”
Reputedly, movie star Clark Gable stayed at the Boots Motel overnight during a cross-country trip. The Boots closed a few years ago and is now owned by Vince Scott of Carthage. For now, the future of the motel is in limbo.
(Photo by Jim Ross)
The historic Boots Motel is for sale, along with the adjacent property to the South. This is a great opportunity for someone to restore this landmark property. The building and land adjacent to Boots would be great for an office and addtional parking. Please contact me at jhunter@pro100.com or phone 417 850 5355 for details about this property.