A possible solution to a unique problem

The city of Miami, Okla., observed an unusual problem regarding Route 66 tourism. Instead of complaining, officials took the initiative and tried to do something about it.

I’ll let the news release from the city (via KOAM-TV) explain:

Route 66 attracts tourists from all over the world. International travelers consider Route 66 to be Classic America. Music celebrities like Paul McCartney and Robert Plant are recent travelers. The problem has been that in the past when traveling the Miami Route 66 section of highway, visitors get the wrong impression that there are no hotels in Miami since our hotel district is located adjacent to I-44 on Steve Owen Boulevard.  Most travelers continue on to other Route 66 communities that have hotels located alongside the Route.

So Miami has placed directional signs on lampposts, showing where the city’s “Hotel District” is.

The placement of the signs is meant to correct this misconception and encourage our Route 66 travelers to stay a while in Miami and experience our unique brand of Oklahoma Route 66 culture.  Miami has outstanding hotels, restaurants, and attractions like the Coleman Theatre, Motorcycle Museum, original Ribbon Highway, Dobson Museum, and Native American entertainment and gaming.

Even many small towns along Route 66 boast at least one motel along that Mother Road. But Miami, despite a wealth of attractions and an estimated population of 13,000, doesn’t have a single lodging establishment along 66. What’s more curious about the dearth of motels is that a major highway — U.S. 69 — piggybacks on old Route 66 through town.

Instead, the motels are clustered a mile to the east, along Oklahoma Highway 10 and Interstate 44. That’s where that new sign is pointing.

That’s not to say Miami never had motels on 66. Looking over Joe Sonderman’s 66 Postcards site, Miami once boasted Court Mar-Kay, Sooner State Motor Court, Elms Motel, Cherokee Motel, Hotel Miami, and Frontier Motel along the Mother Road. All of them have been wiped out or repurposed. It’s a little sad, really.

As for the other lodging establishments to the east, the Townsman Motel once was a Mid-Century architectural gem. However, flooding from the nearby Neosho River severely damaged the building a few years ago. The motel was rebuilt and renamed, and it bears no resemblance to its old self. The rest of the motels are chains.

Miami’s new sign may keep a few Route 66 travelers overnight. But the allure of motels actually along the historic highway in Vinita or Afton will probably be too strong. On the other hand, it wouldn’t surprise me if a savvy entrepreneur builds a small, retro-styled motel on 66 in Miami someday.