The closed Hill Top Motel in Kingman, Arizona, is aiming for a reopening of about New Year’s Day after months of renovations on the Route 66 landmark.
Route 66 enthusiast Jim Hinckley provided an update about the Hill Top on Tuesday:
Dr. Baker acquired the property and after evaluation commenced a major renovation that included a new roof, gutting the interior rooms to the studs, replacing all plumbing and electrical. Yesterday I was given a tour of the property. Dr. Baker is hoping to reopen around January 1. She will retain the swimming pool, another rarity for historic motels.
To date the entire electrical system is replaced, and the plumbing should be finished shortly. The exterior portico roof has been rebuilt. Shower installation is underway. Unfortunately very little of the original tile was reusable. There are plans to retain the historic feel of the property with use of vintage style components such as lighting in a manner similar to the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico.
In addition to the renovated rooms, there will be a several bedroom suite with expansive living room. To offset some of the expense, she has applied for a National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program.
The Baker referred to in Hinckley’s post is Makenzie Baker who, with fellow chiropractor Francisco Sinopoli, are the motel’s owners. They purchased it for $157,500 in April 2018 after it fell into foreclosure late in the previous year.
John Mescheid built the motel in 1954 and its swimming pool a few years later.
The motel went through seven sets of owners, including longtime proprietor Dennis Schroeder, who ran it from 1981 to 2017.
The Hill Top Motel remains infamous for Room 119, where Timothy McVeigh stayed for four days in 1995 before bombing the federal building in Oklahoma City a few weeks later. The terrorist act killed 168 people and injured hundreds more. The registration card McVeigh filled out at the motel later was entered into evidence during his death-penalty trial.
(Image of the Hill Top Motel’s neon sign in 2012 by el-toro via Flickr)
Good to hear about saving a Route 66 historic place. Does anyone know the status of another Kingman Route 66 Hotel the Ramada Kingman? It was supposed to be auctioned in May but have not seen any update on it
RON,
DO YOU HAVE ANY WORD REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE HILLTOP?
THANK YOU,
TERRY
Not at this time, though I’ve heard it will reopen later this year.