Munger Moss Motel changes hands; he pledges to keep neon sign and rooms for overnight guests

Ramona Lehman apparently has sold the historic Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri. The new owner has pledged to keep its neon sign and rooms for overnight Route 66 travelers, though part of it will be designated to long-term renters.

Reports of the Munger Moss’ sale began surfacing Monday after Route 66 enthusiasts or those who had reservations to the motel were informed about it.

The sale was confirmed Tuesday in a social media post by Lehman’s daughters. They said Lehman last month had been moved into a local assisted-living facility.

At that time we were going to continue to try and keep the motel open. The goal was to sell the motel to someone that would preserve the historic memory and keep alive Route 66. This was very important to both of us girls. Mom and Dad worked very hard in their business and we wanted that legacy to continue.

Due to mom’s continuing decline in health, we decided to work with Mark Bertel in this endeavor. The old girl (motel) is deserving in the much needed love and attention that she will be getting.

Bertel is CEO of The Dels Corporation, based in Mountain Home, Arkansas. He wrote in the same post:

Our goal at The Dels Corporation is to preserve history while also adding value to communities. We are so excited to get the opportunity to work on such a historic landmark as the Munger Moss Motel. We are going to make sure the classic neon sign is preserved and enjoyed by generations to come. We will be keeping all of the Route 66 memorabilia and displaying it for visitors. We plan to update the exterior of the complex and continue the mixed use of Munger Moss. Several units are already set up for long term rentals. We plan to expand that capacity while also providing single night stays for visitors along old route 66. We love Lebanon and can’t wait to contribute even more to your wonderful community.

The Dels website states its goal is to provide “sustainable, multi-family housing throughout Arkansas and the Midwest. Inspired by minimalism & eco-conscious lifestyles, we connect locals with our community-based approach to housing, food service, and event hosting.”

It already owns Wyota Commons apartment complex in Lebanon, a short distance from the Munger Moss.

In Missouri, it also owns properties in St. Robert, Licking, Branson, Gainesville and West Plains.

Lehman owned the Munger Moss for more than 50 years. She and her late husband Bob bought the Route 66 motel in June 1971. Bob died in 2019.

The motel’s name came from a sandwich shop of the same name in nearby Devil’s Elbow, Missouri, built in 1936 by Nellie Munger and her husband, Emmitt Moss.

The building in Devil’s Elbow still is there as the Elbow Inn, though that property is closed while it undergoes renovations.

The couple relocated to Lebanon after U.S. 66 bypassed Devil’s Elbow, and they founded the Munger Moss Motel in 1946.

(Image of the Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri, by el-toro via Flickr)