Gary Warner of the Orange County (Calif.) Register takes a closer look at the three remaining Wigwam Motels in the United States, two of which are on Route 66. The third is in Cave City, Ky.
All of the motels are praiseworthy. But the one that receives the most accolades is the Wigwam in San Bernardino, Calif.
It should be dead and gone. It sits in the middle of what would politely be called an “economically challenged” strip of historic Route 66, the road that brought millions to Southern California. But it’s not only still there, it’s better than at any time in the past 20-plus years. […]
The change is because of the Patel family, which bought the rundown place a few years back. At the time it was a sleazy dive on the border between Rialto and San Bernardino. […] By the late 20th century (that phrase still sounds strange, 10 years into the 21st), the Wigwam was in sad shape. The “Sleep in a Wigwam” sign had been replaced by one that beckoned, “Do It in a Tee-Pee.” Charming. But over the past few years, the Patels have restored it to its status as roadside attraction.
“During the recession, we have found the slowdown with our overseas and out-of-state travelers,” said Kumar Patel. “But we have not stopped updating the property.”
Patel said the family is renovating the rooms again, with new beds, TVs and upgraded air conditioning. The parking lot is repaved and the pool restored. […]
“My family and myself work 24 hours, 365 days a year keeping this property the way it is,” Kumar Patel said. “It would be a great honor for us to be part of the National Register of Historic Places, an even a higher honor to be a National Landmark, being that this is the original Wigwam Motel on Historic Route 66.”
While German and French tourists can often be found there, Patel says it is locals and American vacationers who keep it a going business.
“Of course, weekends always seem to keep busy with families visiting or if some big event is coming into town,” Patel said. “We have a loyal following with new ones always coming. Overall, it has been a good summer for us in Southern California.”
The other Route 66 Wigwam is in Holbrook, Ariz., and it also is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
I’ve stayed at the Wigwam in San Bern before, including last summer, and I can also attest for its quality. The Wigwam is among the first motels that I cite when I rebut the wrong-headed notion that Indian-owned motels are poorly run. It consistently gets stellar reviews from travelers, and it’s rated No. 1 of 27 motels in the San Bernardino area by the folks at TripAdvisor.com.
Interesting article. Their evaluation of the Cave City location is in stark contrast to on-line reviews be guests that proclaim it to be, bluntly, a dump. We had reservations there for last summer, but after doing our research beforehand, we canceled them and stayed elsewhere. Too bad too. We were really looking forward to it.
We enjoyed our stay at the Cave City Wigwam. But that, admittedly, was almost 10 years ago.
We met Kumar Patel on the way to Santa Monica and he was very courteous. He offered to show us the unit. We were so impressed that we made sure to schedule an overnight on the way back to St. Louis. The unit was clean, spacious and had all the modern necessities. The rate was reasonable. We definitely would consider the Wig Wam Motel in Rialto again. Staying at the Wig Wam Motel is a must for all who wish to experience Route 66.
My husband and I stayed at the Wigwam in Holbrook in 96 when we drove the Route and really enjoyed it.
We stayed in both 66 Wig Wams in July, 2010, and both were very nice. (Oddly enough they were both different from one another too, so we were glad we stayed in both). The ones in Holbrook are not as newly renovated, but they are nice in a down-home sort of way. There are vintage cars parked at each Tee Pee, and the rooms, while plain are clean and well maintained. There is no pool, TV or phone or refrigerator in the room. (If you are a Cars fan, make sure to stop in at Joe and Aggies Cafe down the street). Holbrook Wigwams are nice, but plain. In Rialto, The WigWams are a gem. Kumar is an exceptionally nice guy, and the rates were very good. The upgrades are nice too – the pool is beautiful, the flat screen TV’s nice and new, the refrigerator is a nice touch, the rooms seemed bigger, etc. My son’s favorite part of the stay in Rialto? The wagon wheel headboard on the beds in the room we had. Also, the way the WigWams were built seems different in the way that the tile in the bathrooms in Rialto is fancier. Both WigWams are clean and nice, and of the two, the Rialto location was ‘nicer’, but we liked the charm of the one in Holbrook as well, and if I were to pick a favorite, I would have to call it a tie.