As many of my readers know, wherever I go, I take pictures. THEN I share them with my readers. Since there are so many, many wonderful places to see in Arizona, I will share as I see. This will be Part I of my trip to Holbrook, Arizona and to the Petrified National Park, located within four hours from Mesa, Arizona. Since Holbrook, Arizona is located on Route 66, there are lots of cool things to see.
Our first stop was at the The Wigwam Motel. I took lots of photos, of course. This is such a cool place. As you can see, The Wigwam Motel is a flashback to the "old days," that SOME of us will remember. Check out that Studebaker Truck....I don't remember that Studebaker made trucks....scattered throughout the motel area are vintage cars, even an old Hudson! How about those little motel rooms? Cool, huh? I've taken the liberty of sharing with everyone, an excerpt written about the history of this place below:
"The history of the Wigwam Motel is very interesting for many people. Our father, Chester E. Lewis, had other motels along Old Route 66 in the 1930's in other Arizona cities. He saw his first Wigwam Village in Cave City, Kentucky in 1938. A man by the name of Frank Redford already had a couple of Wigwam Villages built in Kentucky by that time.
Our father decided that he would like to build a Wigwam Village of his own. In that time period, the term franchises or chain motels were not known of, much less used. Mr. Redford was more interested in sharing his novel idea than making money. Mr. Lewis and Mr. Redford came to an agreement that radios would be placed in each Wigwam that would play for one half hour for a silver dime. Mr. Redford would then receive the dimes from the radios for a period of some years in payment for the use of his plans.
There were seven of these Wigwam Villages built from the 1930's to the 1950's from Florida to California. The one, here in Holbrook, receives a lot of media attention due to it being located on Route 66 and located near several Native American Reservations,Navajo, Hopi, White Mountain Apache Reservations. There are several vintage automobiles that are around the perimeter of the property.
The Wigwam Motel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 2, 2002."
I've shared some of my photos below, but be sure to check out the link above 'cause you will be able to see the rooms, and the room prices. People still stay in these little wigwams....
Yet another reason to live in and around Mesa, Arizona. Everything is so close. Wouldn't it be fun to stay in this Motel?
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate. Call me at: 480.216-3334 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mesa, Arizona or surrounding towns. OR email me: Teri@TeriEllis.com. Feel free to visit one of my websites: HomesAzRE.com, MoveToMesaAz.com or MoveToSunnyAz.com. Or stop by my blogs at: Active Rain; or Phoenix Valley Real Estate Blog.
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate. Call me at: 480.382-8711 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mesa, Arizona or surrounding towns. OR email me: Teri@TeriEllis.com. Feel free to visit my website: HomesAzRE.com, or stop by my blogs at: MesaAzRealEstateVoice and AzLadyInRed!
Hi Teri-Wow! I'm the first to comment on this, Cool! Been busy and hadn't checked your posts out in a few days. These pics are awesome. There is sure a lot of cool places in hot Arizona. I've decided to start going around to different places in Lynchburg and taking photos and learning about the areas I go and sharing them on my blog. I got my inspiration from you and all the neat things you share. Thank you and I'll talk to you again soon. Take care-Sincerely, A fellow color "Red" fan
OMG! Teri: this is so cool. As a kid, my grandparents and I were always on Route 66 heading back to Kentucky... I remember this Motel! Ahhhhh, things were so different then. Remember the gas stations where they had a big, red Coca Cola cooler out front and you just reached inside got your pop?
What a great idea for a hotel. I have never seen anything like it. My 18 year old is always saying he is going to put one of these on our property and go live in it!!! I'll have to show him this site, thanks.
Pat, thanks for coming by. Glad you enjoyed my trip vicariously! ;-)
Kat, Route 66 conjures up all types of great memories...;-) Yes, I do remember. ;-)
Jane, the rooms are darling...be sure to check out the link. ;-)
look at these great old trucks and cars - what a great place - I can't wait to visit and see this
Hi Teri,
Yep, I'm old enough to remember these myself in the old days. It was like driving across the state with mile after mile of nothing, and then seeing teepee's. We thought everyone there must live in these things. Thanks for the flash-back in time.
Teri - I am a native and while seeing this hotel profiled on Arizona Highways, I still haven't checked it out. I've only stayed at the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park. Thanks for sharing.
Teri that is quite an interesting piece of history with the Wigwam Hotel. Hey I didn't know Lynda was around when they still had teepees's:)
Teri - Wow! I felt like I took a step back in time looking at all those terrific photos you took. I haven't seen cars and trucks like that since I was a kid.
Teri,
Thanks for sharing. I feel like I was really there! And I have been needing to get away and you just helped. Thank-you for that nice post.
Teri,
You inspired me. I am going to carrry a camera with me everywhere from now on. I live in the beautiful Sierra so there are lots of pictures to take.
Hi Teri - We took this trip last year - great road trip! Did you go to the road kill cafe? They have the sweetest waiters and waitresses! great blog!
Teri: FEATURED!!! Awesome and well, well deserved. You really do have so much to see and do in your area. I can't wait to be heading that way again.
Teri- Amazing photos! I love those tepees. Well done feature! Do you get to actually stay in those? Or is that just a back drop for the rooms?
Thesa, it as well worth the visit....come on down to Arizona! ;-)
Lynda, since we would travel all over the place camping and such, I'm quite sure I saw these as a child, but don't remember anymore. Glad to be able to visit as an adult. It was really the WOW factor for me. ;-)
Stephanie, it's so cool. I saw a show with Oprah staying there as she toured across the country on Route 66. I'll bet THAT was a bit different than where she would normally stay, huh? ;-)
Bill, they are wigwams....;-) And Lynda was a mere child - as was I. ;-)
Donna, that was part of the draw for me and for my husband - the vintage cars. They are so cool. ;-)
Terri, so glad you enjoyed it. I certainly shared my bird's eye, personal view of this motel....;-)
Ann, those of us who are shutterbugs, always have our cameras at the ready. In fact, I go specifically to places where I know I can catch some good photos...;-)
Margaret, no, we didn't go to the Road Kill, but instead went to Joe and Aggies...I wrote about that adventure in another post. ;-)
Kat, thank you.....had no idea it was featured, but cool that it is. More people get to see it that way and live back in the day. ;-)
Katerina, yup, the wigwams have beds. If you check out the link, it tells you how much for twin beds or a double. I think it's $55 a night.....there are great inside photos on the link. ;-)
Isn't this the hotel that Oprah was going to stay in when she went on her road trip?? I think it is cool but it would definitely be too small for me. LOL!!
Stacey~
Stacey, yes. Oprah and Gayle actually stayed there. From looking at the photos on the link, it doesn't look all that small actually, ;-)
Teri--It's just like the Disney movie CARS! The old cars and the teepee motel! What a great place to visit in AZ. Thanks for sharing the pictures...very fun! I would love to visit there!
Teri-I've been here and it is so neat. Never thought about staying there my kids would have loved it!
Very interesting:) My father had a Studebaker when I was about 10. I won't divulge how long ago that was. Didn't know they made pickup trucks, too. Thanks for the info and photos!
Teri, isn't it amazing? Such a memorable landmark to so many of us. Thanks, ;-)
Cindy, when my daughter comes for a visit, I'll suggest this spot to take her kids. ;-)
Sherry, Studebakers were big - waaayyyyy back when. I used to think they were soooo ugly. Us? We had a Hudson. ;-)
Teri, I love Rte 66, we've stopped at the Wigwam and stayed at the Blue Swallow in Tucumcari, NM. Great vintage cars, how nice to be so close to all that history.
Hi Teri, That 1956 Buick Special was my first car, but mine was a 4 door!
Teri - Thanks for sharing. Aftering looking at the photos I too felt as if I was there. This is certainly a unique place.
Debbie, we'll be heading for Albuquerque for the balloon festival....I'll have to check out the Blue Swallow if it is anywhere on the way. ;-)
Wayne, how cool is that? ;-) Seeing a car like your first one? Priceless.
Jennifer, glad you enjoyed the pictures. It is very unique...;-)
thanks for the tip and information?
Hi Teri, This reminds me of my little grandson's favorite Disney movie CARS. (Rt. 66, Teepees, Old Cars). I will have to visit Arizona again just to take him to see the Wigwam Motel.
Wow, that is pretty vintage---So do people actually stay in those wigwams?
I remember making a trip to Kansas from Sacramento back in 1950. I was just a small kid then. My mom and dad had just purchased a new 1950 Hudson (Metalic Green). They brought it home from the dealership, packed it up, and we immediately left on the trip. I remember Route 66 in it's heyday, and all the sights along the way.
Thank you for the nostaglic memories.
Teri: San Bernardino (14 miles below Lake Arrowhead) is having their Route 66 Rendezvous beginning this Thursday. You would really enjoy that.
I remember when our family took a very long road trip back in the 60's ... this was one of those memories. It's amazing that we can still see quite a bit of Americana by taking route 66. Thanks for this and the other posts about these very cool places.
Johnathan, you're welcome? ;-)
Eunice, it's a long way from your part of the country....but there is a lot to see here in Arizona. ;-)
Diane, yes, they do. The room views are available through the link. I think they cost about $55 a night. ;-)
Myrl, Hudsons were really cool...we had one too. You're welcome! ;-)
Kat, since the event is so close to you, maybe you could grab some pictures and share. Soon, if not already, it'll be cold up on that mountain. ;-) It's already down in the 40's at night here in Show Low where I hang out during the summer....;-)
Chuck, you're welcome! I enjoy visiting and sharing....good memories for me as well. ;-)
Teri: Our temps keep going up and down, but the nights are now near perfection. I "may" get to go the Route 66 Rendezvous, but it's still up in the air at the moments. IF I go, pictures WILL be taken. LOL
Great Post, and thanks for taking me down memory lane, I've stayed there before, LONG AGO.
Have A Wonderful And Productive Day
That was really cool. Thank you for sharing.
Lisa
Terri ... looks like you enjoyed a fun Route 66 road trip to the Wigwam Motel and back to Mesa. Best wishes. Harrison
Wow Teri Awesome photos. Not just a Studebaker truck but also a Studebaker Bulletnose in the photo. Studebaker made trucks up till 64.
I love to go to Seligman and have a burger at the Snowcap drive in.
Wasn't one of these motels featured in a movie? I can't remember which one.
Oh, man, they have beds and air conditioners, flooring and electricity and everything. I thought I'd see a cot on the dirt. That would be more fun, wouldn't it? See what you made me do, Teri? I have better things to do than look at the prices ($54 a night IS reasonable, though) and interiors of wigwams tonight, LOL.
Kat, I'm looking forward to see those memorable photos. ;-)
Doris, glad you enjoyed your walk down memory lane. Lots of fun isn't it. ;-)
Lisa, you're very welcome. ;-)
Harrison, there are so many cool places to visit within four hours of Mesa, Arizona....;-)
Bill, what's a Selegman? And where is it? or was it? I noticed the Studebaker under the carport. ;-)
Gabe, I HEAR they were in the Disney movie, CARS. ;-)
Elizabeth, doesn't that look cool? I think they have one that has a rug and a pillow on the floor for those who want authenticity. ;-) Sounds like you enjoyed your trip. ;-)
We have a place along I-5 in Southern Oregon that is not quite like this but similar. They are A-Frames and really a fun place to stay for kids. I'm not sure why, but they seem to love. I'm guessing because they can make noise and not disturb a neighbor with an adjoining wall.
Teri,
Great pictures of the WigWam Motel. I would love to travel Route 66 and see the history. Thanks for sharing!!
Todd, I think there are more of these wigwams - but only one on Route 66.....kids always like something a bit different - like sleeping in a tent. ;-)
Jerry, thank you. It was very, very cool. ;-)
Teri,
I've been in the se valley since 1968. Do you remember the teepee hotel rooms on Apache Trail in Tempe. I wonder if it was the same owners?
I love traveling here in AZ also. Thank you for giving me some new ideas for my next trip. And since I am new to AR, I am now looking forward to showing off our beautiful state to everyone via AR.
Deanne, actually I don't remember the hotel you mention on Apache Trail. There are lots of cool places within an hour or four from Mesa....lots and lots of places. Enjoy. And welcome to AR. ;-)