#53 Wagon Wheel Motel

​Route 66 in Cuba, Missouri
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​It was early evening by the time Don and I reached this gem!  An 80 year old tourist court!  

There were quite a few checking into the motel, which has become pretty popular with folks traveling old Route 66.  We lucked out and seemed to be sharing the experience with some low key travelers.  Places like this often attract a lot of cycle groups... who might be low key people... with noisy motorcycles.

​Yet Another Sign
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There was another sign at the other end of the drive.  Gotta love those wagon wheels!

​Sign with a Vine
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​The old office sign was held by a pole, decorated with a crawling vine.

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I just loved the whole setting of  motel cottages, sitting on a big green lawn!

​Cut Rock Buildings

There might be a rusty old car parked nearby, but this ain't no rundown motel.  Look at the pumpkins and potted plants! The place was bought and renovated about 15 years ago and all seemed well maintained. 

​Pumps and Gifts
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They still have a couple pumps outside, since there used to be a gas station.  The office, where we checked in was once a restaurant. I would have loved to have had breakfast in the morning next to the fireplace.  

Now, a gift shop shares the space, with lots of Route 66 merchandise and dazzling purses and such.  Not my thing, but I'm just glad the place is here!

​The Cutest Cottage

This cottage was the cutest one, with arched entrances and some pretty awesome lawn art! 

​Stone with White Trim!
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​There's just something incredibly cozy and nostalgic about these little buildings.

Evidently the structures were made in 1935, with the help of local farmers who transported the Ozark stone in their trucks.  Originally there were some garages and car shelters, but they were converted into extra rooms. 

​Room #3
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Our door was pretty adorable with glass windowpanes and the original doorknob.  

We put our green chairs to good use and had a nice chat with a fellow guest who took our photo.  She and her husband were traveling from Chicago all the way to LA on Rt 66.  She was exhausted on day 1 of their journey!

​A Bit Odd
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There was a little black and white "soda fountain" thing going on in our room.  

I would have preferred a room that was decorated the way a motor court would have been, 75 years ago.  But I'm not complaining.  The place was clean and reasonably priced at $68.

Our soda fountain table had a coffee maker, which certainly wouldn't have been happening in the 1940's.  We wouldn't have had a flat screen TV either.  But we would have been warmed by that awesome radiator and we would have turned a glass doorknob to open the bathroom door!  

​Evening
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We didn't spend much time in the room since the weather was nice.  Our chairs on the lawn had a view of the Cuba water tower and the deck addition on the back of the office.

 There were actually a number of areas to lounge under shady trees.  And we were able to just get up and walk next door to "Missouri Hick" for BBQ. Very convenient and tasty enough!

​Full Moon
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It's not surprising that we had a full moon during our 22-night road trip.  Too bad we wasted a full moon at this little motel, since at least 7 of our previous nights had been at historic hotels, known for being haunted.

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 However, the convenience of a motel with no elevators, meant we could stagger out of bed at 5:45 am and view the eclipse in the sky... free of city light pollution!

​What's Notable?

​I'm going to try to forget that we woke to a foul smell in the morning.  Connie, the owner was very apologetic and it was determined there was probably a dead critter  involved... and a crawl space.  

I probably should have just left that out. But really, my memories will be about the neon sign and the pretty stone cottages and the peaceful evening!  Those are all good things!
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