Wigwam Motel

Infobox_nrhp | name =Wigwam Village #6
nrhp_type =

---

caption = Wigwam Motel
location= 811 West Hopi Drive, Holbrook, Arizona
lat_degrees = 34 | lat_minutes = 54 | lat_seconds = 8.05 | lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 110 | long_minutes = 10 | long_seconds = 5.76 | long_direction = W
area =
built =1950
architect= Frank Redford, Chester Evert Lewis
architecture= Other
added = May 02, 2002
governing_body = Private
mpsub=Historic US Route 66 in Arizona MPS
refnum=02000419 cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

The "wigwams" known as the Wigwam Motel, are distinctive landmarks. Two of the three surviving motels are located on historic U.S. Route 66, in Holbrook, Arizona and on the border between Rialto, California and San Bernardino, California. The wigwam village #6 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 2, 2002 under the official designation of Wigwam Village #6.

The motels were parodied in the Pixar film "Cars" with a traffic-cone motel.

History

In 1936, Frank A. Redford applied for a patent on the ornamental design of the building on December 17, 1935, and was granted Design Patent 98,617 on February 18, 1936. The original drawing includes four prominent swastikas displayed encircling the building above each doorway. Seven Wigwam Villages were built between 1936 through the 1950s.

Wigwam villages

Wigwam village #1: Horse Cave, Kentucky

Built in 1933 by Frank A. Redford and 6 more wigwams to be used as guest rooms. The central building and gas pumps are visible on undated postcards. Reportedly closed in 1935 when the nearby wigwam village #2 was opened. This wigwam village was lost in 1982 when it was razed. It is located on US-31E, Horse Cave, Kentucky.

Wigwam village #2: Cave City, Kentucky

Wigwam village #2 was built in 1937, very close to the original wigwam village #1, but on US-31W. It was built consisting of 15 wigwams used as guest rooms and a much bigger concrete and steel central structure that originally served as a restaurant. The restaurant closed, but the motel is still open today and welcoming guests. It is located on 601 North Dixie Hwy, Cave City, Kentucky.

Wigwam village #3: New Orleans, Louisiana

Built in 1940, near U.S. highways 51, 61 and 71, this wigwam village was lost after it went out of business in 1954. It is located on U.S. highways 51, 61 and 71, New Orleans.

Wigwam village #4: Orlando, Florida

Wigwam village #4 was built in 1948. This relatively large wigwam village consisted of 27 or 31 guest rooms each in a separate wigwam. A restaurant was built into the central and larger wigwam and more services were available. Wigwam village #4 was lost in 1974 when it was razed. It is located near US Highways 441, 17 and 92, Orlando, Florida.

Wigwam village #5: Bessemer, Alabama

The 15 wigwam guest room village was built in 1940. This wigwam village was lost after it went out of business in 1964. It is located 4 miles south of Bessemer, on US Highway 11, Bessemer, Alabama.

Wigwam village #6: Holbrook, Arizona

Built in 1950 by Arizona motel owner Chester E. Lewis, the plans were based on the original of Frank A. Redford.

Lewis first became aware of the distinctive wigwam designs when he was passing through Cave City in 1938. He purchased the rights to Redford's design, as well as the right to use the name "Wigwam Village" in a novel royalty agreement: coin operated radios would be installed in Lewis' Wigwam Village, and every dime inserted for 30 minutes of play would be sent to Redford as payment. Lewis operated the motel successfully until closing it in 1974 when Interstate 40 bypassed downtown Holbrook. Two years after his death in 1986, sons Clifton and Paul Lewis and daughter Elinor renovated the motel, finally reopening it in 1988.

Fifteen concrete and steel teepees are arranged as a square with one edge missing where the main office is located. They are numbered from 1 to 16 (there is no teepee 13). The diameter of the base of each teepee is 14 feet, with each unit 32 feet in height. Behind the main room of each unit is a small bathroom with sink, toilet, and shower. Current rooms contain the original restored hickory furniture, two double beds, cable TV and a window mounted air conditioner; there are no telephones or Internet access. Vintage restored automobiles from the 1960's and earlier are located throughout the parking area. Small green metal benches etched with the words "Wigwam Village #6" are scattered throughout the complex as well.

The Lewis family continues to run and maintain Wigwam Village #6. Elinor often shows up at 4:00 pm to open the office, and if requested, will fill a small ice bucket (there is no ice machine in keeping with the authenticity of the restoration) for customers. Near the registration desk is a small room which contains many of Chester Lewis' memorabilia (including a necklace of human teeth of unknown origin).

Nearby places of interest include Petrified Forest National Monument and Meteor Crater (Barringer Crater). Wigwam Village #6 was featured in the second episode of Oprah and Gayle's Big Adventure on Oprah's TV show. It is located on Historic Route 66, 811 West Hopi Drive, Holbrook, Arizona.

Wigwam village #7: Rialto/San Bernardino, California

Frank Redford built this one for himself in 1947/49 and not as a franchise.There is a central building that is currently used as an office but it is very spacious inside. There is not one arch of wigwams as with the other surviving villages, but a double row of wigwam guest rooms totaling at 19. There is also a pool, and a base for what seems to be another never completed wigwam in the back of the property.

The motel was for a while very run down and rooms were rented by the hour, aggravated by the sign "do it in a teepee" that's still on site in the back.

Renovated in the last few years intensely by the Patel Family whom were awarded the 2005 Steinbeck Award for their efforts in restoration. Attention to detail was the main focus during renovation, as the Wigwams lost their lost the zigzag pattern. Restoration restored the reputation and confidence back to the travelers.

The location of the this village gives cause to discussion and confusion. The address of the motel is in Rialto. But the motel is itself completely located inside San Bernardino. It's located right on the border between the two places so to avoid confusion and discussion both are named here. It is located on Historic Route 66, 2728 West Foothill Blvd., Rialto, California.

Other wigwam like motels

The Tee Pee Motel in Wharton, Texas is a setup where the teepees are of a different shapes and all line up in a straight line. It is not of the same design nor heritage as the Wigwam Motels.

Wharton's Tee Pee Motel had been in disrepair for decades. Then, in July 2003, Bryon Woods, a diesel mechanic, won the Texas Lottery. At his wife's urging, Woods bought the property. Modern conveniences were added, and the Tee Pee Motel reopened for business in October 2006.cite web | title=Tee Pee Motel restoration in Texas | author=Monica Rhor | work=The Associated Press, news.yahoo.com | url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20070910/ap_tr_ge/travel_trip_tee_pee_motel;_ylt=Ag18zXlVTlTw0fPj4KnZQl0DW7oF | accessdate=2007-09-12]

ources

* Allen, Joseph Baneth. "A Teepee Tradition" [http://www.americanprofile.com/issues/20030907/20030907_3328.asp "American Profile"] (Sep. 7, 2003)
* Levinger, Larry. "Wigwam Motel: get your kitsch. [http://www.viamagazine.com/top_stories/articles/route6601.asp "Via - AAA Magazine"] (May 2001)
* Roadside Giants by Brian Butko, ISBN 0811732282 (Oct. 2005)

External links

* [http://www.wigwamvillage.com/ Wigwam Motel #2, Cave City, KY Home Page]
* [http://www.wigwam-motel-arizona.com/ Wigwam Motel #6, Holbrook, AZ Home Page]
* [http://www.wigwammotel.com/ Wigwam Motel #7, Rialto, CA Home Page]
* [http://www.dreamscape.com/dbporter/wigwam_nation.htm Wigwam nation]