A couple of days ago, the Oklahoma Historic Preservation Office and Preservation released their list of what they considered to be the most endangered historic places in 2007.
The list included “motels on Route 66 from Miami to Sayre,” which is darned near the entire length of 66 in the state.
I asked for a more specifics from the state Historic Preservation Office on what motels they deemed historic. Melvena Heisch was nice enough to send me a mostly complete list:
OKLAHOMA’S ROUTE 66 MOTELS
An asterisk (*) indicates that a property is still/believed to be operated as a motel. The SHPO does not track changes in ownership or use of properties. The information about use of these motels was extracted from survey information collected over the past several years and from quick efforts to confirm use via the Internet.
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places:
- Riviera Courts, 1 mile West of Main on US-69A, Miami, Ottawa County (Vacant)
- Chelsea Motel, NE corner of 1st & SH-66, Chelsea, Rogers County (Vacant)
- 66 Motel, 3660 Southwest Blvd., Tulsa, Tulsa County (Demolished after NR listing)
- *West Winds Motel, 623 Roger Miller, Erick, Beckham County
Eligible for Listing in the National Register of Historic Places:
- Adobe Inn, 404 N. J.M. Davis, Claremore, Rogers County (Use Unknown)
- *Elm’s Motel, 820 S. Lynn Riggs, Claremore, Rogers County
- Brookhaven Motor Court, 15625 E. 11th, Tulsa, Tulsa County
- *Brookshire Motel, 11017 E. 11th, Tulsa, Tulsa County
- *Desert Hills Motel, 5220 E. 11th, Tulsa, Tulsa County
- Shady Rest Cottage Court, 3848 Southwest Blvd., Tulsa, Tulsa County (demolished)
- *Carlyle Motel, 3600 NW 39th, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County
- *Matlyn Courts, 3520 NW 39th, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County
- *Western Motel, 7600 NW 39th, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County (City considering demolition as of 11/9/06)
- *Cotton Boll Motel, Old 66 and 6th St., Canute, Washita County
- *Elms Motel, Highland & Roger Miller Blvd., Erick, Beckham County
Not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (generally due to loss of historic integrity):
- Avon Courts, west of Afton, Ottawa County
- Country Court Motel, 5 miles east of Chelsea, Rogers County
- Okie Inn, 774 S. Lynn Riggs, Claremore, Rogers County
- Toby’s Beauty Rest Court, 13300 E. 11th, Tulsa, Tulsa County
- Oasis Motel, 9303 E. 11th, Tulsa, Tulsa County
- Elm’s Court, 8344 E. 11th, Tulsa, Tulsa County
- Western Capri Motel, 5320 Southwest Blvd., Tulsa, Tulsa County
- OK Motel, 508 W. Dewey, Sapulpa, Creek County
- Rock Lake Courts, east of Kellyville, Creek County
- Glen Mae Motel/Holiday Motel, 111 E. Main, Stroud, Lincoln County
- Lincoln Courts, 740 E. 1st, Chandler, Lincoln County
- Pioneer Camp, SH 66 & SH66B, Wellston, Lincoln County
- Quats Inn, 775 W. Britton Road, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County
- Log Cabin Courts, 2400 NW 39th, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Count
- Motel NuHoma, 3520 NW 39th, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County
- Starlite Motel, 3600 NW 39th, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County
- Star Courts, 945 W. Main, Yukon, Canadian County
- Leon Little Motel, west of Hinton Junction, Caddo County
- Bill’s Motel, 306 W. Main, Weatherford, Custer County
- Mohawk lodge, 2 miles east of Clinton, Custer County
Hotels on Historic Route 66 that predate the Highway’s Federal Designation:
- Hotel Vinita, Vinita, Craig County (NR listed, Use unknown)
- Will Rogers Hotel, Claremore, Rogers County (NR listed, Senior Housing)
- Hotel Lincoln, Stroud, Lincoln County (NR listed, Use unknown)
- St. Cloud Hotel, Chandler, Lincoln County (NR listed, Vacant)
- Casa Grande Hotel, Elk City, Beckham County (NR Listed, currently Anadarko Basin Museum)
- Boggs Hotel, Sayre, Beckham County (NR Eligible, Use unknown)
Heisch also informed me that all Route 66 motels have been nominated to the National Trust of Historic Preservation‘s Most Endangered Places list.
The West Winds in Erick is not operating as a motel now (and probably won’t any time soon), but it’s in good hands. I met the owner a couple of years ago. He is a German man who plans to retire to the United States and become an American citizen because he is madly in love with the road. If I remember the details right, he is planning to restore the exterior of the West Winds for photo ops and then restore at least a few of the rooms to a usable condition so he can have friends stay there when they come to see him.
Back in 1993, me and my buddy were likely two of the last few overnight guests at the WEST WINDS MOTEL in Erick, Oklahoma. I took several Route 66 road trips in my 1959 Cadillac and am so glad to have been able to experience a nights rest at the now iconic motel. I have uploaded video of that stop at YouTube . We were the only guests that night and it was great to see the neon al lit up and the western flair of the room was classic Route 66. If you haven’t already seen it, here is the link:
Regards,
Anthony Reichardt
Santa Ana, California
I heard that the Western Motel in Bethany/OKC got a reprieve. The owner has decided to move in & open part of it for offices.
Why wasn’t the Washita Motel in Canute Ok mentioned anywhere.. either as eligible or not? it is on rt66 and has been since at least the 1950’s.. Definitely longer than the Cotton Boll. The old timers here tell you so. Is it truly a forgotten rt66 motel?