A dozen prospective buyers checked over the historic and endangered Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo., reported KSNF-TV today in nearby Joplin.
Local realtor Jim Hunter says he’s had a huge amount of interest in the property.
“Some local historic preservation people and some private individuals who want to remain anonymous at this point but there is a number of groups wanting to purchase it,” Hunter says. “I’m hearing from a lot of different groups -the secret is who wants to put up the money.”
The property has been up for sale for several weeks, and it’s worth noting its asking price recently dropped by $30,000, to $195,000.
Sentiment to preserve the 1939 motel has increased with its late-April listing as one of the nation’s 10 most-endangered roadside attractions by the Society for Commercial Archaeology. And visitors to Carthage during National Tourism Week pleaded that the motel be saved.
Ron Hart of the Route 66 Chamber of Commerce is among those who has been hoping to line up a buyer or investors to purchase the property and bring it back as a motel.