Joplin motor court will be restored

A historic motel along an alignment of Route 66 in Joplin, Missouri, will be refurbished and reopened as a tourist court again, according to Joplin Globe columnist Wally Kennedy.

The Westport Lodge (shown above during the 1950s) at North Main Street and Fountain Road, which was on an alternate Route 66 alignment from 1934 to 1945, contains 10 cabins. The motor court itself was built about 1947.

It looked like it was destined for a close encounter with a bulldozer, but now it’s getting a makeover thanks to John Tullis, with Home Pro.

“We decided to take on this little project and keep it in the community a little longer,” he said. “It’s part of a rare breed these days.”

Tullis said he intends to operate it as a tourist court again.

“We’re bringing it up to speed. It has not seen much attention in 50 to 60 years. We’re giving it a full makeover,” he said.

Ron Hart of the Route 66 Chamber of Commerce told the newspaper it is the oldest surviving motor court in Joplin.

Here’s the Google Street View image from May 2013 of the motor court:


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Hart and Boots Motel co-owner Debye Harvey lobbied Tullis to keep and renovate the motor lodge.

(Hat tip to Ron Hart; photos courtesy of him)

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