A new, rare-model Holiday Inn that contains a restaurant inspired by Route 66 and hopes to attract Mother Road travelers opened a few days ago in Joplin, Missouri.
The only problem is Holiday Inn Joplin at 3402 S. Arizona Ave. sits more than 2 1/2 miles south of the nearest alignment of Route 66 at Seventh Street and Rangeline Road. That’s probably is too far for those seeking exclusively a Mother Road experience.
Randy Shippy, who is running the hotel, indicated to the Joplin Globe newspaper a few weeks ago he wanted to attract Route 66 travelers:
Shippy had to convince the InterContinental Hotels Group brand, the owners of Holiday Inn, that a Route 66-themed pub and grill would be successful in this hotel instead of a traditional Holiday lnn restaurant. Shippy, a native of Joplin, understands the connection to the historic route.
“It is estimated that over 1 million people travel Route 66 a year,” he said. “Half of them go through Joplin. The other day, I met a man from England who shipped his Model A from England to the United States so that he could drive it down Route 66. It cost him thousands of dollars to do that, but he loved it. That goes on every day. What an opportunity.”
In another chat with the Globe, Shippy said the Route 66 Pub and Grill would offer “Route 66 favorites” and blue-plate specials.
The hotel is Holiday Inn’s “H4” model — the second in the country. The Globe explained:
This hotel will have 11 room types. There will be no sofa sleepers. KMG Hotels, the developer, is going the extra mile to make this hotel special. The stonework on the exterior far exceeds anything that is required by the hotel chain.
KZRG also posted photos from the inside of the hotel.
If I were Holiday Inn, I would have made the H4 sites more distinctive by reviving the chain’s vintage neon sign, such as one pictured below. It would be expensive, but retro roadies would love it, and all travelers would see it from many blocks away.
Holiday Inn Joplin probably will attract large Route 66 tour groups or travelers who prefer chain hotels.
But for Route 66 travelers who want an authentic experience at an actual Route 66 lodging establishment, the EnlightInn in Joplin or the historic Boots Motel in nearby Carthage, Missouri, are better bets.
(Image of the interior of Holiday Inn Joplin via its website; image of a vintage Holiday Inn sign via Wikimedia Commons)
I agree that they should bring back the vintage Holiday Inn motel sign, that reminds us of the Mungers Moss or Rest Haven Motel signs. Joplin’s Holiday Inn should re-create the Holiday Inn neon sign, just like the one in the BLUES BROTHERS movie where Merv and the MagicTones played their gig. If Joplin Hoilday Inn created a vintage neon sign for their new motel, it would be fantastic and bring in many more of the Route 66 travelers they seek.