The desk clerk at the Western Capri Motel in Tulsa was a bit unsure last week about the fate of its old, 1950s-era sign.
Today, I called the motel’s manager. I asked him which company removed the sign. After shuffling of papers and time on hold, he gave me a phone number and a name, Harold.
Harold told me he had to use a cutting torch to take down the Western Capri sign in pieces.
“It was such a big sign,” Harold said. “I could have taken it down in one piece, but that would have cost another $2,000 … $2,500.”
He seemed sympathetic about preserving Route 66 artifacts, and took down the number of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association in case he encountered anything else like it. However, Harold wasn’t optimistic about the Western Capri sign — it had been transported to a local junkyard.
I called the “recycling” company near Sapulpa. I asked the gruff but affable fellow who answered the phone whether the pieces of the Western Capri sign were still there.
“It’s probably gone through the shredder,” he replied.
I made personal visit to the junkyard. Two employees there confirmed that the Western Capri is, for all intents and purposes, just bits of scrap metal somewhere inside the massive complex.
I can take a bit of bitter solace in that when I found out about the Western Capri last week, it had already been destroyed.
But this episode again shows it’s not just developers who cause the losses of historic properties and artifacts. It’s also ignorant or indifferent property owners. Education of the public about Route 66 and its value remains a never-ending process.
Sigh.
Thanks for the update. You hit the nail on the head regarding education, as we’ve seen the same with other motels that have removed classic signs (Chain of Rocks Motel, Big 8 Motel, etc). Even though this is one for the loss column, it looks as if the Lewis Motel sign won’t see the same fate. In a perfect world they’d all stay up there and refurbished. But in the case of the Lewis Motel going down, the fact that its sign *should* get in the hands of someone who appreciates it (and not because of its scrap value) is the best we could hope for. Come to think of it though, re-use at another motel would be the best scenario, ala the Beacon Motel sign.
Just another example of Tulsa destroying its past… why does this town seem to be so ashamed of its heritage?
Just think of the all the Route 66 museums that would have loved to get their hands on something like this. And probably would have paid to have it removed properly. Unbelievable.
Mad Okie, the problem isn’t the town; the problem was the motel owner. The problem is common up and down Route 66. Tulsa is better than most towns in this respect.
HOLEEEE CRAP!!!! I had taken some pics of this sign last year when it was fully functional and the guy I talked to at the time (I think it was the owner) kept talking about how expensive the sign was.
Somebody in Tulsa needs to contact the Brookshire motel. The owner has been having problems with his sign & I suggested he contact a Route 66 assoc for some help.
CRAP CRAP CRAP!!!!!!
At least the owner is going to sell it before it’s bulldozed. Perhaps someone can ask the owners of the Grants Cafe why they don’t light their sign at night? I was though there twice in the past week, and neither time was the sign lit. After getting grant money to restore it, you’d think they’d be proud of it.
Instead, I could see the darkened sign from my room at the Sands Motel, just behind it. What a shame.
PS: The Sands was a decent place, should anyone be looking for a motel in Grants. Old time, a little tired, but clean and friendly. They light their neon too, unlike the cafe. 🙁
I spent the night at the Western Capri once, having chosen it over the motel next door just because of the sign. As I recall, the owner was perplexed that I had any interest in the history of the motel or the sign.
At least the Capri in Joplin still stands, though the sign is not fully functional, is not on 66 and the motel has a disreputable history these last few years.
I’ve tried to get the Grants Motel at night, too…frustrating. I wonder if it is lit early on winter mornings?
Grants sign was not lit at night, nor was it lit when I got up at 7am. It wasn’t lit the next time though which was at dusk.
Shame to spend grant money on a sign they don’t seem to turn on. All the other places that got the NM sign improvements were on, though the Sun & Sand did have one letter out on each side (probably a transformer out), but it still looked impressive.
You should see Wildwood, NJ, they lost over 50+ 1950’s 1960’s era motels in the past few years post 9-11 for “new condo development”. It was the case of the developers offering the motel owners big bucks to sell out. Some of the signs were saved, some not. Most of the motels stood through the end of the 20th century, but then the real estate market went crazy, not sure if 9-11 caused it or not. Pretty soon you will have to be a CEO to afford to stay at the Jersey Shore. Doo Wop Preservation League http://www.doowopusa.org was fighting to save the motels and restaurants but lost the battle on most of them. It’s bad enough Wildwood lost most of their historic rides, like at Hunt’s Pier (1957-1985, new owner 1986-1990, other owners 1991-1998, Morey’s Pier 1999-present) Most of them were demoed in 1989 like the Flyer wooden coaster built by PTC in 1957, Jungleleland boat ride, and Skua Pirate Ship walkthrough. The rest were removed in the mid 90’s like Keystone Kops and Whacky Shack dark rides. The 1960 PTC Golden Nugget Mine Ride dark ride coaster is the only Hunt’s ride still standing but not operating since after 1998. Castle Dracula haunted attraction walk-through and boat ride at Nickels Midway Pier (1977-2001) burned down 2002 by arson. I was in that one several times as well as the Golden Nugget and the other lost rides. America is becoming corporate sameness, as the big companies build the same chain restaurants and big box stores in every town.
I had no idea there were as many of these signs going down as there are. I just found this post after reading about The Gateway Inn sign falling. I can’t believe the repair costs associated in fixing them. The Gateway Inn repair costs is $40,000! My father may be relieved somewhat in knowing that there is a whole community of people looking to preserve them. I’m sure he thought he was the only one who still loved Route 66.