The Enlight Inn, previously the long-closed Westport Lodge motel in Joplin, Missouri, that was renovated and reopened in 2017, recently was renamed the Westport Inn.
Wally Kennedy, the business writer for the Joplin Globe newspaper, had the story in his regular column.
Kennedy said the Enlight Inn at 3817 N. Main St. (aka Route 66) was rebranded Westport Inn in August, in a nod to its old incarnation. He wrote:
It now offers nightly lodging. For details and availability, call 417-529-1002. I think it’s the only place in northwest Joplin that offers lodging.
The property has an office with a kitchen and a drive-thru window. The manager of the inn told me last week that a Java Dave’s coffee shop will be operating there by the end of the year if things go as planned. Of course, an added perk here for patrons is that one can walk across Fountain Road to Babe’s Drive-In for a burger and some of the best onion rings around.
The manager told me that people from all over are staying at the inn, including those who are seeking a Route 66 experience.
The family of yoga instructor Christa Tullis bought the property a few years ago and renovated it with an eye toward making it into a wellness center and cafe as well as a spot for overnight travelers.
Tullis announced in June the spa portion of the business would relocate to 411 E. Seventh St. in Joplin, near downtown, and be renamed Blue Feather Wellness.
The Westport Lodge was built along Route 66 in 1947. It remains a rarity in Route 66 circles — a motor lodge with separate cabins for each room.
(Image of the Westport Inn in Joplin, Missouri, via Facebook)