The long-closed Shamrock Court motel along old Route 66 in Sullivan, Missouri, announced on Facebook on Sunday that it will begin taking online reservations in late May.
Rich Dinkela, recent past president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri, acquired the motel, then spent years making huge — and costly — repairs to the building, including its infrastructure.
More from the announcement:
Starting May 29, 2026, travelers will once again be able to pull in, park under the glow, and experience a fully restored historic Route 66 motor court right here in Sullivan, Missouri.
We’re still putting the finishing touches on the rooms as we bring this beauty back to life, but you can now secure your spot and be part of our reopening season.
If you’ve been following the restoration… if you’ve cheered us on… if you’ve been waiting to be among the first guests back through these doors…
Now’s your moment.
Dinkela said within two hours of the announcement that 20 rooms had been booked. The website is here.
A perusal of the site shows nine rooms that range from $135 to $250. Offerings include double queen, wheelchair accessible, queen, king and king deluxe rooms, plus a Neon Room and an Ozark Suite.
“This isn’t a themed knockoff or a quick facelift,” the website states. “The restoration was done with care and intention, preserving the character while rebuilding the experience from the ground up. Each room has its own look and feel, with updated bathrooms, premium bedding, and modern climate control that make it easy to relax and settle in.”
If you want a few hours to kill, go over to the Saving the Shamrock Court page on Facebook to see how Dinkela and his crew transformed the once-moribund property.
The distinctive, giraffe-stone motel dates to the late 1940s and was previously owned by the Weiland family for nearly 70 years.
In the late 1970s, the motel was converted into apartments, with living quarters for longtime owners John and Rose Weiland until they died.
The Shamrock was designated to the National Register of Historic Places in 2022.
(Screen-capture image of the home page of the Shamrock Court website on Sunday)