Wigwam Motel

For the 1860 Republican National Convention Headquarters, see Wigwam (Chicago).

Wigwam Village #6
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Wigwam Motel
Location:	811 West Hopi Drive, Holbrook, Arizona 86025
Coordinates:	34°54′8.05″N 110°10′5.76″W
Built:	1950
Architect:	Frank Redford, Chester Evert Lewis
Architectural style:	Other
Governing body:	Private
MPS:	Historic US Route 66 in Arizona MPS
NRHP Reference#:	02000419
Added to NRHP:	May 02, 2002

The Wigwam Motels, also known as the "Wigwam Villages", is a motel chain in the United States in which the rooms are built in the form of teepees, hence the name "wigwam". It originally had seven different locations: two locations in Kentucky, a location in Alabama, another location in Florida, one in Arizona, one in Louisiana, and another one in California. They are very distinctive historic landmarks. Two of the three surviving motels are located on historic U.S. Route 66, in Holbrook, Arizona and on the city boundary between Rialto and San Bernardino, California. Wigwam Motel #2, in Cave City, Kentucky was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 16, 1988 under the official designation of Wigwam Village #2. Wigwam Village #6 was listed on May 2, 2002.

The motels were parodied in the Pixar film Cars with a traffic-cone motel (going by the name of "The Cozy Cone motel") and in Rockstar game GTA San Andreas under the name Tee Pee Motel.

History

Frank A. Redford applied for a patent on the ornamental design of the building on December 17, 1935, and was granted design patent 98,617 on February 18, 1936. The original drawing includes the swastika, at the time a symbol associated with native Americans or often worn as a good-luck charm. Seven Wigwam Villages were built between 1933 with Wigwam Village #1, to 195 s.

Wigwam villages

Wigwam Village No. 1 in 1940

Wigwam Village #1: Horse Cave, Kentucky

Built in 1933 by Frank A. Redford and 6 more wigwams to be used as guest rooms. The central building and gas pumps are visible on undated postcards. Reportedly closed in 1935 when the nearby Wigwam Village #2 was opened. This wigwam village was razed in 1982. It was located on US-31E in Horse Cave, Kentucky.

Wigwam village #2: Cave City, Kentucky

Wigwam Village No. 2

Wigwam village #2 was built in 1937 a few miles south of the original wigwam village #1, but on US-31W in Cave City. It was built consisting of 15 wigwams used as guest rooms and a much bigger concrete and steel central structure that originally served as a restaurant. The 15 wigwams are arranged in a semi circle around a common area with playground and recreation area. Each wigwam has a paved pad to accommodate one car.

The diameter at the base of each teepee is 14 feet (4.3 m), they are 32 feet (9.8 m) in height. Behind the main room of each unit is a small bathroom with sink, toilet, and shower. In 2008, the rooms contain the original restored hickory furniture, cable TV and a window mounted air conditioner. There are no telephones to maintain the original atmosphere of the motel, though there is internet access. The restaurant is no longer in operation, but the motel is still open and welcoming guests.[1]

Original Drawing for Wigwam Motel Design Patent 98,617

Wigwam village #2 is close to Mammoth Cave National Park and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The motel is located on 601 North Dixie Hwy, Cave City, Kentucky.

Wigwam village #3: New Orleans, Louisiana

Built in 1940, near U.S. highway 61, this wigwam village was lost after it went out of business in 1954. It was located on U.S. highway 61 in Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans.

Wigwam village #4: Orlando, Florida

Wigwam village #4 was built in 1948. This relatively large wigwam village consisted of 27 or 31 guest rooms each in a separate wigwam constructed to resemble a horseshoe. A restaurant was built into the central and larger wigwam and more services were available, including a pool located in the middle of the lot. It was nicknamed and also self-proclaimed "Orlando's Largest Motel". Wigwam village #4 was razed in 1974. It was located near US Highways 441, 17 and 92, Orlando, Florida. A 326 room Vacation Lodge now sits on the site, apparently still using the former motel's swimming pool.

Wigwam village #5: Bessemer, Alabama

The Wigwam Village #5 was built in 1940. It village consisted of 15 wigwams arranged in a semicircle, surrounding the much larger wigwam and two smaller ones, which served as offices and a restaurant. This wigwam village and cafe fell into ruin after it went out of business in 1964. It was demolished soon afterwards. It was located 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Downtown Bessemer, on US Highway 11, Bessemer, Alabama.

Wigwam village #6: Holbrook, Arizona

Individual Unit, Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, Arizona

Built in 1950 by Arizona motel owner Chester E. Lewis, the plans were based on the original of Frank A. Redford. Lewis first became aware of the distinctive wigwam designs when he was passing through Cave City in 1938. He purchased the rights to Redford's design, as well as the right to use the name "Wigwam Village" in a novel royalty agreement: coin operated radios would be installed in Lewis' Wigwam Village, and every dime inserted for 30 minutes of play would be sent to Redford as payment.

Lewis operated the motel successfully until closing it in 1974 when Interstate 40 bypassed downtown Holbrook. Two years after his death in 1986, sons Clifton, Paul Lewis and daughter Elinor renovated the motel, finally reopening it in 1988.

Fifteen concrete and steel teepees are arranged as a square with one edge missing where the main office is located. They are numbered from 1 to 16 (there is no teepee 13). The diameter of the base of each teepee is 14 feet (4.3 m), with each unit 32 feet (9.8 m) in height. Behind the main room of each unit is a small bathroom with sink, toilet, and shower. Current rooms contain the original restored hickory furniture, two double beds, cable TV and a window mounted air conditioner; there are no telephones or Internet access. Vintage restored automobiles from the 1960's and earlier are located throughout the parking area. Small green metal benches etched with the words "Wigwam Village #6" are scattered throughout the complex as well.

Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, Arizona

The Lewis family continues to run and maintain Wigwam Village #6. Elinor often shows up at 4:00 pm to open the office, and if requested, will fill a small ice bucket (there is no ice machine in keeping with the authenticity of the restoration) for customers. Near the registration desk is a small room which contains many of Chester Lewis' memorabilia (including a necklace of human teeth of unknown origin).

The individual units are called "wigwams;" not "rooms," "tepees" or "cabins." Wigwam number 1 was featured in the second episode of Oprah and Gayle's Big Adventure on Oprah's TV show.

Nearby places of interest include Petrified Forest National Monument and Meteor Crater (Barringer Crater). Wigwam Village #6 is located on Historic Route 66, 811 West Hopi Drive, Holbrook, Arizona.

Wigwam village #7: Rialto/San Bernardino, California

Wigwam Village No. 7

Frank Redford built this one for himself in 1947–49 and not as a franchise of the Holbrook, Arizona property. There is a central building that is currently used as an office and has a very spacious lobby inside. The lobby is open 24 hours a day for all travelers. There is not one arch of wigwams as with the other surviving villages, but a double row of wigwam guest rooms totaling 19. There is also a swimming pool, large grass front with over 35 palm trees surrounding then entire property as well as a base for what seems to be another never completed wigwam in the back of the property. Wigwam Village #7 is considered by many travelers to be the most famous and well kept property of them all, since the Patel family continuously maintains Mr. Redford's beloved Wigwam Village #7 and to cater to modern travelers on the historic 66 road.

The motel was for a while very run down and rooms were rented by the hour, aggravated by the sign "do it in a teepee" that is still on site in the back.

Renovated in the last few years intensely by the Patel Family whom were awarded the National Historic Route 66 Federation's 2005 Cyrus Avery Award for their efforts in restoration. Attention to detail was the main focus during renovation, as the Wigwams lost their zigzag pattern. Restoration restored the reputation and confidence back to the travelers.

The address of the motel is in Rialto, but the motel is inside San Bernardino. It is on the boundary between the two cities on Historic Route 66, 2728 West Foothill Boulevard, Rialto, California.

Other wigwam like motels

The Tee Pee Motel in Wharton, Texas near Houston, which was built in 1942, is a setup where the teepees are of a different shapes and all line up in a straight line. It is not of the same design nor heritage as the Wigwam Motels.

Wharton's Tee Pee Motel had been in disrepair for decades. Then, in July 2003, Bryon Woods, a diesel mechanic, won the Texas Lottery. At his wife's urging, Woods bought the property. Modern conveniences were added, and the Tee Pee Motel reopened for business in October 2006.

References

• Allen, Joseph Baneth. "A Teepee Tradition" American Profile (Sep. 7, 2003)
• Levinger, Larry. "Wigwam Motel: get your kitsch. Via - AAA Magazine (May 2001)
• Roadside Giants by Brian Butko, ISBN 0811732282 (Oct. 2005)
• Sleep in a Wigwam! [2] radio story on Savvy Traveler (October 2001)

External links

• Wigwam Motel #2, Cave City, KY Home Page
• Wigwam Motel #6, Holbrook, AZ Home Page
• Wigwam Motel #7, Rialto, CA Home Page
• Wigwam nation