Missouri

We have crossed the Mississippi river (pity we couldn’t use the Chain of Rocks bridge !) and are now in Missouri.

In Saint Louis we have to find our way around. Old 66 follows I-270 from Riverview Drive to Lindbergh Boulevard (US 67) to Watson Road. From my collection I have chosen those cards that expressly mention Route 66. Listed alphabetically :

66 Auto Courts. Aptly named, situated on 8730 Watson Road. Parklike setting with 30 units

Albert Pick Motel at 4625 N. Lindbergh. Card dated 1957.

Two cards for the Holiday Inn North at 4545 N. Lindbergh, the second one stamped in 1960, check out the word

HOTEL in the Big Sign.

Also two cards for the Holiday Inn South at 3660 S. Lindbergh , the second one stamped in 1968.

King Bros Motel. Nice linen card, stamped in 1952. Modern coffee shop available here !

Two cards of the Motel Royal at 9282 Watson Road (or City 66). First one is a linen card, second a chrome stamped in

1958. The number of rooms did not increase between these two images !

Two cards of the Park Plaza Motel at junction Lindberg and Watson. This property belonged to a smaller chain with

typical mission style buildings. First card stamped in 1957, second in 1961.

Parkway House at 3570 North Lindbergh. Panoramic view with late fifties cars.

Two cards of the Beacon Court in Pacific. The first card mentions 10 units, the second card 16.

(this card was stamped in 1961)

Diamond Inn Motel and Diamonds Restaurant in Villa Ridge. The motel was upsized to 162 units compared to the 25 of the next card.

Diamonds Restaurant with 25 modern tourist cottages. A linen card with some nice views .

The Gardenway Motel. Near the largest Roadhouse Restaurant the card says, that must have been the above mentioned Diamonds

Restaurant.

Stanton is home to the Meramec Caverns Motel. Stayed here myself during our 1993 trip. Comforting sound of the nearby river.

In Sullivan the motel with the same name, the Sullivan Motel. Owned and managed by Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Lessley.

The Roedemeier Motel was operated by Kermit and Faye Roedemeier in Bourbon. They offered ‘the Rest of Your Life’ !

Saint James had at least two motels to offer :

Country – Aire Motel and Campground. Sleep in the motel or pitch your tent, your choice. Card was stamped in 1972.

Rock Haven Courts, Restaurant and Standard service station, just 1 ½ mile west of town. A black and white linen card.

Rolling in to Rolla we might find a place to sleep as well :

Two linen cards of the Colonial Village, a hotel with cabin courts.

Dickman’s Wayfarer Inn had an adjoining restaurant. Two images that look the same but in the first the poles

were cut down ! Check this out, creative printing !

Holiday Inn, sorry, only this general purpose card, no image of the property.

Schuman’s Motor Inn did some upgrading if you look at the next image. This card was stamped in 1963.

Schuman’s Tourist City, owned by Mr. R.E. Schuman. This place featured a watchman who carried a watchclock, to be punched at stations in all parts of the court and all floors of the hotel. This very nice linen card was stamped in 1940.

The mailing address is Arlington but this property, the Powelville 24 hour service – modern cabins – and restaurant, was halfway between Rolla and Waynesville.

In Waynesville the Bell Hotel, maybe not a motel as such but still a great image on this real photo card !

Lebanon is also home to some great motels :

One you find mentioned in every book : the Munger – Moss Motel on City 66 East. At the time of this card it was owned and operated by Carl and Jessie Hudson. We stopped here to buy some much treasured souvenirs.

No address given for the Quality Motel and Wyota Restaurant but it cannot have been very far from 66.

Rock Court featured rock cabins, had a 24 hour Texaco station and was famous for good food. Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Clark owned and operated this motel, represented on a nice linen card.

Shepherd Hills Motel and Restaurant. A panoramic view, stamped in 1976. Very nice artist’s impression.

In Springfield old 66 has been replaced by BL 44 or BR 65. The local names for the old alignment are Glenstone Avenue, Saint Louis Street and College Street. A few nice places to spend the night here :

Coach House Inn at 2535 North Glenstone. The card was stamped in 1964 and show three views of this property)

The present Drury Inn & Suites is at 2715 N. Glenstone Avenue. The property now looks very different from the one shown in this card

(which is not dated but has late 1960’s cars in front of the motel, if that’s anything to go by !).

Two views of the Holiday Inn at I-44, US 65 and US 66. The card showing the pool area was stamped in 1965.

Howard Johnson’s Motor Lodge at 2610 North Glenstone.

Kentwood Avenue ran parallel with Glenstone. Here the Kentwood Arms Motor Hotel is located.

Maple Motel and Restaurant at 2253 North Glenstone. They specialized in charcoal broiled steaks and fried chicken. Looking at the cars in the lot they must have been doing okay.

Good old Motel 6 at 2455 North Glenstone Avenue. The Fort Worth TX dealer that I bought this card from wrote on the back that he made at least 30 visits here. Good for you James McMillin !

Motel Americana at 2209 North Glenstone welcomed commercial men and had family units. I chose this card to be the background for an oilpainting I commissioned with Dutch artist Araun Gordijn.

Mount Vernon Motor Lodge. Located at 2006 S. Glenstone this might be a place to check out if all the places along 66 are full. It is at the junction of US 60 and 65.

Rail Haven Motor Court . No address given but from other sources I know this to be on Route 66. A black and white card showing off the ‘real home like surroundings’ .

Ramada Inn at 2715 North Glenstone. Could be a general purpose card, so maybe not a representation of the actual motel.

In the Rest Haven Court I have spent a few nights myself. Address is 2000 East Kearny,

also known as BR 66. Four cards, each a bit different from the other ones.

Rock Village Court at 2355 North Glenstone. This property was 70% airconditioned (??) and you could eat here as well. The linen card was stamped in 1953.

TraveLodge on 505 St. Louis Street. Late fifties cars in the lot make this an attractive card.

Five miles west of Springfield is Brookline. Here we find Motel Parakeet, with a café and a service station.

In Carthage we find the White Court. A place with modern cottages and café in connection. You could also have your car serviced here.

This linen card was stamped in 1950.

Last stop in Missouri is in Joplin, Interstate 44 follows the old route for a bit but a local road numbered 66 (BL 44) seems to be more appropriate for us !. Around the intersection with BR 71 there are a few motels to check out :

Mickey Mantle ran a Holiday Inn in Joplin. Here you have three cards of this property that is situated on

US 71, 166 and the 66 By-Pass.. The first one is a view of the dining room, card is stamped 1959. The second card shows a view of a room. Card number three shows the colorful setting.

Howard Johnson’s Motor Lodge at 3500 Range Line. A panoramic view of this property at the junction of US 71 and I-44.

The Ramada Inn at 3320 Range Line.

On 3333 Range Line we find the Riviera Roadsite Motel. Two different cards here, one clearly showing the attractive price of

$ 9,00 for a room and the promise of a free continental breakfast.. The other card is clearly much newer, price has gone up

10 bucks ! Wonder why they had to beat City Hall ?

Sands Motor Lodge. Situated on US 71, one mile north of the intersection with I-44. The card was dated 1965, when

a room, with tax, cost $ 14,42.

Tropicana Motel at 2415 Range Line. A fancy sign out front. They had long boy beds, sounds great !