Wagon Wheel Motel, Café and Station facts for kids
The Wagon Wheel Motel, Café and Station in Cuba, Missouri, is a historic motel with 19 rooms. It's located on the famous U.S. Route 66 and has been welcoming travelers since 1938. The place first opened as a café in 1936, and the motel itself started in 1938. It has been open ever since! In 2010, the rooms were updated with cool modern features like HDTVs and Wi-Fi.
There used to be a gas station here, but it's not used anymore. The old Wagon Wheel Café is now a fun shop where you can find jewelry, books about Route 66, and cool old items. This historic spot has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2003.
| Wagon Wheel Motel, Café and Station | |
Quick facts for kids  |
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| Hotel facts and statistics | |
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| Location | Cuba, Missouri |
| Address | |
| No. of restaurants | 1 (now closed) |
| No. of rooms | 19 |
| Parking | on-site |
A Look Back: The Motel's History
The Wagon Wheel Motel is one of the oldest motels on U.S. Route 66. When it first opened in 1938, it was called the Wagon Wheel Cabins. It had three stone buildings with rooms for travelers. These buildings were set back from the road. They offered a few rooms each, plus an office and garages for cars. Back then, most tourist cabins were just single rooms. The restaurant, gas station, and signs were closer to the road.
In 1939, the American Automobile Association (AAA) travel guide described the Wagon Wheel Cabins like this:
Wagon Wheel Cabins on U.S. 66, the east side of town. 9 newly constructed stone cottages each with a private tub or shower bath. Very well furnished; gas heat; fans in summer; enclosed garages. Rates $2.50 to $3 per day for two persons. This is a home away from home. Splendid surroundings. Café; laundry services; rest rooms; super service station. One of the finest courts in the state. Very good.
—American Automobile Association (1939 directory listing)
The original buildings were made from local Ozark sandstone. They were designed in the Tudor Revival style by a skilled stonemason named Leo Friesenhan. The first owners, Margaret and Robert Martin, ran the motel until 1946. By then, they had added more rooms by turning garages into motel units. This brought the total to fourteen rooms. The gas station was rented out to Marathon Oil Company from 1936 to 1941.
In 1947, John and Winifred Mathis bought the motel. They added two new buildings and put up a bright neon sign that is still there today. They also changed the name to Wagon Wheel Motel. They were among the first members of The Best Western Motels. At that time, Best Western was a group of independent motels that helped each other by recommending guests.
The Wagon Wheel Café was bought by Bill and Sadie Mae Pratt. It operated separately from the motel and was very popular. It even got good reviews from the Duncan Hines travel guide. In 1954, this popular restaurant moved to a bigger building and was sold in 1956.
Later, Pauline Roberts ran a small coffee and doughnut shop at the back of the motel. This shop closed in 1980. The building that housed the shop later became the motel's laundry. Today, it's a pavilion where people can gather or park their motorcycles.
U.S. Route 66 (East Washington Street) was the main road in the area from 1926. However, in 1969, Interstate 44 was built, which bypassed Cuba. This meant less traffic for businesses like the Wagon Wheel.
Even after the main highway changed, some motels on Route 66 managed to keep going. Many travelers today want to experience the historic Route 66. The Wagon Wheel Motel is one of these special places. It still operates as a motel and welcomes guests from all over the world.
Route 66 in Missouri has its share of "ghost motor courts," as well as many former courts and motels which have found new life serving different functions. It is worth noting that there are also a few motels and courts along the route that managed to hang on through the slow years following decommissioning. Several of those now enjoy trade from travelers who wish to recreate the Route 66 experience. The Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri is one such motel. It continues to operate in its original function, and in recent years has had overnight guests from all over the world, many of whom come thousands of miles to enjoy the historic ambiance of Route 66.
—Becky Snider, Debbie Sheals (Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation), consultants' report to State Historic Preservation Office, 2003.
Pauline Armstrong (who was Pauline Roberts) bought the motel properties in 1963. She ran the motel for forty years. During her time, the "Wagon Wheel Motel Historic District" was added to the US National Register of Historic Places. This special area includes the original 1936 stone café and gas station buildings. It also includes all three original stone motel buildings, one concrete block motel building, and the frame building added around 1950. Two historic signs, the neon "Wagon Wheel Motel" and "office" signs, were also part of the listing.
A motel called "Wheel Well Motel" appeared in the animated 2006 film Cars. This movie was inspired by the people and places along U.S. Route 66.
Bringing the Motel Back to Life
After Pauline Armstrong passed away in 2003, and her widower Harold in 2008, the motel started to show its age. Connie Echols bought the property in September 2009. She ran the café building as a gift shop. At the same time, she carefully restored each motel room in 2009 and 2010. This included new plumbing, wiring, bedding, and modern comforts.
In November 2009, a temporary building that was blocking the view of the original fuel station was removed. This was part of the effort to make the site look like it did originally. In 2012, a federal grant of $12,733 helped replace the roof on one of the buildings.
In 2010, Henry Cole brought a film crew from London, England, to record "The World's Greatest Motorcycle Rides" for the Travel Channel. This series dedicated two episodes to touring the different U.S. states along historic Route 66.
The Wagon Wheel was a host for Spyderfest for one day. Spyderfest is an annual gathering for Spyder motorcycle riders. It was held in Cuba from 2010 to 2012. The Wagon Wheel remains a popular stop for many Route 66 tour groups and car clubs. During Spyderfest, the Wagon Wheel hosted a "Spyder Welcome Home Party" with food, music, a bonfire, and games.
The Wagon Wheel Motel is the oldest continuously operating motel on US 66. It celebrated its 75th anniversary on August 20–21, 2011. The celebration had a Bonnie and Clyde theme, with historic cars and costumes from that time period. The history of the motel was also featured in a 2011 book called The Wagon Wheel Motel on Route 66.
