Our destination today was Carthage, Missouri following Route 66 most of the way. Missouri is a beautiful state. Lush green pastures, rolling hills and lots of houses that evoke past scenes from the TV show “Little House on the Prairie”
As we drove along empty Route 66 you could smell the trees, pollen, fragrant flowers and the occasional farm smells. Despite being sat on a noisy lump of metal pulling 1600cc, amazingly, I could still hear birdsong.
So, on then to our arrival at the Boots Motel. I found this place on Trip Advisor on the recommendations of previous guests. It was not all it seemed.
The front looks like a run down tired old 1930’s building, cracked concrete with grass growing through and tatty frontage. If you we’re on the hunt for a place to stay and appearance was the only draw, you’d keep driving.
But no, not me, off we went into the Reception trusting the reviews. Oh my. This place was built by Mr Boot in 1932, first as a little gas station then expanded to be a luxury hotel (motels as a concept did not exist then you know). Rooms cost 2 dollars and 50 cents a night back in the 1930’s, and that apparently was expensive.
The rooms themselves are in the process of being refurbished by the present new owners who bought a year ago and have been open only 9 months. The whole project is set to take a couple of years and is being done to a set time period. 1947 to be exact, so no TVs in the rooms, just old fashioned big chunky radios. Clark Gable and one of his friends stayed here in one of the rooms just before ( or after?) the war.
So how do we know all this and what’s the connection to Dr Who you may well ask??
Well, check in took over an hour with the very very friendly manager on site. She gave us the full history, took us on a very detailed tour of every room (there are 12 on site), the refurbished authentic 1947 ones and those waiting to be refurbished. we were told all about the roof, the 1930’s building opposite, the town, the civil war battles.
Oh and she is a huge fan of Dr Who. We learnt this thanks to Mr Fogg who was on fine performance with his usual quips and charm, particularly when asked to guess the cost of the room to rent, 2 dollars 50 was his reply. Our lively host quickly suggested he needed the Tardis to come back in time to 1947.
So the longest check in to a quirky property ran by a quirky lady who wants to chat more with Mr Fogg as he is, I quote “better than watching You Tube”
Priceless. I find all these cool places you know. Mr Fogg is quietly groaning now, especially after a long shattering drive of over 7 hours covering 204.5 miles and faced with having to chat half the night.
Tomorrow only approx 130ish?
Don’t forget you can view all our Route 66 blogs so far at blog.ouronebigadventure.com
