Wigwam Motel

The Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona, is a unique and historic roadside motel that has become a beloved symbol of America’s mid-20th-century road trip culture. Located at 811 West Hopi Drive, this motel features 15 large, freestanding teepees (incorrectly referred to as “wigwams”) arranged in a semi-circle around the main office. Each teepee is 21 feet wide at the base and 28 feet high, painted white with a red zigzag above the doorway.

The Wigwam Motel was designed by Frank A. Redford and patented in 1936. Chester E. Lewis purchased the rights to the design and the name Wigwam Village, installing coin-operated radios that sent payment to Redford for every 30 minutes of play. The motel was completed in 1950 and operated by Lewis until it closed in 1974 due to the bypass of Interstate 40.

The Lewis family re-purchased and reopened the Wigwam Motel in 1988, removing the gas pumps and converting part of the main office into a museum. The museum showcases a collection of Route 66 memorabilia, Arizona petrified wood, and Indian artifacts. The motel rooms feature original hand-made hickory furniture, a sink, toilet, and shower, with cable TV, heat, and air conditioning. Guests can choose between two double beds or one queen bed, and the motel is pet-friendly with an extra fee for pets.

The Wigwam Motel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been featured in various travel magazines, history books, calendars, newspapers, and even movies. It served as the model for Sally’s Cozy Cone Motel in the Disney/Pixar movie “Cars”. The property also includes a collection of vintage cars on display in the parking lot, adding to its nostalgic charm.