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Updated: March 13 2008
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In 1926, a road was established that would lead straight into the American psyche. It would become known as the Mother Road, and it would link small town America along its 2,400-mile path from Chicago to Los Angeles. That road was Route 66.
During the highway's heyday, hundreds of motels lined its path: the Wigwam Motel, the Blue Swallow, the El Vado. Neon was king, and the glow of the signs guided travelers as they drove through the night.
Over the years, many of the historic motels have fallen into disrepair. But if one Centennial man has his way, that will change.
Richard Talley is the president of Smalltown America, and his goal is to buy, renovate and reopen some of the motels along the old Route 66. His first project is the Motel Safari in Tucumcari, N.M., a 23-room structure built in the 1950s. Tucumcari is 175 miles east of Albuquerque near the New Mexico-Texas border.
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Smalltown America is set to open its first refurbished Route 66 motel, Motel Safari in Tucumcari, N.M., on Feb. 18. It bought the motel on Dec. 7 and extensively remodeled it.
“We try to reuse as much of the old furnishings as possible to maintain its original image in history, but we do not sacrifice on quality,” Talley said of the 23-room motel, which dates to at least the 1950s. “For instance, Motel Safari will have 32-inch flat panel LCD TVs, high-speed Internet, Sealy Posturepedic pillow-top mattresses, and the works. But the desk furniture, the chairs, the vanities, will be the same. Everything that we can keep, we do.”
The company seeks to revamp old Route 66 motels, boost their value, and use the equity to help buy another old motel. Talley said that by the end of 2009, he anticipates having four motels under Smalltown America ownership.
Talley said Smalltown America originally envisioned acquiring 100 old motel properties on historic highways all across America, not just on Route 66. But, over time, he decided that Route 66 was better because it had “more exposure.” He considered old motels on Highway 101 on the West Coast, but decided it was too risky at this time to delve into “million-dollar properties.” He decided there were better values in small towns on the Mother Road.
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I've stayed in a lot of motels. Some good, some ... not so good. For the most part, they all look the same. Same bedspread, same remote control, same individually wrapped plastic cups.
Of course, that's what you get when you stay almost exclusively at chain names. Problem is, when you don't, you really take your chances. I love a good independent motel, but too often the accommodations are less than agreeable.
I've often longed for the days that preceded me, when lodges with names like the Hiway Host and the Come On Inn could be counted on to provide a clean shower and a pleasant night's rest without the peeling ceilings and questionable sounds coming from the room next door.
Well, someone's finally turning back the clock. Smalltown America Inns, Lodges and Motels has launched an effort to buy up classic roadside motor courts and restore them to their former glory, with a few modern amenities thrown in.
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Built in 1959 and opened in 1962, the Motel Safari was recently renovated by entrepreneur Richard Talley, who started Smalltown America last year with the goal of preserving historic motels on Route 66. "Eventually we'd like to renovate one Route 66 motel from every state," Talley says. The Motel Safari, which reopened on Feb. 18, was updated with brand-new amenities while maintaining a retro feel, he says. Additionally, the renovation went green by incorporating low burning water heaters, reducing water use, and utilizing low voltage electrics. Up next: Talley is interested in restoring the 1930s Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo.
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Do you remember driving Route 66? Wish you did? While some of the Mom and Pop motels are still in operation, many are not. Wish you could have stayed in some of the amazing motels along the way?
Actually, the Motel Safari was recently purchased by company called, yep, you guessed it, Smalltown America. And, it is set to open February 18, 2008. The company aims to restore vintage Route 66 motels.
They appear to be striking for the middle ground - between offering what the modern tourist wants with the quaintness of long ago. Richard Talley, President of Smalltown America, explains, "For instance, Motel Safari will have 32-inch flat panel LCD TVs, high-speed Internet, Sealy Posturepedic pillow-top mattresses, and the works. But the desk furniture, the chairs, the vanities, will be the same. Everything that we can keep, we do."
I give kudos to Smalltown America for trying to breathe new life into shells of the past. And, I sincerely hope they allow each motel to retains its own unique character. For me, that's the draw to old Mom and Pop's. And, I hope they keep old signage - especially neon - where feasible.
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