Hotel Design Notes: Wigwam Motel
I had been anticipating this hotel the whole trip: Wigwam Motel on Route 66 in Holbrook AZ! The basis of the "Cozy Cone Motel" in the Pixar film "Cars," the Wigwam Motel represents to me a bygone time when caricatures of "Other" cultures was exotic yet innocent.
A note to those considering staying here: the motel's office is open only at 4pm, and while the posted times say that it closes at 9pm, by the time we got back from dinner at 8:20pm it was already closed. Also note that the office didn't return my phone call asking for a reservation - - there was plenty of room so no worries. Finally, they actually turn off almost all of the exterior lights when the office closes.
Here is how the wigwams looked when we arrived at night - what a sight!
The motel parks classic cars out front. Partly to give some ambiance, but I think partly to also make the parking lot look less deserted. Hmmm... are only Prius drivers interested in the Wigwam Motel?
The interior felt pretty roomy. Maybe it's because one's expectation of living in a concrete wigwam is that it will be cramped. Maybe it's also because the interior lacks bedside tables, a closet, or a full-size desk. Heating was pretty good with a quiet natural gas unit.
As the sign asks, "Have you slept in a wigwam lately?"
