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| Wigwam Motel (San Bernardino) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Wigwam Motel (San Bernardino) |
| Caption | Exterior of the Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino |
| Location | 2728 Hospitality Lane, San Bernardino, California |
| Coordinates | 34.1325°N 117.2689°W |
| Built | 1949 |
| Architect | Frank A. Redford (developer) |
| Architecture | Novelty motel, vernacular roadside architecture, Googie influences |
| Added | 1978 (local landmark designation) |
Wigwam Motel (San Bernardino) is a historic motor court motel composed of concrete teepee-shaped units, built in 1949 as part of a small chain of themed lodgings along U.S. Route 66. The property exemplifies mid-20th century American roadside culture, combining novelty architecture with automobile-oriented hospitality and later becoming a focus of preservation efforts and popular media. It remains a notable landmark in San Bernardino, California, and a tangible artifact of postwar travel, tourism, and vernacular design.
The motel was developed by Frank A. Redford and associated investors contemporaneous with the expansion of U.S. Route 66 and the post-World War II boom that affected cities such as San Bernardino County, California, Riverside County, California, and Los Angeles. Constructed in 1949, the motel joined sister properties established in Holbrook, Arizona and Cave City, Kentucky as part of a small chain inspired by novelty structures like the Brown Derby and the themed motels promoted by travel guides of the period such as Fodor's and publications tied to Greyhound Lines and United States Numbered Highway System. The site operated through the 1950s and 1960s catering to automobile travelers on U.S. Route 66 and near commercial corridors serving military installations like March Air Reserve Base and civic nodes such as San Bernardino Plaza Mall. Economic shifts, freeway realignments like the construction of Interstate 10 and I-215, and changing travel patterns led to decline in the 1970s and 1980s before renewed local interest prompted conservation action in the 1990s and 2000s.
The Wigwam Motel features prefabricated reinforced concrete units formed into conical wigwam or teepee shapes, each measuring approximately 21 feet in diameter and 29 feet in height. The design reflects the era's fascination with novelty architecture, sharing aesthetic lineage with works by designers and firms prominent in Googie architecture and roadside commercial design associated with architects such as Armet & Davis and firms influenced by Victor Gruen's retail planning. Decorative details include painted Native American–themed motifs, neon signage, and a central office and office sign oriented to attract motorists from Route 66 and adjacent thoroughfares. The layout follows the motor court model popularized by establishments like the El Rancho Vegas and Munger Moss Motel, emphasizing car parking immediately adjacent to units for convenience and theatrical visual impact.
Situated on the historic alignment of U.S. Route 66, the motel became emblematic of the highway's cultural mythos alongside attractions such as the Amboy Crater, Bagdad Cafe, and the Wigwam Village No. 2 concept in roadside lore. Route 66 enthusiasts from organizations like the Route 66 Association of California and scholars publishing in outlets tied to National Trust for Historic Preservation have cited the motel as an exemplar of the automobile age and mid-century leisure culture. The site figures in the broader narrative of westward migration, family vacations, and the commercialization of regional images of indigenous cultures, intersecting with debates in cultural heritage and representation discussed by institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution and academic centers at University of California, Riverside.
Local preservationists, civic agencies, and private owners collaborated during the late 20th and early 21st centuries to stabilize and restore the property, with technical work addressing concrete repair, neon restoration, paint analysis, and landscape rehabilitation. Conservation initiatives drew support from entities like the California State Office of Historic Preservation and advocacy by nonprofit groups similar to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program. Restoration efforts sought to balance historical authenticity with modern building codes influenced by standards promulgated through organizations such as the Secretary of the Interior's guidelines and local historic preservation ordinances enacted by the City of San Bernardino.
The motel has hosted a range of travelers including families, musicians, and road trippers documented in travelogues and journalism appearing in outlets like Los Angeles Times, San Bernardino Sun, and national magazines such as National Geographic Traveler. It has appeared in films, television programs, and photography series alongside other Route 66 icons such as the Santa Monica Pier and the Cadillac Ranch. Pop culture references link it with performers and filmmakers associated with Hollywood and Route 66 (TV series), cementing its status as a cultural touchstone in retrospectives and documentary projects curated by institutions like American Film Institute.
Originally designed as a motor court, the property offers individual sleeping units with original-era amenities adapted for contemporary guests, including retro-styled interior furnishings, climate control, and private parking. On-site facilities historically included a central office, neon signage, and landscaped courtyards; modern hospitality standards have introduced updated plumbing, electrical systems, and guest services consistent with local health and safety regulations administered by San Bernardino County Department of Public Health.
The motel is located near major transportation routes in San Bernardino, accessible from Interstate 10 and I-215 via local arterials, and proximate to regional nodes such as San Bernardino International Airport and Downtown San Bernardino. Visitors often combine a stay with drives along the historic alignments of U.S. Route 66 and excursions to nearby attractions including Redlands, Rialto, and recreational destinations in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Category:Motels in California Category:U.S. Route 66