Springfield

Holiday Drive-In Theater was built by Commonwealth Theaters of Kansas City. Originally planned to be a two screen drive-in, only one screen was built, with accommodations for 529 cars. It opened on August 13, 1970 with... Read More

Originally built in 1935 by Luna D. Locke, he operated the camp for 10 years. His daughter, Marie Locke eventually took over. The reverse of the postcard stated, "Sleep in Safety and Comfort Without Extravagance. All Modern... Read More

The Cortez Motor Court was first operated by Rex G. Wilson (who also operated the Rock Fountain Motor Court) starting in 1940. It is difficult to find much early history. The name was eventually changed to the Cortez Motel... Read More

Rock Village Court opened in 1946; built by homebuilder Eugene McCandless, it was sold new to Jas. F. Neece of Okmulgee Oklahoma for a price of $150,000 (in today's dollars). Neece then sold the Rock Village Tourist Court... Read More

Built sometime in the late 1930s, The Stuffed Pig Cafe was famous for its pork tenderloin sandwiches. Starting in 1940, modern tourist cabins began being advertised, with a price of $4/week or $2/day, with private... Read More

Originally the Rock Cabin Camp(circa 1936), then the On-A-Way Tourist Camp (ca. 1938-1952) which was ran by Sewell E Thompson until he became ill. It finally became the the Dream Motel, which operated until 1968... Read More

Built in 1959 by they Lurvey's (of Lurvey's Tourist Court) and managed by Burt Lurvey's his twin daughters Jean and Joan Lurvey. Additions to the original structure were made in 1968 increasing the capacity from the... Read More

The Inland Printing company is one of the oldest companies in Springfield, Missouri. Founded in 1904, they moved several times through the 1920s, until settling into a brand new building at 535 E. St Louis Street in... Read More

Hotel Elms of Springfield Missouri (not to be confused with the infinitely more popular The Elms Hotel of Excelsior Springs!) was a 30 (or perhaps 32) room hotel.  Built in the 1880s and originally the home of... Read More

Built and furnished in 1907 for a cost exceeding $300,000 (Well over $10,000,000 in today's dollars), the Colonial Hotel in Downtown Springfield was regarded as, "one of the most modern hotels in the world", and.... Read More

Owned and operated by Wayne Perusse since 1973, Danny's Service center has been serving Route 66 travelers since at least the late 1950's. According to some comments from knowledgeable locals it was originally called... Read More

Built sometime prior to 1943, the Cordova Motel was owned and operated by Glen and Johanna Eicher after they arrived in Springfield in 1948 until mid 1972. In October of 1972, all sellable items were auctioned off and... Read More

Perhaps the most infamous cottage court located in Springfield: Andy's Modern Rock Cottages were built in 1946 and operated until Feb 1959, when it was raided by five different law enforcement agencies! The owner, Harry Hundley, was arrested along with another man, both charged with.... Read More