Great Memories are Made at the Wigwam Motel

Every time I mention this place, my kids — who are now teens, mind you — say “We should go back there! It’s been forever!” That’s how amazing this place is!

If you’re looking for a memorable housing option for your next road trip through the southwest, check out the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona. Located on Business Route 40, which is the old Route 66 in this area, the Wigwam Motel capitalizes on this out-of-the-way section of northern Arizona. It’s not a tourist trap, just a fascinating place for those willing to step out of their comfort zone for a special experience.

Attractions:

The fun starts in the front office, which could almost be confused for a miniature Route 66 museum. The Lewis family, who have owned this property since it opened in 1950, are the caretakers. They will talk your leg off if you let them. The kids can purchase post cards and other small, inexpensive mementos of their stay. You’ll get a real metal key on a big, clunky wooden fob to unlock your concrete unit.

Each unit is shaped like a traditional Native American teepee. The entrance of the unit is a great place for a photo op for the kids. Though they’re made of concrete, the units feel very much like a motel room once you get inside. You’ll pay only $89 for a single unit with two double beds. This includes a full bathroom, TV, and A/C or heat. I know these sound like pretty basic amenities, but trust me, when you see this teepee from the outside, you’ll be wondering if it could possibly be comfortable! Give it a chance. They’ve done a great job fitting basic creature comforts into a memorable experience.

The part your kids will be most excited about is the classic cars scattered all over the property. If you saw these vehicles in a museum, they would be behind glass or set apart where the kids could not touch them. But at the Wigwam Motel, the kids can climb right up onto Doc Hudson, Tow-Mater, and any number of other cars representing the characters from Pixar’s Cars movies. According to local lore, the Cozy Cone Motel represented in the movies uses traffic cones and is based loosely on this particular Wigwam Motel. If your child is a fan of the movie, they are guaranteed to love this place! You’ll be snapping pictures all over the parking lot, as I did… trust me!

Details:

All rooms are non-smoking, but pets are allowed, for an additional $20 fee. They do accept Visa and MasterCard. Reservations can only be made by phone at 928-524-3048 between 3-9pm MST (which is 5-11pm EST).

Other Northern Arizona Attractions

When you finish geeking out over the Wigwam Motel property, you’ll be happy to find that there are a few more well-kept secrets in northern Arizona.

Meteor Crater

While pets are not allowed in the actual crater site, the meteor crater offers a Pet Ramada outside the administration building for your furry friends. The crater is 700 feet deep and nearly a mile across. You can explore any of four lookout points and the crater itself on your own or as part of a guided rim tour, for an additional fee. There is also a top-notch museum on the property, which lies about 33 miles from Holbrook in Winslow, Arizona.

Petrified Forest National Park

Just 26 miles east of Holbrook is the Petrified Forest National Park, a drive-through site with additional options, if you want to take more time. You can view the area from one of several overlooks, visit the paleo lab, or explore any of the trails, some as short as one-third of a mile. There are ranger talks onsite, and pets are welcome. Take Exit 311 from I-40.

Painted Desert

This protected site begins near the southeastern rim of the Grand Canyon and covers thousands of acres of natural beauty. You can enjoy the colorful history of various ancient civilizations and visit the gift shop located inside the Painted Desert Inn, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places. As with the Petrified Forest National Park, you can enter the Painted Desert just 26 miles east of the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook.

The Grand Canyon

Obviously, the Grand Canyon is the most well-known tourist attraction in Northern Arizona, but that is for another post. Stay tuned!