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Boots Motel
- Retro roadside
- In Carthage, Missouri
- On Route 66
The Boots Motel is a Route 66 motor court in Carthage, MO, that first opened its doors in 1939 under the name Boots Court. It stood at a busy crossroads where Route 66 met U.S. 71, two of the main highways of the day. Built in the streamline moderne and art deco styles, it wears green neon and black Carrara glass along its roofline and walls. Owners Arthur and Ilda Boots promised a radio in every room.
What is Boots Motel?
The motel is a sleek building with rounded, modern lines. Its trim is what catches the eye: bands of green neon and shiny black Carrara glass outline the roof and walls, especially striking after dark.
Every room came with its own covered carport, a real comfort for drivers in the early car-travel years. The owners also made a selling point of the in-room radios.
History of Boots Motel
Arthur and Ilda Boots opened the motor court in 1939, during the Great Depression. For a short time a gas station stood out front, but it soon gave way to the motel office.
There were two Boots Courts. Loyd A. Boots, Arthur's brother, had opened the Boots Cottage Court on U.S. 54 in Eldon, Missouri, in 1930; it became Randle's Court after Helen Randle bought it in 1947. Both motels are being restored by separate private preservationists to their 1940s "radio in every room" look.
Visiting Boots Motel: tips
The motel sits right on the old route through Carthage, and parking is on site. The neon makes it a top photo stop at dusk. It shows up in lodging listings under the Boots Court name, so check the details on this page if you hope to stay; otherwise admire it from outside and respect guests' privacy.
The Carthage Courthouse Square Historic District is just 0.2 mile away, and the Cassill Place Historic District is about 0.3 mile, so it pairs well with a walk through town.
Practical info
- Address
- 107 South Garrison Avenue, Carthage, MO 64836
- Phone
- +1 417-310-2989
- Website
- bootscourt66.com
- Hours
- We have no opening hours for this stop yet — check the official site.
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
On the map
Full mapBoots Motel with the 6 closest stops. Tap a marker for details.
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Stops near Boots Motel
All of Missouri
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0.7 mi from Boots Motel
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6.6 mi from Boots Motel
Questions about Boots Motel
When did the Boots Motel open?
It opened in 1939, originally under the name Boots Court.
What makes the Boots Motel special?
It is a 1939 Route 66 motor court with streamline moderne styling, black glass and green neon trim, a covered carport for each room and the original promise of a radio in every room.
Own or run Boots Motel? Send us a photo or a correction.