The Sands was the first modern motel in Rogers. It opened in September 1961.
Remembering Early Roadside Lodging in
Rogers
By James F. Hales
Rogers was founded in 1881 and immediately hotels sprang up, usually close to the train depot. These multi-story hotels provided lodging for weary travelers until the arrival and love affair with the automobile began in the 1920s. The downtown hotels provided little parking, were hard to access and sometimes expensive.
Automobiles made travel easy and popular and travelers wanted a convenient and inexpensive place to rest. New accommodations sprang up along the roadsides across the country. Unlike the downtown hotels, tourist courts and motor inns appeared that were automobile friendly. These “mom and pop” businesses usually consisted of cabins in a “U” shape with one shared bathroom facility and parking in front of each unit.
According to an article in the Rogers Daily News, 1-14-1961, Apple Blossom Camp at 624 N. 2nd Street was the first tourist court in town built in the late 1920s. This site is today near the Susie Q Drive-In. The second tourist court was the Oaken Bucket, 803 W. Walnut built about 1930. (now Sears at Walnut & 8th)
In the late 1920s, a new concept in lodging originated called motels (motor hotels). This idea combined several individual units under a single roof. Interestingly, this idea was used two decades earlier by Coin Harvey with his Oklahoma Row Hotel at his Monte Ne Resort. After WWII, motels with local owners spread like wildfire across the country and joined the tourist courts for convenient roadside lodging. In the 1950s, Rogers had at least 19 roadside inns, and these are some examples:
● B&E Motel, Boyd & Essie Latta, owners, Hwy 71 West (later named the Sandman Motel ?)
● Bell’s Courts & Café, Levi Bell, owner, corner of New Hope and Hwy 71 South
● Betty Ann Courts, The Pink Courts, Hwy 71 S. (just south of the old Jan-Lin
Drive-In; site now occupied by O’Reilly’s Auto Parts) This motel was later renamed the Motel
Capri, Everett & Pauline Knowles, owners (1963)
●Blue Bonnet Motel, W.J. Tatman, owner, 922 W. Walnut
●Dixon Motel, Henry & Ann Kruse, owners (1960), 1046 W. Walnut
● Hillcrest Motel, 10 units in five buildings, Max & Ruby Russell, owners, 1950 to mid-1960s,
1212 S. 8th (Across from Family Dollar)
● Milton’s Court and Restaurant, Mrs. Albert Milton, owner, 416 S. 8th Street
● Rancho-Tel, 9 new cottages, Hwy 1 South. (Still there today north of Murphy’s Gas)
● Rogers Motel, 14 modern cabins, Mr. & Mrs Robert Q. Steffey, owners (1949), Mr. and Mrs.
Grady Kent, owners (1955) Hwy 71 South (now a parking lot at NW corner of 8th and Olrich
Streets)
● Star Motel, Mr. & Mrs. Eddie Canute, owners (1960), Hwy 71 South (now a strip mall just north
of Ranch-O-Tel Motel)
One of the most interesting courts in Rogers and the whole USA was the Tepee Town Courts south of town on the west side of Hwy 71 across from the former Ichiban Sports complex. According to Donald Creekmore, his father David, built the Tepee Courts in 1949 and it consisted of six tepee tents and one bathroom tepee. The single units rented for $7.50 and the double units for $9.00. The Tepee Courts closed in the mid-1960s.
The 1960s spawned a new generation of motels sporting private baths, swimming pools and other luxuries. Many of these were national chains that were consistent in shape and quality. These modern motels ended the era of the “mom and pop” businesses, most of which closed in Rogers and across the nation.
The first modern motel in Rogers was the Sands that opened in September 1961 at 208 S. 8th. It featured 24 units with AC, swimming pool, TV, and restaurant. Managers included Mr. & Mrs. Forrest Calvin, Dan Kaffka, Gene Parrish, and Jimmie & Lucille Bronson. The motel was demolished earlier this year for the new Walmart Neighborhood Market.
Ulis Rose and Don Hawksley opened the 30-unit Town and Country Motor Lodge on September 1, 1963 on Hwy 71S. across from Daisy Manufacturing. The next modern motel was the Jan-Lin Motor Inn with 32 units opened by Bill and Dee Nelson March 22, 1964 at the SE corner of 8th and Olrich. This building is still there today.
The national chain Holiday Inn opened in early 1966 at the SW corner of Hwy 71 and New Hope Road. (today it is the Rogers Inn) The roof of the new motel had a running 30x70 ft. long Razorback hog outlined in gravel. The "Go Hogs Go" Razorback logo was constructed using almost 28 tons of gravel and crushed brick. (See picture)
Modern roadside motels have improved somewhat over the past 55 years but are essentially the same as when they originated in the 1960s. The main difference is that they are larger and reservations are made on the internet instead of the telephone.
By James F. Hales
Rogers was founded in 1881 and immediately hotels sprang up, usually close to the train depot. These multi-story hotels provided lodging for weary travelers until the arrival and love affair with the automobile began in the 1920s. The downtown hotels provided little parking, were hard to access and sometimes expensive.
Automobiles made travel easy and popular and travelers wanted a convenient and inexpensive place to rest. New accommodations sprang up along the roadsides across the country. Unlike the downtown hotels, tourist courts and motor inns appeared that were automobile friendly. These “mom and pop” businesses usually consisted of cabins in a “U” shape with one shared bathroom facility and parking in front of each unit.
According to an article in the Rogers Daily News, 1-14-1961, Apple Blossom Camp at 624 N. 2nd Street was the first tourist court in town built in the late 1920s. This site is today near the Susie Q Drive-In. The second tourist court was the Oaken Bucket, 803 W. Walnut built about 1930. (now Sears at Walnut & 8th)
In the late 1920s, a new concept in lodging originated called motels (motor hotels). This idea combined several individual units under a single roof. Interestingly, this idea was used two decades earlier by Coin Harvey with his Oklahoma Row Hotel at his Monte Ne Resort. After WWII, motels with local owners spread like wildfire across the country and joined the tourist courts for convenient roadside lodging. In the 1950s, Rogers had at least 19 roadside inns, and these are some examples:
● B&E Motel, Boyd & Essie Latta, owners, Hwy 71 West (later named the Sandman Motel ?)
● Bell’s Courts & Café, Levi Bell, owner, corner of New Hope and Hwy 71 South
● Betty Ann Courts, The Pink Courts, Hwy 71 S. (just south of the old Jan-Lin
Drive-In; site now occupied by O’Reilly’s Auto Parts) This motel was later renamed the Motel
Capri, Everett & Pauline Knowles, owners (1963)
●Blue Bonnet Motel, W.J. Tatman, owner, 922 W. Walnut
●Dixon Motel, Henry & Ann Kruse, owners (1960), 1046 W. Walnut
● Hillcrest Motel, 10 units in five buildings, Max & Ruby Russell, owners, 1950 to mid-1960s,
1212 S. 8th (Across from Family Dollar)
● Milton’s Court and Restaurant, Mrs. Albert Milton, owner, 416 S. 8th Street
● Rancho-Tel, 9 new cottages, Hwy 1 South. (Still there today north of Murphy’s Gas)
● Rogers Motel, 14 modern cabins, Mr. & Mrs Robert Q. Steffey, owners (1949), Mr. and Mrs.
Grady Kent, owners (1955) Hwy 71 South (now a parking lot at NW corner of 8th and Olrich
Streets)
● Star Motel, Mr. & Mrs. Eddie Canute, owners (1960), Hwy 71 South (now a strip mall just north
of Ranch-O-Tel Motel)
One of the most interesting courts in Rogers and the whole USA was the Tepee Town Courts south of town on the west side of Hwy 71 across from the former Ichiban Sports complex. According to Donald Creekmore, his father David, built the Tepee Courts in 1949 and it consisted of six tepee tents and one bathroom tepee. The single units rented for $7.50 and the double units for $9.00. The Tepee Courts closed in the mid-1960s.
The 1960s spawned a new generation of motels sporting private baths, swimming pools and other luxuries. Many of these were national chains that were consistent in shape and quality. These modern motels ended the era of the “mom and pop” businesses, most of which closed in Rogers and across the nation.
The first modern motel in Rogers was the Sands that opened in September 1961 at 208 S. 8th. It featured 24 units with AC, swimming pool, TV, and restaurant. Managers included Mr. & Mrs. Forrest Calvin, Dan Kaffka, Gene Parrish, and Jimmie & Lucille Bronson. The motel was demolished earlier this year for the new Walmart Neighborhood Market.
Ulis Rose and Don Hawksley opened the 30-unit Town and Country Motor Lodge on September 1, 1963 on Hwy 71S. across from Daisy Manufacturing. The next modern motel was the Jan-Lin Motor Inn with 32 units opened by Bill and Dee Nelson March 22, 1964 at the SE corner of 8th and Olrich. This building is still there today.
The national chain Holiday Inn opened in early 1966 at the SW corner of Hwy 71 and New Hope Road. (today it is the Rogers Inn) The roof of the new motel had a running 30x70 ft. long Razorback hog outlined in gravel. The "Go Hogs Go" Razorback logo was constructed using almost 28 tons of gravel and crushed brick. (See picture)
Modern roadside motels have improved somewhat over the past 55 years but are essentially the same as when they originated in the 1960s. The main difference is that they are larger and reservations are made on the internet instead of the telephone.
Unless noted, the photo gallery pictures are courtesy of the Rogers Historical Museum.
If you love Rogers and Northwest Arkansas, join the Friends of the Rogers Historical Museum and help us preserve our pictures, stories, and memories for our children and future generation. Click Here.
If you love Rogers and Northwest Arkansas, join the Friends of the Rogers Historical Museum and help us preserve our pictures, stories, and memories for our children and future generation. Click Here.
