Former Thunderbird Inn

642 E. Route 66, Williams, AZ
Phone:

East < GO > West

The Thunderbird Inn opened in 1957 with 56 rooms in the new motel building, along with a swimming pool, gift shop, restaurant and cocktail lounge. By 1960 they were advertising 96 rooms. I'm guessing that higher number is the result of a couple additional buildings behind the main building.

But wait, there's more to the story!

In 1933 the Clark Camp stood here, by 1938 that became the H. A. Clark Auto Camp and by the mid-40s it had become the Grand Canyon Camp. In 1946 the owner built 20 cabins dedicated to housing military families, I'm guessing those became tourist cabins as time went on. The 1959/60 AAA Tourbook rates the motel well, but adds "Log cabins in the rear not recommended".

Anyhow by at least the mid-70s the place became a Ramada Inn and later the Mountain Side Inn and Conference Center. Which takes us to 2017 when it became a Red Roof Inn Plus.

There were a few old pioneer style wagons parked around the place when we went by in 2019.

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Vintage Advertising Highlights

Late 50s Postcard
The back of the postcard reads:

Thunderbird Inn
AAA, Best Western
642 E. Bill Williams - Williams, Arizona
East End of Town - Phone 635-xxxx
Gateway to the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and glorious Indian country. Highway 66 and 89. Hunting and fishing in season. 96 Luxurious rooms, Queen-size beds, room phones, swimming pool, T-V, gift shop, restaurant. Members of the BEST WESTERN MOTEL, CARTE BLANCHE and AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CARD

Note: A similar but earlier postcard mentions only 56 units. There's only about three years between the cards, so business must have been good in the late 50s.

Photo(s): 2019