El Rancho Motel

It's been a public motel, a private motel for Santa Fe railroad workers, senior citizen housing and residential rentals at various times in it's history. A sort of double U shape structure there was a swimming pool in the center of the parking lot of the larger section.

The motel was heavily damaged in a July 2022 fire and what was left standing was to be torn down, but the sign was to be saved.

The huge neon El Rancho Motel sign in the sky makes this an easy place to find. The 100 ft sign was built by the Electrical Products Corporation and installed in 1947 and was completely restored in 1994. When this photo was taken in 2013 at least some of the neon was missing and/or not working.

The El Rancho Restaurant used to be located between the motel office and the street. It has been torn down since this photo was taken in 2009. It was called Cedar Restaurant and Travel Store in May 2011 when it caught on fire and was gutted. The address was 116 E. Main St.

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Vintage Postcard Highlights

Front
El Rancho Barstow - Junction of U.S 66 and 91 - Barstow, Cal.

Back
El Rancho Barstow
Junction of U.S 66 and 91
In the Center of Barstow, Cal.
Phone 283

NOTE: This postcard doesn't ell us much about the motel but it does show the style of construction with the old railroad ties laid like logs.

(1959 AAA Tour Book)
El Rancho Motor Hotel
100 Units
100 Private Baths
$5.00 - 10.00
TV
Telephones
Showers
Most Air Conditioned (Some Air Cooled)
11 Units with Limited Kitchenette Privileges
Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge
Heated Swimming Pool

NOTE: It almost seems odd that private baths were still being listed as a feature in 1959 since travel by car was so common at the time. There's a difference in the number of rooms listed between the postcard and the travel guide, which is also pretty common. But dropping 50 rooms seems like a lot. In general the number of rooms at a motel seems to go up and down for a variety of reason over the years.
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Photo(s): 2009, 2013