Rest Haven Court

2000 East Kearney Street, Springfield, MO 65803
Phone: 417-869-9114

East < GO > West

Hillary & Mary Brightwell opened the Rest Haven Motor Court in the mid-1940s with four rock cottages that each had two guest rooms. They added ten more rooms In 1952 and again in 1955. In the early '60s the original four cottages were connected creating 3 more rooms.

A Phillips 66 service station that stood out front and also served as the motel office was dismantled in 1955 and reassembled out back and used for storage.

The huge sign out front with its neon and incandescent lighting was added in 1953. Then n the 1960s a swimming pool was added in the courtyard between the rooms. The Brightwell's sold the motel and retired in 1979.
The motel sits on the 1936 Bypass alignment of Route 66.

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Vintage Advertising Highlights

REST HAVEN MOTOR COURT
N.E. Edge of City
1/4 MileEast of Junction 65-66-166
On Highway 66
SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI
One of the finest of its size in the Middle West. Made of stone construction. Simmons metal furniture with Beautyrest Mattresses. Steam heat. Air Cooled. Beautiful tile showers. Service Station and Gift Shop. Restaurant next door.
(AAA)
Phone 6-5504 - R.F.D 10, Box 112

AAA Rest Haven Court AAA
1/4 Mile E. of 65-66-166
On Highway 66, Springfield, Mo.
Equipped 100% with Telephones - Refrigerated Air-Conditioning - Television - Free Radios - Beauty Rest Mattresses - Steam Heat - Tiled Showers and Combination Tubs - Carpeting - Reasonable Rates - Free Ice & Newspapers. Playground Equipment - Souvenir Shop & Service Station in Connection.
24 Hour Restaurant Adjacent
R.F.D #10, Box 112 - Phone 4-9114 or 6-5504

(AAA logo) REST HAVEN COURT (Am. Express logo)
2000 East Kearney, Springfield, Mo. U.S. 66 Business Route
For reservations call UN 9-****
24 hour restaurant adjacent.

NOTE: The first postcard (1952) shows the Phillips 66 gas station that Brightwell first rented in the late 1930s and bought in the mid-1940s,

The second card appears to be from after 1955 because the gas station is gone. Beside the extensive description printed on the card there also was rubber stamped note saying "RCA TV IN EVERY ROOM - NO EXTRA CHARGE. That seems a little redundant since TVs are mentioned in the printed description. Maybe highlighting the RCA part was important.

The first and second cards are fairly informative, the third card, from at least 1958, again judging by the cars, takes a completely different approach, sort of "This is where we are, call if interested".

It's hard to imagine two such vastly differing approaches from the same owners.
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Photos: Spring 2012