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Benson's Tourist Court2675 Old Route 66, St. Clair, MOPhone:
GPS: 38.303809,-91.081941 In his 1946 "Guide Book to Highway 66" Jack Rittenhouse described the business as "an elaborate establishment with cabins, cafe, gas, and trailer camp ..." By the time they sold the business in 1948 a for sale ad mentioned "16 modern cabins and cabin for living quarters, cafe and filling station on Highway 66. 55 miles west of St. Louis, can be bought on terms, Benson's Tourist City". In early December 1948 Mr. & Mrs. Robert McGinnis bought the business and property. They eventually changed the name to the McGinnis Show-Me Tourist Courts. The McGinnis family moved on in 1955 and Lewis Benson regained ownership of the property. In 1957 Lewis Benson sold the business and property to Ralph Delbruegge. Delbruegge renamed it the Del Crest Motel. They apparently tried to sell it 1962 but still owned the property into the 1990s after converting to non-tourist rental property. The gas station and cafe building are still standing, but private property now. Photo(s): 2016
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