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Cotton Boll Motel Sign

Old Route 66 at 6th St., Canute, OK
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In 1960 Woodrow and Viola Penick, former cotton farmers, built the 16 room Cotton Boll Motel. The name for the motel comes from the many cotton fields in the surrounding area.

A May 29, 1960 Grand Opening ad in the nearby Elk City Daily News paper read ...

"You Are Invited To The Big
GRAND OPENING
Of The Beautiful New

COTTON BOWL MOTEL
On Hi-Way 66 In Canute, Oklahoma

Plan now to attend our Open House this Sunday. We're extremely anxious for you to see our new Cotton Bowl Motel with its fine facilities. We have 16 new units, complete with tiled baths and dressing areas. Each unit has wall to wall carpet, and is furnished with beautiful Franciscan furniture. Each unit is air conditioned, and each unit has its own TV set. Don't disappoint us ... come over to Canute and let us show you one of the finest motels in western Oklahoma.

Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow Penick"

The flat roof ranch style building has an entry drive canopy that sweeps up and away from the main building. In years past the large windows in the office would have beckoned travelers to stop for the night especially when the interior was lit up at night. When I-40 opened in 1970 bypassing the town and the motel business became harder and the Panic's sold in in 1979.

The motel is a private residence now, but the sign remains standing and is a popular photo opportunity for Route 66 travelers. In the good old days days the sign said Free TV above the (No)Vacancy sign. Much of the neon tubing is gone.

Photo(s): 2012