Riviera Court - Holiday Motel

The Riviera Courts-Motel was built in 1937 with 15 units, most separated by garages. The 1937 date is important to the history of the Riviera because that was the year Route 66 was realigned away from the sidewalk highway to the new road running past the Riviera. The Riviera's guest units are located in a flat roofed one story brick building that is roughly shaped like a wide "V". The office and owner/managers residence were in the house in the middle of the "V".

A kind of unusual note I found in a newspaper article mentions that in 1951 the building was in a big flood was underwater up to the eves, but the neon lights outlining the building stayed lit. That had to be a strange sight.

Sometime in the 1950s the name was changed to Holiday Motel, probably to update the image the name gave to a bit more modern concept. A newspaper ad in 1956 mentions a new owner, but not by name. I'm guessing that may be when the name changed. It closed in 1978 and is now vacant. It was added to the NRHP in 2004.

The motel is located on the northwest side of Hwy. 69 at S. 545 Rd. about 1 mile west of the Neosho River bridge.

GPS: 36.865620, -94.900385

The long side of the guest units building parallels the highway.

The short side of the guest room building runs at an angle to the highway.

The office and owner/managers quarters were located in a house in the courtyard separated from the guest rooms by a driveway.

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Vintage Advertising Highlights

RIVIERA COURTS

1 Mile Southwest of Miami, Okla.
on Highways 66-69
All Brick Modern 100% Fireproof
Automatic Steam Heat - Tile Showers
Beauty Rest Mattresses
Cross Ventilation and Ventilating Fans
Mr. & Mrs. Adam Ried
Owners and Operators

NOTE: This postcard is postmarked OCT. 12, 1951.
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Photo(s): 2012 - 2016