Route 66 Inn

2806 E. Amarillo Blvd., Amarillo, TX
Phone: 806-383-3318

East < GO > West

When the Route 66 Inn opened in 1941 it was the True Rest Motel and had 30 rooms separated by garages. It was remodeled the mid 1950's with the Spanish Ranch style. Somewhere along the line the room count grew from 30 to 41 to 53. I'm guessing that some of the garages were probably converted to guest rooms in the expansion from 30 to 41 units.

There had been a swimming pool on the east end of the guest room wing in the center of the complex, by the white peaked wall towards the left in this photo. It looks like that was built in the mid to late 1950s, but like many other vintage motel pools it's long gone. The original owners and operators were Mr.& Mrs. Frank E. Hobgood. Mr. Hobgood was president of the U.S. 66 Highway Association.

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Vintage Advertising Highlights

Postcard
Date: Unknown (but before remodeling)

True Rest Courts
Amarillo, Texas
Population 80,000

Modern Accommodations
Convenient Location
Amarillo's Outstanding Tourist Haven!
5 Minutes From Downtown

Note: There is no phone number listed on this postcard. It's interesting that the population of the city was seen as being important enough to be listed as a feature for the motel
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Postcard
Date: Mid 1950s (1954 Mercury shown)
True Rest Motel
U.S. Hwys. 60 and 66 East
Amarillo, Texas
AAA
Distinctive Motel of Beautiful Spanish Ranch Design
30 beautifully furnished Air Conditioned Rooms
Phones
Radios
Television
Only 5 Minutes from Downtown
Mar& Mrs. F. E. Hobbled, Owner, Operators
2806 N. E. 8th Ave.
Phone Drake 4-2866
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Postcard
Date: 1959

True Rest Motel
U.S. Highways 60 and 66 East
Amarillo, Texas
AAA
A Distinctive Motel of Beautiful Spanish Ranch Design
41 Rooms
Cooled by Refrigeration
Phones
Radios
Television
Heated Swimming Pool
Only 5 Minutes From Downtown
Mar& Mrs. F. E. Hobgood. Owner, Operators
2806 N. E. 8th Ave.
Phone Drake 4-2866

Note: The big change on this postcard was the increase in room count from 30 to 41 and the appearance of a listing for a heated swimming pool.
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Postcard
Date: Mid-1960s (1963 Dodge shown)
True Rest Motel
U.S. Highways 60 and 66 East
Amarillo, Texas
A Distinctive Motel of Beautiful Spanish Ranch Design
53 Rooms
Cooled by Refrigeration
Telephones
Radios
Television
Heated Swimming Pool
5 Minutes From Downtown
2806 Amarillo Blvd. East
Phone 383-33xx
Restaurant Next Door
Note: This postcard listed a few new features, notably the room count grew and a swimming pool was apparently added as well as mentioning a restaurant being next door.
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Photo(s): 2012