Former Dixie Motel & Restaurant

I don't know if this was two motels originally standing back to back or if the smaller 1950s Dixie Motel on Railroad Avenue with it's restaurant and pool expanded by adding the motel building on First Ave. The restaurant and the original Dixie Motel, and the pool predate this building on First St., which appears to be newer, maybe 1970 or so. The earliest mention I've found for the original motel was 1957. Railroad Street didn't become eastbound 66 until 1953, so the motel was most likely built after that.

The whole complex was signed as the Texas Motel & Restaurant when these photos were taken. Sometime in the past they were both signed as the Dixie Motel.

The swimming pool inside a fenced area sits on the west end of the property along with the restaurant and another smaller building.

This picture of the abandoned Dixie motel and restaurant on Railroad St. (eastbound Route 66), from McCarty street, on the east end of McLean

This is the one of the original Dixie motel buildings, it faces Railroad St. An early postcard shows that the original Dixie on Railroad Street had a mix of small buildings, with 1, 2 units some separated by garages and a small "L" shaped building that may have held several units and garages. The garages were later converted to guest rooms. The smaller buildings were apparently torn down.

The restaurant is on the westbound side of the property and the pool was behind it on the eastbound 66 side.

This might be the most interesting photo of this property. On the right is the concrete Texas shaped sign for the motel & restaurant. On the left side is what's left of what looks like it might have been a Googie style arrow for the motel. The two "blank" spaces appear to have had some sort of signage between the horizontal brackets in both.

----------
Vintage Advertising Highlights

1950s Postcard
Dixie Motel
McLean Texas
20 units - heated pool - refrigerated air - free TV, phones - coffee service in rooms - cafe adjoining.
U. S. Highway 66
Phone GR 9-****
Frank & Wilma Going, Owners & Managers

Postcard (pre-1967)

Dixie Motel
U.S Highway 66 and Interstate 40
McLean, Texas
Air Conditioned - Vented Gas Heat - Garage - Complimentary Coffee 7 to 9 a.m. Evening Paper- Free TV in Room - Cafe Adjoining.
Phone GR 9-**** for reservation
Frank and Wilma Going, Managers

1970s Postcard
Dixie Motel & Restaurant
I-40 & Hwy. 66 - McLean, Texas
23 Units, Some Family Units, Color TV, Phones, Swimming Pool. Bank Americard & Master Charge
J. C. & Wilma Hefner, (Owners)
(806) 779-**** - (806) 779-****

Note: The original motel was built with garages which were later apparently converted to guest rooms. The duplex cabins shown in the first two postcards have been demolished, I'd guess that happened when the newer building on First Street was built.

Photo(s): 2012 - 2015