Sleep Outside the Box in a Concrete Wigwam
Wigwam Village Motel #2
Lodging | Unique lodging | Open to the public
At one time, motels in this country were built with a little more character than they are today. Back in the 1930s, long before Super-This-and-Thats and Thumbelina-sized "free" cups of coffee, Frank Redford had a vision of Americans traveling the open road, stopping at night to sleep comfortably in his wigwam motels. He built a few of them, but they never really caught on. We were lucky enough to see one group in Cave City, Kentucky.
They are small, but they appear to be very comfortable. Owing to the round shape, the furniture's all been custom-made and it fits nicely in the room. And as promised, the bathrooms were spotless, as well as, well, small. And you need to lean sideways when showering to accommodate for the round design. Did I mention that the place had one of those gift shops where considerable chunks of change could easily be left behind? What's not to like?
From their website: For the past 84 years, Historic Wigwam Village No. 2 in Cave City, Kentucky, has offered travelers and back-road explorers a fun sleeping experience during their visits to Mammoth Cave National Park or on their way to nearby Nashville, Tennessee, or Louisville, Kentucky. Built in 1937, when Americans were just beginning to discover the joys and excitement of automobile vacations, Historic Wigwam Village No. 2 and its gas station and lunch counter became a popular stop on long trips north and south. Even Eleanor Roosevelt wrote about it in one of her daily newspaper columns. Imagine driving along a two-lane country road when suddenly up ahead you see Wigwam Village’s white teepees and distinct neon sign — “Sleep And Eat In A Wigwam.” Today, this fantastical sight still lures motorists to pull over and stay a night or at least stop for a photo or two.
The lunch counter and gas station closed in the 1970s, but the 15-wigwam motel remains an enduring testament to an earlier time — but with all of the modern conveniences you would expect and want, including private bathrooms, air conditioning, coffee pots and free WiFi and cable television. Historic Wigwam Village No. 2’s four grassy, tree-lined acres include two, large fire pits where guests like to gather in the evenings, a retro playground, cooking grills and a covered, lighted picnic pavilion with tables.
Choose from two types of wigwams: a single (sleeps two) or a double (sleeps four). They feature the original hickory bed frames, caned chairs, night stands and vanities created by the Columbus Hickory Furniture Co. in Indiana almost a century ago. The bathrooms’ red-and-white graphic tile also is all original… and the showers have plenty of hot water.
Historic Wigwam Village No. 2 is one of only three surviving Wigwam Villages of the seven built around the country before 1950, It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is undergoing an extensive renovation to bring it back to its 1930s splendor and authenticity. Your patronage helps pay for ongoing restoration of the property in accordance with federal historical renovation regulations.
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On DVD - Rare Visions and Roadside Revelations, "Southern Flavor", KCPT, Kansas City Public Television, 1999-2001.
"Rare Visions and Roadside Revelations" by Randy Mason, Michael Murphy and Don Mayberger, 2002.
"Rare Visions and Roadside Revelations Coast to Coast Travel-o-Pedia" by Randy Mason, et. al., Kansas City Star Books, 2009.
