John Steinbeck dubbed Route 66 The Mother Road, a highway that was and is the lifeblood of Williams, Arizona today. Unlike most historic Route 66 communities, Williams has preserved the legacy of The Mother Road and historic motor hotels are experiencing a renaissance as new owners take over, in many cases deteriorating properties and they revitalize them with unique furniture and a fresh atmosphere. Exterior. The business district with vintage shops and restaurants lines old Route 66 and the entire city is very accessible with motels and shops along about ten blocks of historically preserved architecture.
When Rob Samsky first considered rehabbing an old Route 66 motel, he knew he had a big project ahead of him – the building was on the slate to be condemned by the city. Rob says: “It was a labor of love and hard work for over a year with a wealth of family and local community resources entering the renaissance of our motel. The pine wood that we use for the exterior treatment was cut down from the forest right here and ground by a local sawmill. We combined many of the original rooms to create suites to make for a very comfortable lodging experience. ” The Lodge on Route 66 has the exterior character of the small vintage motor hotels of Route 66, but the owners redefined the standard of luxury in the nine standard rooms and nine suites with hardwood and travertine floors, pillow-top mattresses top of the line and luxurious cotton sheets. , and solid wood furniture. Complimentary breakfast is served in the covered outdoor cabana, which is central to the motor court.
The Samsky family undertook another major renovation project to bring life to the motel across The Mother Road, the Downtowner. In this project, rooms have a luxurious “downtown” feel with flat-screen TVs, granite and slate furnishings, and two of the 16 rooms have whirlpool tubs. The essence of Mother Road’s original architecture has been preserved and of course a quieter and more docile Route 66 is right outside the front door.
The Wild West Junction is a unique development that connects visitors to a bygone era that is the true heritage of the territorial Arizona Wild West. The owners, Mike DuCharme and Jay Redfeather, wear the classic western side, as do all of the Junction employees. The original motel has been totally reconfigured and is now one of the most unique tourist facilities in America. Staying in one of the six one-of-a-kind rooms at Drover’s Hotel is like being invited to stay in someone’s museum. Each room portrays an Old West theme. The highlight of the Bordello room with a single bed and a queen bed is a wall mural depicting a luxury brothel from the late 19th century. The rich decoration of the room is worthy of the Madame of the establishment. The China Camp, with its two comfortable queen beds and Chinese motifs, was decorated with the Chinese in mind, who were such an integral part of the Western edifice. If you’re into westerns, the Movie Memorabilia room with a queen bed is the perfect place to sleep, with movie posters on the walls, one of the ten original hats worn by Clint Eastwood in “Pale Rider,” as well as the “Quigley “. gun and a portrait of Tom Sellick on the bed. La Hacienda is a two-room suite, with fireplace, wet bar, Jacuzzi, and two private patios.
To recognize the heritage of the Chinese workers who built the railroad that runs through Williams, the Junction owners created the Hop Sings Chinese Restaurant. The building is new but, like the rest of the crossing, it appears to have been standing since the height of the Wild West era. The dining room is on two floors with four outdoor patios and an upstairs bar with a spectacular view of the sunsets, mountains, and the Ponderosa pine forest that surrounds Williams. With the Typhoon Saloon Restaurant & Bar a short walk from the Drover’s Hotel, as well as the Territorial Museum, the Courtyard where cowboys spend most days (and live entertainment most nights), the Wild West Junction is a great place to relive the Old West and keep right on The Mother Road, Route 66.
