The Wagon Wheel Motel has been a presence on Route 66 in Cuba, Missouri since the 1930s. In 2009, Connie Echols bought the motel and it is undergoing renovation.

Wagon Wheel Motel exterior shot
Cuba, MO
Photo courtesy Jane Reed

The Wagon Wheel Motel has been welcoming Route 66 travelers in Cuba, Missouri since the 1930s, and it's easy to see why it has become one of the best-known stops along the Mother Road. Built from native Ozark sandstone, the Tudor-style cottages have a look that's unlike just about any other motel on the highway. It's the kind of place that makes you want to pull in, even if you already have a room for the night.

What began as a café in 1936 soon grew into a full roadside complex with gas pumps and stone cabins for weary travelers. By 1938, the Wagon Wheel had become a true Route 66 destination, offering everything a motorist needed without leaving the property. Better yet, it has never stopped doing exactly that, making it the oldest continuously operating motel on all of Route 66.

Wagon Wheel Motel marquee
Cuba, MO
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

One of the things that makes the Wagon Wheel so special is that it still feels like a motor court instead of a modern motel. The individual stone cottages are spread across the property just as they were decades ago, each with its own character and garage. It's easy to picture families arriving after a long day on the road, unloading their luggage, and settling in before heading over to the café for dinner.

The motel's famous neon sign has been greeting travelers since 1947 and remains one of the highlights of old Route 66 in Missouri. After dark, it's hard to miss, and it has probably convinced more than a few motorists to call it a day and spend the night.

Wagon Wheel Motel
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

In 2009, preservationist Connie Echols purchased the motel and began an extensive restoration that saved it from years of decline. The historic stone exteriors were carefully preserved while each guest room was renovated and decorated with its own personality. The original café building also found a new purpose as the motel office and Connie's Shoppe, proving that old buildings can adapt without losing their character. 12-10

The Wagon Wheel's listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003 recognized what Route 66 travelers had known for years—this isn't just another old motel. It's one of the finest surviving examples of the roadside motor courts that helped define travel across America before the interstate era.

What great landscaping on site
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

UPDATE: The Wagon Wheel Motel remains open and continues welcoming travelers under new owners Rich and Christina Dinkela, who purchased the property in 2026. Sadly, longtime owner Connie Echols passed away just weeks after completing the sale, but her remarkable restoration ensured that one of Route 66's greatest motels will continue welcoming guests for years to come. 07-26

For more information on the Wagon Wheel Motel, see their website or call 573-885-3411.

Here are photos of the Wagon Wheel from over a decade ago.

Below is one of the larger rooms at the motel.

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