[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 69 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1013-E1014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                ROUTE 66

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ROY BLUNT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 1997

  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, Route 66 conjures up memories about America's 
love affair with the automobile along a road into the Nation's 
heartland. Restaurants, motels, gas stations sprang up to serve the 
travelers and commerce as the highway moved west.
  Today, Route 66 is mostly a nostalgic memory. Many of those early 
American developments along the Route 66's old path have been bulldozed 
away. Traffic on old Route 66 in Springfield, MO, gave birth to the 
Rail Haven Motor Court at Glenstone and St. Louis Street which remains 
one of the city's busiest and best known locations. When it was built 
in an orchard, the motor court sat on the intersection of U.S. Highways 
66, 65, and 60. No major improvements had been made since the early 
1960's at Rail Haven.
  New owner Gordon Elliott, president and owner of Elliott Lodging, saw 
the real potential to save the deteriorating motel. In 1994, rather 
than bulldoze the historic old building, Gordon's vision included a 
renovated and expanded classic 1950's motel property. Gordon Elliott 
blended community renewal, development of a classic historic property, 
and risking private money to produce a successful venture that has 
rejuvenated one key intersection in his home community. The facelift 
for the property was completed without Federal grants, loans or tax 
abatements.
  Elliott's refurbished motel has been a hit with patrons of a new 
generation. Building on public interest in nostalgia and the appeal of 
historic Route 66, the property became the best Western Sycamore Inn. 
Elliott's has marketed the Sycamore Inn for lovers of Route 66, 
tourists and business travelers. It has been so successful, Elliott is 
renaming the property the Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven in a public 
ceremony on June 12, 1997, to reestablish its historic roots.
  The Best Western Rail Haven Motel's history has been featured in 
several publications including the quarterly magazine of ``The Route 66 
Association of Missouri'' and ``Missouri U.S. Tour Book.''
  The Route 66 Rail Haven is a look into our past with attention to 
detail in the modern transformation. Craftsmen will install the 
signature split rail fences long associated with the old motel built in 
1938. The new 93-room

[[Page E1014]]

lodge, joins nostalgic beauty and modern convenience. The spring 1997 
edition of ``The Route 66 Association of Missouri'' features the Rail 
Haven on its cover and describes the facilities as ``a charming 1950's 
style parlor room, complete with chandeliers, old time radios and 
speakeasy telephones, or, if you're a business traveler, you can choose 
to relax in one of the elegant corporate-friendly rooms.'' Featuring 
celebrity theme rooms for people like Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley, 
Elliott's Route 66 Rail Haven has found customers enjoying the 
opportunity to relive a bygone era in accommodations.
  The Rail Haven is a Best Western motel. It is one of five motel 
properties owned by Elliott Lodging. The firm also owns and manages 
about 2,000 apartment units in Springfield. Gordon Elliott is a former 
Springfield City Council member and is a CPA in Springfield, MO.

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