About the Wagon Wheel Motel

The Wagon Wheel Motel is one of the most enduring landmarks on Historic Route 66. Since the mid-1930s, travelers have pulled off the Mother Road in Cuba, Missouri to rest, recharge, and experience the spirit of America’s most famous highway.

The Wagon Wheel began in 1935 when Robert and Margaret Martin purchased the property and established what was originally known as the Wagon Wheel Cabins, Café & Service Station. Built during the final years of the Great Depression, the Martins created a welcoming stop for travelers crossing Missouri along the newly designated Route 66.

The stone buildings that give the Wagon Wheel its distinctive character were constructed by master stonemason Leo Friesenhan, who used locally sourced Ozark stone brought to the site by area farmers. His craftsmanship has allowed the property to stand strong for nearly a century and remains one of the defining architectural features of the motel today.

Originally the complex included a café, a service station, and a row of stone tourist cabins set back from the highway. The cabins were designed with the automobile traveler in mind during a time when road trips were transforming American travel culture.

In the 1940s, new owners John and Lela Munger expanded the property and developed the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel neon sign, which became a familiar beacon for Route 66 travelers passing through Cuba.

Over the decades, the Wagon Wheel passed through several stewards who helped keep the property alive as Route 66 evolved. Through changing travel trends, highway bypasses, and economic shifts, the motel remained a welcoming stop for road travelers.

In 2009, Connie Echols purchased the Wagon Wheel Motel and operated it with dedication and care. For nearly two decades, she maintained the property, welcomed guests from around the world, and ensured the historic motel continued operating during a time when many classic Route 66 motor courts disappeared. Her stewardship helped preserve the Wagon Wheel’s place as a living landmark on the Mother Road.

Today the Wagon Wheel holds a remarkable distinction: it is widely recognized as the oldest continuously operating motel on Route 66.

In 2026, the property entered its next chapter with new ownership committed to preserving and continuing the legacy of the Wagon Wheel Motel. Our goal is to honor the generations who built and protected this special place while carefully investing in its future so travelers can continue to experience authentic Route 66 hospitality.

More than ninety years after the first cabins were built, the Wagon Wheel remains more than just a place to stay. It is a piece of living Route 66 history, where road stories are shared, friendships are formed, and travelers from around the world come to experience the magic of America’s most legendary highway.

We invite you to stop, stay awhile, and become part of the continuing story of the Wagon Wheel Motel.