The Boots Motel is an iconic historic motel on Route 66, at the junction of historic U.S. Route 66 and U.S. Route 71. The Boots was constructed in 1939 by Arthur Boots and initially offered four rooms. Mr. Boots later expanded to eight when the first proved successful. A second building to the west, added in 1946 by the Neeley family, brought the total guest rooms to 13. After many decades of catering to travelers, this iconic and unique Streamline Moderne motel fell into disrepair. Over the last decade, a flat roof restoration was completed and partial room renovations begun by previous owners. The nonprofit Boots Court Foundation purchased the motel in early 2022 and saved it from possible demolition. This group is currently overseeing a full historic preservation project. Each room is individually decorated and furnished with period correct furnishings such as chenille bedspreads and 1940s-style furniture. Some still have the original round mirrors installed over the dressing tables. There are no televisions since television was not available in the Carthage area until the mid-1950s, but, as originally advertised, there is "a radio in every room," and the motel does offer free WiFi. Each room is individually heated and air conditioned, just as advertised in the 1940s. Experience a time when guests sat outside and visited with each other and your room key was a real key that fit into an actual lock! We also have 5 double-carports to protect guest's vehicles from weather. Welcome back to the 1940s at the Boots Court!
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This is a MUST!! Perfectly restored Route 66 motel that is a perfect combination of old and new! I reserved my room and they already had the radio playing for me when I arrived in the room…..such a nice touch! Just to note because I didn’t know this: you check in at the building next door which also has souvenirs. The room itself was very clean and smelled so good! They give you a small bar of eucalyptus soap and it just permeates through the room. There are no luxuries like a tv, microwave or mini fridge, but that’s the point! Back to the basics of how it was back in the day! Love it! You can park right in front of the door to your room in the covered parking area or in the parking lot if you choose.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Boots Court Motel, General Manager at Boots Court Motel
Responded Nov 8, 2024
Thank you for staying with us and your great review! We do love the wonderful smell of our soap. Hope you stay with us again!
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Wonderfully restored Motel!! It may not have all the amenities of a newer chain hotel but if you’re looking for the experience and ambiance of a vintage Rt 66 motel, this is it! We stayed in one of the “newer” rooms (the annex added a few years after the original building) and it was large and spacious with all the comforts needed. I especially loved the chairs both inside and out for sitting and reading rather than having to lay on the bed. Location is great and parking right at the room made loading and unloading easy and convenient. Jeremy was a great host and gave us some wonderful recommendations for local eats and activities (Lucky Js and Red Oak II) and graciously shared his time to tell us about the town of Carthage, the history of the motel, and some fun Rt 66 facts. If you’re looking for a vintage motel in your Rt 66 travels, don’t miss the Boots Court Motel!
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Date of stay: July 2023
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Boots Court Motel, General Manager at Boots Court Motel
Responded Nov 8, 2024
Thank you for your great review, we love when guests sit outside and talk with each other. It is one of our favorite thing here at The Boots. Please come again!
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This little gem of a historic motor inn is a simple, clean and authentic taste of life on the road ca. 1930-1950. An architectural jewel of about 1939, it offers small, cozy and authentically furnished rooms on historic Route 66 just a block or two off the courthouse square in Carthage. Do NOT expect modern entertainment or amenities beyond radios (period correct) in the room and access to wifi. You want TV? Bring your phone or tablet and stream it. Or, do yourself one better, go outside, sit in the chairs on the patio, enjoy the summer Missouri night and maybe walk down to Braun's for an ice cream. Consider this a retreat experience and you'll appreciate it even more.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip:Book ahea. No coffee pots in the rooms or vending machines. Bring snacks, and a cooler. Good...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Boots Court Motel, General Manager at Boots Court Motel
Responded Nov 8, 2024
Thank you for your great review. We love when guests sit outside to enjoy the weather, each other and our beautiful neon. Hope you come back again!
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Historic Motel on the Route recently renovated and tastefully decorated. Retro rooms with radio instead of tv and some memorabilia. The Motel is well preserved and although some details (such as the small size of the bathroom) do not make the rooms particularly current overall it is pleasant. The reception is not H24 so be careful when you arrive or check any communications send by mail on how to access the rooms.. Nearby a small dedicated museum and not far a diner where you can have breakfast.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Parcheggio
Hotel storico
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed in rm 11. Room was clean, bed comfortable, mini-split is fantastic for A/C. The towels are the most luxurious I've experienced in a mid range motel or ever, actually. If you appreciate Moderne style era, you will like this motel. The radio on the oldies station was good enough that we didn't miss the absent television. There's no mini fridge or microwave so expect the absence. This motel is trying to emulate what available in 1939!
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Date of stay: October 2024
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Janna Conklin, General Manager at Boots Court Motel
Responded Nov 7, 2024
Thank you for staying, we appreciate your great review!
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We made our booking over a year ago to ensure we could stay at what we hoped was one of route 66’s iconic locations. Unfortunately when we arrived it was a building site! I called the reservations number on my confirmation email and was told they couldn’t accommodate us as they were renovating and couldn’t let us know as they had no contact details for us. Odd as We swapped a few emails with them when I made the booking. Very disappointing. Also when I booked I asked if they required a credit card to reserve the room and was told “no we believe in the honour system” where was the honour there? I suggest you contact them urgently if you have a booking!
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The boots court motel was a fabulous trip back in time. The entire hotel and the rooms were a meticulously renovated. They were so fresh and clean. We loved the carport that you can just pull your car right up to the door and leave overnight. The staff is also quite friendly and made recommendations about the town. We will be going back again when we are that way.
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Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Boots Court Motel, General Manager at Boots Court Motel
Responded Nov 8, 2024
Thank you for staying with us and for your great review! We appreciate you.
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Takes you back to the good ole days! Very quaint and comfortable. Very clean. I enjoyed having a radio instead of a TV...just like in yesteryears. The young lady at the visitor center who checked us in went above and beyond. She stayed late and then walked us to the room, turned on the radio, lights, and explained everything. I loved the extra bonus of having a little brown kitten hanging around everyone and so sweet and friendly. Highly recommend this place.
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Date of stay: October 2024
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Don't stay if you NEED a TV. Adorable little rooms. Clean, friendly staff. Register at the...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Priscilla Bledsaw, Owner at Boots Court Motel
Responded Oct 25, 2024
Thank you for staying with us! It was so very nice to meet you and we hope you stay with us again. Thank you for all the wonderful things you said about Boots Motel.
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We did not stay here overnight during our Route 66 roadtrip, but we wish we had. This is the only "streamline moderne" style motel along Route 66. A volunteer was doing some exterior painting and let me peek into the room that Clark Gable stayed in! This place is for people looking for a vintage Route 66 experience. Rooms are very clean and have authentic touches such as a vintage dressing table and radio, but there is no TV or wifi.
Tip: Look at the bank across the street. It was once a streamline moderne drive in cafe owned by Boots. The local historical association hopes to buy the building from the bank and restore it.
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Date of stay: October 2021
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Cleanliness
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Room Tip:The rooms in back are larger and have garages underneath.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We love staying at places like this. Our room was spotless. The bed was so comfortable. The shower, small. Haha. Not having a TV was no problem and we loved, and appreciated, that the radio was tuned and playing when we walked in. We let that radio play all night.
We only stayed one night (Sunday 7-4-21). The town had a fireworks show which we were able to see from the parking lot.
I know the sisters that have owned this gem are currently in the process of selling it. I hope the new owners maintain the standard they have set.
Thank you an unforgettable experience!
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:It’s an old motel (1939). No coffee maker, refrigerator or ice.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Priscilla Bledsaw, Owner at Boots Court Motel
Responded Oct 6, 2021
Thank you for your kind words and generous thoughts. We are so pleased that we were able to contribute to your special trip. The Boots Court will be closed November 15th 2021 through March 1st 2022 for a large restoration project. After that, we hope to continue to dazzle Travelers on Route 66!
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By all means go to to Boots Motel, if you are doing the Route. Debbie is very knowledgeable...she may talk your ear off, as we say in America, but it was comfortable and she had great ideas for dinner, etc. She would not take a deposit for the room, but did take a reservation. By email. I called a few days before, as I had no deposit...she assured me we would have the two rooms I wanted (adjoining) and she did. It was classic Route 66 in every way! Great! Look them up online.
I'm not sure this will get posted in time for you to get it, but, yes, we do have one room left for August 4. It has one double bed. Please call (417) 310-2989 If you wish to make a reservation.
I am sorry to have to tell you that we do not have any availability for those dates. All rooms are already reserved, and we have a waiting list in case anyone cancels. I hope you find lodgings elsewhere.
We are always delighted to give prospective guests a tour of the facilities and tell them about Boots Court. You should know that we will only show you rooms that are clean and ready for viewing, so it is best to arrive around 3:00 in the afternoon, when rooms have been cleaned but are not yet occupied by that day's guests. It would not hurt to call us in advance to let us know you are coming and would like to have a tour.
There are more places to choose from in the Carthage area.
LOCATION
United StatesMissouriCarthage
NUMBER OF ROOMS
13
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Frequently Asked Questions about Boots Court Motel
Which popular attractions are close to Boots Court Motel?
Nearby attractions include Jasper County Courthouse (0.2 miles), Carthage Civil War Museum (0.2 miles), and Cherry's Art Emporium on the Square (0.2 miles).