Take a quick detour back in time as we cruise through one of Route 66’s most iconic roadside landmarks: the Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, California. This short but unforgettable ride carries us straight into a slice of mid-century Americana, where teepee-shaped cabins line a palm-dotted lot beneath the Southern California sun. Built in 1949, this motel is one of only three surviving examples of the original Wigwam Villages, and it remains a treasured stop for travelers tracing the Mother Road.
We enter from Route 66 — locally known here as Foothill Boulevard — and turn into the motel grounds, immediately surrounded by the whimsical white-and-red concrete wigwams that give the property its name. Each unit stands independently, complete with its own parking space, vintage charm, and a nod to an era when roadside novelty was a competitive business. As we glide past the row of teepees, it’s easy to imagine a 1950s family pulling in with their station wagon, ready to rest after a long day’s drive from Needles or Kingman.
The drive through the Wigwam Motel is brief, but it’s rich with nostalgia. Classic cars are sometimes on display out front, and towering palms offer a striking contrast to the motel’s pseudo–Native American architecture. The surrounding neighborhood has grown up over the decades, but the motel feels frozen in time — a living tribute to the golden age of Route 66 tourism. As we loop back toward Foothill Boulevard, the neon sign cheerfully reminds us, “Have You Slept in a Wigwam Lately?”
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