THE WIGWAM MOTEL - San Bernardino

Sleeping Teepees at the Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, California — Wigwam Sleeping Teepee Units at Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino

The Wigwam Motel on Route 66 in San Bernardino, California is a must see stop for those traveling on the historic highway in California. After all… where else can you sleep in a wigwam? This one was built by the creator of the Wigwam Villages, as they were originally called, and this one will be the focus of this article.

The Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona was build by a franchisee of the Wigwams and you can find more information about the Wigwam in Holbrook here. Seven in total were built — No. 3 in New Orleans, No. 4 in Orlando, and No. 5 in Birmingham. Only No. 2 in Cave City, Kentucky, No. 6 in Holbrook, Arizona, and No. 7 in San Bernardino, California remain.

The two Wigwam Motels on Route 66 are two of the most iconic motels in the United States. They are easily recognizable thanks to their unique design, which features conical-shaped “wigwams” standing 30 feet tall that were originally designed to resemble the homes of Native Americans.

Thirty Foot Tall Teepee Room at the Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino California. — Thirty Foot Tall Teepee Room

History of the Wigwam Motel

The Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino first opened its doors in 1950 and has been in operation ever since. It was originally known as the Wigwam Village No. 7 and was the seventh and last of the Wigwam Villages. Only three remain today.

There has been confusion about whether the motel is in the city of San Bernardino or Rialto. The reality is that the motel sits within the city limits of San Bernardino, on the western edge, but the U.S. Post office assigned it a Rialto mailing address. Here’s a brief history of this historic Route 66 landmark.

The Wigwam Motel was founded by Frank A. Redford, a native of Kentucky, who came up with the idea for the conical-shaped wigwams after seeing a roadside lunch stand shaped like a teepee during a visit to Long Beach, California.

In 1933 Redford established the first of his seven Wigwam Villages with construction of a gas station and lunchroom at Horse Cave, Kentucky. He chose a 60-foot high Indian teepee constructed of steel-reinforced stucco to house the gas station office and lunchroom. Two years later, Redford expanded the operation with the addition of six smaller teepee sleeping units and two restroom teepees on either side of the office to create Wigwam Village No. 1.

The grounds at the Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, California — The Grassy Grounds & Pool Area in the Center of the Semi Circle of Teepee Sleeping Units

In 1937 Redford built Wigwam Village No. 2 in Cave City, Kentucky making it bigger and better than No. 1. This Wigwam is still in operation and has recently been renovated to bring it back to its 1930s charm. It was larger than the first Wigwam Village with 15 teepee sleeping units, and a much larger teepee that would house a lunch counter big enough to seat 30 diners and a gift shop and a gas station out front.

Wigwam Village No. 3 was constructed in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1940. It was the first of four villages constructed by franchise owners after Redford patented the exterior design developed for Wigwam Village No. 1 and 2. One of the other franchised Wigwam Villages is No. 6 which still operates on Route 66 in Holbrook, Arizona.

The Barbecue Area at The Wigwam Motel on Historic Route 66 in San Bernardino, California

The Wigwam Motel
Comes to California

The Wigwam in San Bernardino was built in response to the increase in automobile tourism on U.S. Highway 66 during the immediate post World War II years.

Redford began constructing Wigwam Village No. 7 between 1947 and 1949 on the western edge of San Bernardino, California. It opened in 1950 with eleven 32 foot tall teepee sleeping units in an area of town surrounded of by small shops and fruit orchards. In 1953, he added eight more sleeping units as well as a swimming pool and fire pit. At about the same time he opened Wigwam Village No. 7, he filed a second patent for the construction of wigwam sleeping units.

The Teepees were spaced about 18 feet apart and arranged in two semi-circle rows. Eleven units constructed between 1947 and 1949 make up the inner semi circle. Eight units constructed in 1953 make up the outer semi-circle.

Redford operated Wigwam Village No. 7 until he grew too ill to continue managing the property. He asked Paul Young, who had purchased Wigwam Villages No. 1 and 2 in 1944, to take over. Young operated Wigwam Village No. 7 until his death in 1961.

Ariel View of The Wigwam Motel on Route 66 in San Bernardino.
Teepees were arranged in two semi-circles with a paved driveway in between. Credit: Route66postcards.

Once opened, The motel quickly became a popular stop for travelers driving down Route 66, thanks to its unique design and affordable rates. Over the years, additional wigwams were built on the property to accommodate more guests. Today, there are a total of 19 wigwams at the Wigwam Motel, each of which has been renovated to include modern amenities like air conditioning and cable TV.

Teepee Rooms at The Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, California — There are 19 Teepee Sleeping Rooms at The Wigwam Motel, San Bernardino, California

Redford arranged the Wigwam Village in a semi-circle to enclose a large grassy area that opened to the highway. This area also provided recreational activities for guests including a swimming pool and a place to have a picnic and socialize with other travelers. The sleeping units were decorated with hickory furniture and Native American rugs and blankets. The zigzag lines of the historic exterior motif were repeated on interior accents such as the bathroom tiles, lamps, and other fixtures.

The Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, California — The Grounds and the Office to the Right Under the Wigwam Motel Sign

The Foothill Freeway in San Bernardino opened in 1958 and drew away much of traffic from Route 66 through town and specifically past the Wigwam Motel. As the traffic on the original Route 66 through town decreases, so did the tourism business in town. That reduction in traffic contributed to the change in the area surrounding the Wigwam Motel. By 1968, the fields and fruit orchards that surrounded the motel had completely disappeared. Where once stood fruit orchards and small businesses that catered to travelers and tourists needs on Route 66, commercial development in the area changed to include auto wrecking yards and liquor stores. All of that contributed to a decline in business for the Wigwam.

An Old truck at The Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, California — There are Several Vintage Old Cars and Trucks on the Grounds of the Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino

Despite its popularity, the Wigwam Motel nearly closed its doors for good in the early 2000s due to financial difficulties. However, it was saved from closure when a new owner purchased it in it in 2003 and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.

The new owners renovated the Wigwam between 2003 and 2005 and they were awarded the National Historic Route 66 Federation’s 2005 Cyrus Avery Award for outstanding preservation projects.

This designation helped increase tourism to the area and allowed the motel to stay in business. Kumar Patel and his family have owned the Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino since 2003. We met his son when we visited the motel in 2019. They’ve done a fantastic job upgrading and restoring the hotel to its past glory and seem to have a real love for Americana and the history of Route 66. They’ve also done a lot to promote it and Route 66 in general including the current Wigwam Motel Website.

The Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino is located on Historic Route 66 only minutes from Colton, Grand Terrace, Redlands, Big Bear, Highland, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, and Bloomington, California

If you’re driving down Route 66 near San Bernardino, make sure to stop at the Wigwam Motel for a unique lodging experience unlike any other.

Wigwam Village #2, now the Wigwam Motel, is located at 601 N Dixie Hwy, Cave City, KY 42127
Wigwam Village #6, now the Wigwam Motel, is located at 811 W Hopi Dr, Holbrook, AZ 86025
Wigwam Village #7, now the Wigwam Motel, is located at 2728 Foothill Blvd, San Bernardino, CA 92410

For more information at the San Bernardino Wigwam, call 909-875-3005 or visit the Wigwam Motel website.

Planning of the Wigwam Villages

The sketches of the teepee sleeping units are from the original U.S. Patent filed by Frank Redford in 1947. Each teepee stands about 32 feet tall and is 20 feet in diameter at the base. Each consists of 16 wooden ribs covered with plaster and concrete. Diamond shaped window openings reveal original, recessed, four-light gliding windows.

Construction of the Wigwam Motel

Pictures below show the Wigwam Village No. 7 during construction and shortly after opening in 1950. Travelers on Route 66 couldn’t help but notice the teepees on the side of the road and the sign, “Sleep In a Wigwam”.

Teepee Sleeping Units Under Construction.
Credit: Route66postcards.

Wigwam Village No 7 During Construction of Additional Teepee Sleeping Units. Credits: Route66Postcards

Interior Furnishings at the Wigwam Motel

Furnishings and decor inside the teepees had a Native American motif with beds and chairs made of hickory and Native American rugs and wall hangings as decor. The bathrooms originally had tile with the same zig-zag decoration that was painted on the exteriors.