In the heart of Holbrook, Arizona, the vacancy sign is a beacon for the pit stop of Americana. The Wigwam Motel opened along the most famous highway in America on June 1, 1950.

Built by Chester Lewis, the Wigwam Motel opened in 1950 and became an instant Route 66 icon. A village of 32-foot-tall concrete wigwams tends to catch a traveler's eye.

Wigwam Motel What: The historic motel on Route 66 includes 15 concrete tepees arranged in an open rectangle. Where: 811 W. Hopi Drive, Holbrook. Price: $69 (one queen bed), $76 (two full beds).

After Interstate 40 bypassed Route 66 in Holbrook, traffic through the small town significantly decreased and the Wigwam Motel closed in 1974. Chester Lewis died in 1986.

The Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Ariz., was certainly tops on my list. But there was one small problem: Having promised I wouldn’t plan my vacation to death, I wasn’t booking my next hotel room ...

The San Bernardino Wigwam Motel is one of three remaining from what was once a national tepee-themed motel chain. One is in Holbrook, Ariz. —also a part of Route 66. The other is in Cave City, Ky.

The sun sets on the Wigwam Motel, in Holbrook, Arizona. Wigwam Village #6 opened in 1950 as a motel, gas station and roadside attraction, a Route 66 trifecta.

The Wigwam Motel opened along the most famous highway in America on June 1, 1950. Not much about it has changed since then. Arizona Highways TV ...