Have you ever slept in a wigwam? I’ve now slept in two! On my most recent Route 66 road trip, I finally crossed another bucket-list item off my list when I spent the night at the Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, California.
I first learned about the Wigwam Motels back in 2007. On a road trip from Chicago, Illinois, to Chattanooga, Tennessee (to watch the Krystal Square Off hamburger-eating contest), my friends and I detoured into Cave City, to see some Kentucky roadside attractions. And one of those roadside attractions was Wigwam Village #2. While we didn’t have time to stay overnight, I knew then and there that someday I’d book a room.
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The story of these unique motels goes back even further than mine. In the 1930s, Frank Redford patented the wigwam-shaped design and went on to build seven “villages” across the United States. Today, only three survive: Village #2 in Cave City, Kentucky; Village #6 in Holbrook, Arizona; and Village #7 in San Bernardino, California.
In 2003, I finally got my chance, though not in Cave City. Instead, I stayed at the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook while road-tripping through Arizona. It was everything I hoped for: a quirky, vintage property surrounded by classic cars, making it impossible not to snap a dozen photos. The stay itself was great too, with a comfy bed, a funny little concave shower, and an air conditioner blasting against the outside heat. That experience only fueled a bigger dream: to spend the night in all three remaining Wigwam Motels.
The San Bernardino Wigwam Motel, Village #7, was the last of the originals to be built, opening in 1949. In its early days, the 32-foot-tall wigwams offered travelers a comfortable and novel place to stay, arranged around a grassy courtyard and fire pit. Like many Route 66 businesses, though, it fell on hard times once the interstate bypassed the Mother Road. By the 1980s, it had gained a reputation for cheap hourly rentals, waterbeds, and even a neon sign that famously encouraged guests to “Do it in a Wigwam.”
The motel’s fortunes changed in 2003, when the Patel family purchased the property and lovingly restored it. They repainted the wigwams, renovated the interiors, and brought the site back to its mid-century charm. Their efforts earned the National Historic Route 66 Federation’s Cyrus Avery Award in 2005, and the motel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.
In 2025, I booked a stay. I was taking a Route 66 road trip through California and this was the first place I booked, months in advance, because I knew it would be a must-stop on my Route 66 itinerary
This property is larger than Holbrook’s, with 19 wigwams arranged in two rows curving along the driveway. At the center sits a small but mighty kidney-shaped pool. I didn’t go for a swim (my evening plans took me to the Magic Lamp Inn) but the pool is definitely a feature I’d like to come back and enjoy.
The setting outside made for the perfect Instagram-worthy backdrop, while inside, the room felt spacious, clean, and relaxing. Sure, the shower was a bit cramped (what do you expect from cone-shaped walls?), but everything else was just right. I especially appreciated the convenience of having my own parking spot directly outside my wigwam, making it easy to come and go.
Would I stay at the San Bernardino Wigwam Motel again? Absolutely. And I hope to on my next California Route 66 adventure. But the quest isn’t finished yet. I still have my eye on the trifecta. Maybe next time I’ll find myself back in Kentucky, at the very spot where my curiosity began.
Photos of Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, California
