History of The Boots Court Motel
1931
Loyd Boots builds the Boots Cottage Court in Eldon, MO, inspiring his kid brother Arthur to build our Carthage location.
1930s
Loyd’s kid brother, Arthur Boots, opens the Red Horse service station at the “Crossroads of America,” where the Jefferson Highway meets Route 66 in Carthage, MO.
Loyd Boots Cottage Court
1939
Arthur & Ilda Boots open the Boots Court, utilizing the service station as the front office. Eight rooms are completed in the “Streamline Moderne” architectural style, offering carport parking directly beside rooms, and advertising a “Radio in Every Room.” The original nightly rental price is $2.50.
1942
The Boots Court is sold to Ples and Grace Neeley. Clark Gable arrives and stays in Room #6.
Boots Court – Carthage, MO
1946
The Neeley’s expand the motel by five rooms, including four double queen rooms, to accommodate post-war travelers with families. This new building at the rear of the complex has carport parking beneath the rooms, accessible by stairs. In keeping with the traditions and superstitions of the time, Room #13 is skipped and named 14 instead.
1946
Arthur Boots builds the Boots Drive-In in Carthage. It offers all-day breakfast, and becomes the home of the KDMO radio broadcast, “Breakfast from The Crossroads,” hosted by Lee Crocker. Travelers and celebrities are interviewed live.
KDMO radio broadcast
1947
Clark Gable returns for his second stay and signs autographs in Room #10. Arthur Boots builds the Boots Drive-In in Carthage. It offers all-day breakfast, and becomes the home of the KDMO radio broadcast, “Breakfast from The Crossroads,” hosted by Lee Crocker. Travelers and celebrities are interviewed live.
1948
The Boots Court is sold to professional wrestler Ruben Asplin, and his wife Rachel. They own the motel until her death in 1991. During the 1950s the name is changed to Boots Motel and is one of the first area motels to offer television and air conditioning. Other notable celebrities are said to stay at the Boots Motel, and/or dine at the Boots Drive-In, including Gene Autry, Smiley Burnett, Guy Lombardo, and Mickey Mantle.
1950s
Arthur sells the Boots Drive-In to his son Bob and his brother-in-law Jude Ardney. Bob sells his share to Jude and moves to Tulsa. Jude owns the Drive-In for ten years.
Guy Lombardo’s boat parked at Boots Drive-In
1962
Bob Boots opens a Boots Drive-In in Tulsa, OK. It is purchased in 1968 by Basil Blackburn who in 1971 changes the name to “Mr. B’s.”
2011
Preservationists and sisters Deborah Harvey and Priscilla Bledsaw purchase the motel and begin the restoration process. The gabled roof is removed, the neon restored, and some rooms are made available to Route 66 and other travelers to rent. The sign is restored to the original Boots Court name in 2013 by the original sign maker.
1991 – 2011
The Boots survives a series of owners, low-income housing, and a 2003 demolition and redevelopment attempt. In 2011, the Boots Motel is listed as one of the ten most endangered roadside attractions in America by the Society for Commercial Archaeology, and among the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation’s most endangered buildings in the state.
2021
The non-profit Boots Court Foundation is established to purchase the motel from the sisters. Extensive rehabilitation efforts are initiated.
The Boots Court Foundation seeks to ensure the historic and architectural integrity of unique and significant properties in Carthage, Missouri so that they may be preserved and enjoyed by the community and visitors for generations to come.
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2022
The Boots Court is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
2023
All 13 rooms are available for rent, and the motel welcomes visitors from nearly 30 countries in its first year after renovations! The Visitors Center (former gas station) also opens, serving as the new front office and Boots Court storefront.
