What was the first motel chain

He was, industry historians say, the first person in Texas to put those concepts into practical application on a widespread basis. Items from the motel's history are kept at the Smithsonian, the museum's webpage says. Alamo Plaza Tourist Apartments is catalogued there because of the significant impact Torrance, his idea and his hotels had on the U. When Alamo Plaza Tourist Courts opened in there were likely about motel rooms in Waco, but that's radically changed, according to data provided by the Waco Convention and Visitor's Bureau, which showed the Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area, which amounts to McLennan County, has 50 hotels that service 3, rooms as of March The latest numbers published by the American Hotel and Lodging Association show the pace of hotel development remained robust in , the latest data available.

Total number of properties in the U. Skip to content. Restaurant Report Card. Pollen Count. Marquee Matchup. Classroom Champions. About Us. Meet the Team. Send Us Photos and Videos. Telemundo Central Texas. Gray DC Bureau. Investigate TV. Central Texas Heroes. Each guest was given a bucket of water from an outside hydrant, along with a scuttle of firewood in the winter. Unlike downtown hotels, courts were designed to be automobile-friendly. You could park next to your individual room or under a carport.

Along with filling stations, restaurants and cafes began to appear at these roadside havens. For a time, courtiers lived one version of the American Dream: home and business combined under the same roof. Then, during World War II, almost everything road trip-related was rationed, with tires, gasoline and leisure time at a premium. But many troops traveling across the country to be deployed overseas saw parts of America that they would later want to revisit upon their return.

After the war, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, frustrated by the difficulty of moving tanks across the country, promoted a plan that mimicked the German autobahn: the Federal Interstate Highway System. But the first of these four-lane highways would take over a decade to build. Until then, families took to whatever highways were available — cruising over rolling roads that followed the curves and undulations of the countryside. Whenever it suited them, they could easily pull off to visit small towns and landmarks.

At night, they found motor courts — no longer isolated cottages, but fully integrated buildings under a single roof — lit by neon and designed with flair. While motel rooms were plain and functional, the facades took advantage of regional styles and, occasionally, stereotypes. Owners employed stucco, adobe, stone, brick — whatever was handy — to attract guests. Many were forced to sleep in their cars or camp overnight during multi-day trips. Arthur and Alfred Heineman proposed a chain of motor-hotels, with the first to be on the side of the highway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

While motels are now considered cheap overnight stays, the first mo-tel, as it was called, was luxurious for the time. It was built as a number of small bungalows with private garages. The plan was that each of the motor inns would include laundry and maid service, a playground and a restaurant. The planned chain never panned out, as other businessmen jumped on the opportunity and opened their own motels — often with cheaper rates.

A remodel and reopening are planned, including a museum dedicated to the history that started there. In the meantime, around the world, travelers now use thousands of roadside motels for quick accommodations. Amazon shoppers are living in these on-sale joggers: 'OMG these are the most comfortable pants I've ever owned!

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