Rockwood Motor Court: The Oldest Operating Court on Route 66

Where Is the Rockwood Motor Court?

Funny story about our stay at the Rockwood Motor Court

The History of the Rockwood Motor Court

Deverne Ruckman Opens a Tourist Camp (1929)

Route 66 was officially commissioned in November 1926, with Springfield, Missouri playing a central role as the city where the highway’s name was finalized. Three years later, in 1929, local entrepreneur Deverne Ruckman built a roadside motor court at what was then the western edge of Springfield on College Street — 1902 College, by the address of the time. He also built a Shell Oil filling station and a house on the property.

At the time of construction, the lodging was called a Tourist Camp — a term that distinguished it from hotels. Travelers who could afford a room paid for one; others paid to camp on the grounds. A vintage advertisement from the period survives: ‘All units new — one of the finest and most beautiful courts in the city on Highway 66. Strictly modern, tubs and shower, tile baths.’ The Ozark sandstone cabins were framed in native oak lumber, the stone exterior giving them a distinctive wood-grain appearance that would eventually inspire the property’s permanent name.

Changing Names, Changing Hands (1929–1948)

Through the Great Depression, the Rockwood changed ownership and management nearly every year. It operated under multiple names: Rockwood Court and Cafe, the Rockwood Tourist Court, Ginny Lee’s Restaurant, Motel & Pub, Tubby’s Diner. The core of the property — the six Ozark sandstone cabins, the filling station, and the original garage — remained intact through these transitions. In 1948, the property’s address changed to 2200 W. College as Springfield’s street numbering was reorganized, and the property was formally named the Rockwood Motor Court. That name has held for more than 75 years.

The image below shows the Rockwood as it was in 2015 before it was renovated. At that time, it was a diner. In the years before that it was a sub shop, and a cafe that operated under a couple of different names between 2007 and 2014.

Decline and the Pre-Renovation Era

As Interstate 44 bypassed Springfield’s old Route 66 alignments and the Motor Court era gave way to the chain motel era, the Rockwood declined from its tourist camp roots into a source of weekly and monthly rental housing. The front building, where the café had operated, was converted into a sub shop. The property became increasingly worn. When Phyllis Ferguson first viewed it in 2019, one observer described it as ‘a frayed extension cord and a space heater away from not being here.’

The 2019 Restoration by Ferguson and Phillips

Springfield City Council member Phyllis Ferguson and her husband Tim Phillips purchased the Rockwood in 2019 with a specific intention: return it to its original purpose as Route 66 overnight lodging, preserving the original structures while adding modern amenities. The seven-month renovation retained all six original Ozark sandstone cabins and converted the 1929 Shell filling station into the Fill ‘Er Up studio unit. The 2020 restoration of the gas station and house completed the return of the entire property to its original configuration.

Each room was themed to a specific era of Route 66 history — decor, furniture, and memorabilia curated to give guests a period-specific experience rather than a generic vintage aesthetic. The renovation added WiFi, Bluetooth speakers, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and coffee makers while retaining the physical character of the original buildings: the Ozark sandstone walls, the original cabin proportions, the courtyard arrangement.

The Rockwood was subsequently inducted into Historic Hotels of America by the National Trust for Historic Preservation — one of more than 300 hotels and resorts nationwide recognized for preserving historic integrity, architecture, and ambiance. Historic Hotels of America’s Executive Vice President specifically noted the property as ‘a Route 66 rock masonry court built in 1929’ and commended the careful preservation work.

The Rooms at Rockwood Motor Court

The Rockwood’s ten units each carry a distinct theme. The original six cabins include Camp Rockwood (celebrating the motor court’s own history), Rockwood Cottage (1940s and 1950s family vacations), The Classic (classic car theme), King of the Road (1960s throwback), Gettin’ Our Kicks on Route 66 and Gettin’ Your Kicks on Route 66 (vintage Mother Road memorabilia), White Cliffs of Dover (WWII military tribute), and It’s All in the Movies (1940s and 1950s classic films).

The Fill ‘Er Up Room

The Fill ‘Er Up unit in the converted 1929 Shell filling station is the property’s most distinctive room — a studio of over 400 square feet with a kitchenette, queen bed, two twin beds, a rollaway, and a full bath, decorated entirely with gas station memorabilia. It is simultaneously the most unusual room and the one that most directly connects to the property’s original purpose: a roadside stop where you could get gas, get a room, and keep moving in the morning.

This is our favorite place to stay on Route 66 in Missouri. The pictures below show what the Fill ‘Er Up room looks like.

Interior of the Fill ‘Er Up Room During Our Stay – May 2022

Honest assessment: the original Ozark sandstone cabins are compact by modern standards — these are 1929 tourist camp proportions rather than contemporary hotel room dimensions. The rooms have been renovated to include modern amenities but the footprints are original. Guests who come expecting a modern motel experience will find something more interesting and more constrained. Guests who come specifically for the historic experience — the stone walls, the courtyard, the era-specific décor — report consistently positive stays.

What to Expect When You Visit

Arriving at the Rockwood, the Ozark sandstone cabins surrounding the central courtyard immediately communicate that this is a different kind of Route 66 overnight. The stone is nearly 100 years old. The courtyard has outdoor seating, a barbecue grill, a fire pit, and lawn chairs. Door-side chairs and tables sit outside each cabin. The property functions as a community space in a way that chain motels do not — guests meet in the courtyard, share road stories, compare notes on the stops ahead.

The Fill ‘Er Up Shell station studio is immediately recognizable from the road — the restored filling station exterior with its period-correct Shell signage is one of the most photographed elements of the property. The covered patio and yard adjacent to the original garage give additional outdoor space for lingering.

The Rockwood is within walking distance of the College Street Cafe, the Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park, and the College Street Mosaic Wall — a dense Route 66 heritage district that makes the property a sensible base for a Springfield Route 66 day.

Best Time to Visit and Photography Tips

The Rockwood is open year-round. Springfield’s Route 66 season peaks in summer, when the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in August draws visitors to College Street; the Rockwood is a natural anchor for that visit. The sandstone buildings photograph particularly well in morning light, when the warm low-angle sun catches the texture of the stone facades.

• The Fill ‘Er Up Shell station exterior is the primary exterior photograph — shoot from across College Street in the morning when the east-facing facade is directly lit. Include the original gas pump silhouette and the Shell signage in the frame.
• The courtyard is best photographed in the late afternoon when warm light enters from the west, illuminating the sandstone cabin walls and the central gathering space. A wide-angle shot from one corner of the courtyard captures the full arrangement of cabins in a single frame.
• The original Ozark sandstone texture — with its distinctive wood-grain pattern — is a detail photograph worth making. Shoot close-in on the cabin walls with a moderate macro or standard lens to capture the characteristic pattern that gave the property its name.

Tips for Staying at the Rockwood Motor Court

• Book well in advance — the Rockwood has only 10 units and receives significant international bookings, particularly from Route 66 tour groups from Europe. The Fill ‘Er Up Shell station studio is the property’s most distinctive room and books first.
• Guests must be 21 or older to book. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and a credit card for check-in.
• No pets, no smoking on the property.
• Check-in is at 3:00 PM; check-out at 11:00 AM. Contact the property in advance if you have questions about arrival times.
• The outdoor courtyard fire pit is a genuine amenity in the evenings — guests congregate there, and it is one of the most enjoyable parts of the Rockwood experience. Plan time for it.
• The original cabins are compact — if you need more space, ask about the Fill ‘Er Up studio, which at 420 square feet is the property’s largest unit.
• Parking is on the property. The location is within walking distance of multiple restaurants and College Street Route 66 attractions.

2026 Route 66 Centennial Connection

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Rockwood Motor Court really the oldest operating motel on Route 66?

Yes. The Rockwood Motor Court has been operating on Route 66 since 1929 and has been recognized as the oldest continuously operating motor court on U.S. Route 66 by Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri — Route 66’s second-oldest operating motel — was built in 1936, nine years later.

Is the Rockwood Motor Court on the National Register of Historic Places?

The Rockwood has been inducted into Historic Hotels of America by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which recognizes it for preserving and maintaining its historic integrity, architecture, and ambiance. This is a separate program from the National Register of Historic Places; verify current National Register status with the property or the National Trust.

What are the rooms like at the Rockwood Motor Court?

The Rockwood has 10 themed units: six original 1929 Ozark sandstone cabins and four additional units including the Fill ‘Er Up studio in the converted Shell filling station. Rooms are themed to specific Route 66 eras — WWII, 1940s and 1950s travel, classic cars, the 1960s — with period decor and memorabilia. Modern amenities include WiFi, Bluetooth speakers, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and coffee makers. The original cabins are compact by modern standards; the Fill ‘Er Up studio is 420+ square feet.

How do I book the Rockwood Motor Court?

Visit rockwoodcourt.com to view room availability and book directly. Guests must be 21 or older to book. A valid government photo ID and credit card are required at check-in. The Rockwood books quickly during Route 66 peak season (May–September) and for the Springfield Route 66 Festival in August — advance booking is recommended.

What is the Fill ‘Er Up room at the Rockwood?

Fill ‘Er Up is the Rockwood’s studio unit in the converted original 1929 Shell filling station on the property’s front. At 420 square feet, it is the property’s largest unit — a kitchenette studio with a queen bed, two twin beds, a rollaway, and a full bath, decorated with gas station memorabilia. It is the Rockwood’s most distinctive room and typically the first to book.

Final Thoughts on the Rockwood Motor Court

The Rockwood Motor Court is what Route 66 preservation should look like. Phyllis Ferguson and Tim Phillips did not find a famous building or a celebrity-associated property — they found a worn-out 1929 tourist camp that was deteriorating toward demolition and decided, as Ferguson put it, not to think of it as development but as ‘going back to its roots.’ The seven months of renovation that followed turned that decision into 10 themed rooms, a restored Shell station, and an operating fire pit courtyard where Route 66 travelers from every state and a dozen countries compare stories after dark.

Nearby Route 66 Highlights in Springfield

• College Street Mosaic Wall — across from the Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park — dozens of Route 66 themed mosaic images created by Springfield artist Christine Schilling with local children, dedicated in 2001.
• Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven — 2 miles east on the Glenstone Route 66 alignment — the vintage Route 66 motel where Elvis Presley stayed in 1956, with his room preserved and bookable.