The Wagon Wheel Cabins were built in the chaotic times of 1935 when the nation was barely out of depression and the dust bowl had destroyed millions of acres of land.

		Robert W. & Margaret Martin were the first owners of the Wagon Wheel Cabins, purchasing the land in late 1934. The Martins hired Leo Friesenhan to do the building. Records show they worked on all the buildings at the same time and  the local farmers carried the stone to him. Leo’s combination of stone, design, and nearly indestructible mortar recipe has endured for 75 years,  giving the Wagon Wheel its spot on the National Registry of Historic Places.
By 1941 Robert had 14 cabins, 12 car shelters, and 2 locked garages. The middle building was expanded and due to the increasing length of autos, tourism trade and military traffic the garages in the buildings were converted into units also.

After the War in 1946 the land was split and the cabins sold to a partnership, the café and station to another couple, with the station being leased to The Standard Oil Co. This only lasted one year when John & Winifred Mathis purchased the cabins and  William &   the  "notorious"    Sadie Mae Pratt" took over the café.

Most importantly , John designed the famous Wagon Wheel neon sign at his kitchen table changing the name to Wagon Wheel Motel instead of Cabins. He added the block building containing 4 units, the storage and laundry and also built a good reputation along Rte 66.

In 1963 Pauline and Hallie Roberts  purchased the property and immediately opened "Ye Old Coffee Shoppe" which closed in 1980 when Hallie died. Pauline later married  Harold Armstrong and continued to run the motel for a total of 40 years when she passed away in 2003 . Harold followed in 2008.

Connie Echols purchased the Motel from Harold’s son in Sept 2009. Updates and restoration have been non-stop on some of the most unique original buildings left on Rte 66 today. The Café houses Connie’s Shoppe and also serves as the motel office where the same check-in cards and desk are still being used.