Historic Route 66 extends from Chicago to Santa Barbara, California. And the longest still-drivable stretch of the Mother Road is in Arizona: a 158-mile portion from the Ash Fork area to the Colorado River. East of there is Flagstaff, one of the state’s most popular Route 66 destinations. And in 1929, during the route’s early years, a Flagstaff business now known as the Motel Du Beau Travelers Inn became one of the first “motor courts” in the United States.
The motel got its start in the mid-1920s, when Canadian entrepreneur Albert Eugene Du Beau traveled to Flagstaff and saw potential for a motor court downtown. Car travel was booming, and Du Beau figured travelers would be going farther — and needing a place to stay along the way. So, in 1927, he began planning, and when the motel opened as Du Beau’s Motel Inn two years later, drivers could stay a night for $2.50 — the equivalent of about $47 today.
As the decades went by, Route 66 became known for the lighted signs that lined the road, leading travelers to restaurants, motels and other attractions. The Du Beau
was no different: Its 80-foot sign was added in 1934, casting an orange glow on Flagstaff’s downtown. But as the years passed, the lights on the sign began to fade, flickering off and on because of broken bulbs. The motel went through ups and downs, too, including a period when it was used as a hostel for backpackers. Now, current owners John and Lisa McCulloch hope to restore the sign in time for Route 66’s centennial in 2026.
“The Motel Du Beau is one of the most significant properties that represent the downtown community,” John says. “Getting that tower sign lit would be a real legacy to leave for the community.”
Meantime, the Du Beau’s legacy as a Mother Road stop is still going strong. It hosts more than 20,000 guests each year, and the McCullochs have kept in touch with previous owners, including the Du Beau family. “For Lisa and I, we are very proud that we have been able to keep that direct lineage and connection to the owners of the property and be able to piece together bits of history,” John says.
FLAGSTAFF Motel Du Beau Travelers Inn, 19 W. Phoenix Avenue, 928-774-6731, modubeau.com