Meet Phyllis Ferguson, proprietor of the historic Rockwood Motor Court in Springfield, Missouri, on the legendary Route 66. She shares incredible insight spanning the court’s journey from its early days in the Great Depression, through the heyday of Route 66, the struggles after decommissioning, and its exciting resurgence in recent years.
1. As the oldest continuously operating motor court on Route 66, what legacy do you feel Rockwood Motor Court carries — and how does Springfield’s history as the birthplace of the Mother Road add to that story?
As the oldest operating court on Route 66, there are clear parallels between the life cycles of both Route 66 and Rockwood Motor Court. Route 66 was commissioned in 1926, and the Rockwood was built in 1929. Their similar histories are marked by development, prime years, decline, and now rebirth.
Rockwood opened just as the Great Depression hit, making it a survivor from the start. For example, there were 13 different owner/operators in the 19 years between 1929 and 1948.
Just as Route 66 became an integral part of the nation’s transportation network during WWII, Rockwood was there to provide lodging for travelers.
As Route 66 hit its prime and carried people from all walks of life, Rockwood provided a place to stay for tourists, business travelers, and families on the road for weddings, funerals, reunions, or visits. And if guests weren’t staying in a cabin, they were welcome to pitch a tent out back for the night.
When the interstate highways developed and Route 66 lost relevance for cross-country travel, businesses along the road suffered — Rockwood included. By the 1980s, there simply wasn’t enough overnight travel to support the court, and the era of weekly/monthly lodging began. That period was the hardest in Rockwood’s history. Declining income led to deferred maintenance, which caused the same blight so many courts along the route experienced.
But just as the spirit of Route 66 has never died, we believed the same about Rockwood. In 2019, when I looked at the tired old court, I knew it wasn’t finished. It needed immediate attention — hard work, resources, and love — to bring it back to its glory.
Most importantly, it needed people to believe in it again. Happily, that’s happened in spades. It’s so gratifying to see how many others who love Route 66 have rallied their support behind Rockwood Motor Court.
Our legacy is Rockwood’s long history on Route 66, and those who have helped breathe new life into it alongside us.
That Springfield is both the birthplace of Route 66 and home to Rockwood Motor Court may feel coincidental to some, but to those who know the history of both, it’s deeply significant.
2. Running a motel/ hotel (particularly a historic motor court) is a round-the-clock responsibility. How do you balance the demands of hospitality with finding time to unwind or take a break? What does your day-to-day operation look like behind the scenes? Do you notice any seasonal shifts in occupancy or the types of travelers coming through? How do you prepare for the busy and slower seasons?
Our season officially begins in mid-March and slows around mid-November, though we’re open year-round, 365 days a year. January and February are the quietest months, so that’s when we plan our downtime and getaways.
Summer travelers are most often vacationers. They start arriving in April and taper off by late October. Springfield may be their destination or just a stopover for a night or two. Guests come from across the country and all over the world. We’ve been delighted to host international travelers, and it’s the best way we know to connect — they get to meet “regular folks” in the American heartland, and we get to learn about their cultures.
Winter brings overnight travelers between destinations, as well as folks visiting family and friends, attending events, or conducting business in town.
We have a wonderful staff, and together we work hard to give our guests the most comfortable, relaxing experience we can. We all have our special tasks that we do and specific work skills— though there’s not anything that each of us won’t jump in and do on any given day to help provide a better experience for our guests.
And honestly, we just love people. There are so many great folks who come through our doors — we enjoy meeting them and have even made lifelong friends who first arrived as guests.
What would you most like visitors to know about Rockwood Motor Court — and how can choosing locally owned lodgings like yours enhance their overall Route 66 experience?
What do I want visitors to know about Rockwood Motor Court? Mostly, I want them to stop in. We’ll gladly show you around, talk about the history, and share how we came to it in 2019 and where we are today. We’ll tell you about our love for Rockwood and how proud we are to be caretakers of such a historic spot on Route 66. Then, I’ll turn the question back to our visitors: What should we do next to ensure Route 66 — and places like Rockwood — stay alive and vital for generations of travelers to come?
Speaking specifically about Rockwood but also about locally owned, small businesses on Route 66, I’d tell travelers this: this is how you find the most authentic experiences. By meeting and interacting with the people who live, work, and pour their hearts into these places, you get the real story. We’re passionate enough about Route 66 that we’ve immersed ourselves in it — through our love, experiences, memories, and investments.
Many of us have spent a lifetime living, traveling, or running businesses along the route, and we’re eager to share what we know. Isn’t that what visitors truly want? Compare that to the experience you’d get at a chain hotel or big-box stop — probably not the same.
