Once a booming roadside attraction along America’s highways, Wigwam Motels symbolized a golden era of postwar travel. With their iconic teepee-shaped rooms, these unique lodgings captured the imagination of Route 66 tourists during the rise of the automobile age. But how did something so bold, kitschy, and beloved become nearly extinct?In this episode, we explore the surprising history behind the Wigwam Motels—from their invention in the 1930s by Frank Redford, to their rise in popularity across the country, and the cultural controversy that followed. We’ll visit what remains of these strange structures today, meet the people trying to preserve them, and uncover why their quirky charm couldn’t stand up to the forces of modernization, franchising, and shifting cultural values.