Devil's Elbow Motel, Ruins Of Route 66

I do not know any of the history of this place, so if anyone has any information, please email me at snoopdorkydork71@gmail.com, or comment below. I would like to be able to piece together the story of this place. I was able to find a vintage postcard of the old motel. The Devil's Elbow Motel is still standing, but is not in any type of a livable condition. It looks like the owners of the property may have turned it into apartments at one time, the present day fate of S&G Motel in Buckhorn, Missouri. However, the units today are uninhabitable, but the office building has been converted into a private residence and is a rental property. The brick wall pictured in front of the office is only a memory. No trace remains of the sign and what became of it is unknown.

A Vintage Postcard of Devil's Elbow Motel

Devil's Elbow Motel, Summer 2009. The backside of a billboard on Interstate 44 can be seen on the right side of the picture. The construction of I-44 was the end of the Route 66 heyday in the Devil's Elbow, Missouri area. Picture by Snoop

Consider a building with a few broken windows. If the windows are not repaired, the tendency is for vandals to break a few more windows.-The Atlantic Monthly. Photo by Snoop.

The section of the motel shown on the right side of the vintage postcard as it looks in August 2009. Picture by Snoop

The two sections of the motel meet. Photo by Snoop.

The section that runs parallel to Route 66. Picture by Snoop.

Another view of the section that runs parallel to Route 66. Picture by Snoop.

The end unit, behind the office. Not visible from Route 66. Photo by Snoop.

Interior of a unit in The Devil's Elbow Motel. Picture by Snoop

Interior of a unit in The Devil's Elbow Motel. Oddly, I do not recall seeing any toilet or shower facilities in this unit. A far cry from the refuge that a traveler of Route 66 would have found during the motels heyday. Picture by Snoop.

Old Brownfield, Missouri?

My brother has been searching for the old town of Brownfield, Missouri. We have located the location of the Brownfield Store, near the Brownfield Baptist Church on Highway K. We are assuming that this area is New Brownfield. Google Maps shows Brownfield as being at the intersection of Flagstone and Fairview Road.

However, on a recent "off the beaten path" trip in Kyle's Bronco, we saw some old buildings that made us think that maybe it was actually located down Fair Road, off of Fairview Road. If you can identify these structures, please email me at snoopdorkydork71@gmail.com

A structure on Fair Road, that we believe may have once been a store. Photo by Snoop

A wonderful old barn on Fair Road, not far from the Pulaski County Line. Photo by Snoop

A sign, done in the style of the sign on the M*A*S*H* television show, pointed us further down the road to Blackberry Meadow, Eagle Point, Gasconade River, Gravel Bar, and Katie Spring. Fair Road was gated before we reached the Gasconade River, but before we got to the gate we found this beauty:

Farm House at End of Fair Road. Photo By Snoop.

I am not an expert on old houses, but I am guessing that this was built in the mid to late 1800's, with the Victorian style front addition built on later. I bet this grand old lady has quite a few stories to tell. If anyone knows of any of them, please share!

I have also learned that there are two cemeteries in Old Brownfield, Missouri. Jeff pointed out a "cemetery" somewhere on this road trip, but I do not recall where we were when we found it. He pointed back off the road, at what he had been told was a cemetery. We will have to go back when the leaves are off the trees to be able to tell for sure.

Nicks Cemetery: Laclede County, on a farm owned by Dr. Harvey Nickels. Highway 17 South to Old Brownfield.

Nicks Cemetery: Pulaski County, on a farm owned by Earl Nicks. Highway 17 South to Old Brownfield.

Cemetery directions from "Tombstone Inscriptions Throughout Pulaski County" available at the 1903 Pulaski County Missouri Courthouse Museum.

Vernelle's Motel, A Survivor's Story

Vernelle's Motel, a survivor of multiple road alignments, is still open for business. Photo by Snoop.

Terrie and I took a short trip exploring Sugar Tree Road on July 30th. Our first stop was to pop in and visit Ed Goodridge at Vernelle's Hotel. Ed waved us across and we visited with him and Foxy for a bit before we headed down the road to John's Modern Cabins.

Ed Goodridge, Proprietor of Vernelle's Motel, and his companion, Foxy. Photo by Snoop.


Vernelle's Motel opened in 1938 and has endured all the road alignments that have occurred in the past 7 decades. Ed was quick to remind us that he is still open for business. For those who love The Mother Road, an overnight at Vernelle's is a must. His business card advertises Clean Rooms and Reasonable Rates.

Vernelle's Motel, 8 Miles West of Rolla MO, on Historic Route 66

Vernelle's history can be traced back to the late 1930's when it first opened as Gasser Tourist Court. The name was changed to Vernelle's after Fred and his wife, Vernelle, bought the tourist court from Fred's uncle, E.P. Gasser. The couple expanded on the original tourist court, which consisted of six cabins, a novelty store, and a gas pump. In 1952 Fred and Vernelle Gasser built a hotel and a restaurant on the property. Travelers refueled at Cities Service Station. A petting zoo was used at one time to entice travelers to come off the road and part with some of their cash.

In the book The Route 66 Cookbook: Comfort Food From The Mother Road, written by Marian Clark, Vernelle states “We served a lot of barbecue and chicken. Soldiers from Fort Leonard Wood were some of our best customers.” Sadly, the restaurant closed in 1957, to make room for the new four lane alignment of Route 66. A part of Vernelle’s Café lives on in The Route 66 Cookbook. Marian Clark shares Vernelle’s recipe for Vernelle’s Café French Dressing.

Vernelle's Motel & Cafe before the "new" 4 lane alignment of Route 66.


The hotel has changed hands in it’s 71 year history. Forest Riley purchased the place and then sold it to Nye Goodridge in 1960. The Route 66 icon has stayed in the Goodridge clan since then with Ed at the helm today.

The Vernelle’s Motel sign, a mainstay, on Route 66 is original, dating back to 1952. The Route 66 preservation group, Friends of The Mother Road, gave the sign a fresh coat of paint in the last few years.


Vernelle's Motel On Old Route 66. Photo by Snoop.


Vernelle’s Motel is off the beaten path, not even visible from the most recent round of road improvements of Interstate 44, and almost 60 years from today's interstate traffic. A visit with Ed and a stay at the motel is good for the soul.

Vernelle's Motel, Life in The Slow Lane, Photo By Snoop

For more information or to make reservations at Vernelle's Motel, contact Ed Goodridge at:

10891 Sugartree Outer Road
Newburg, MO 65550

Phone: (573) 762-2798

http://www.route66motels.com/vernelles/vernellesmotel.html