The brainchild of Frank Redford who thought of the hotel chain after seeing a drive-in restaurant in the 1930s that was shapped like a tee-pee.
The Wigwam Motels had rooms that were shaped like, well, tee-pees. Originally there were 7, the first one in Horse Cave, Kentucky burned down some time ago. But there are still several remaining, the ones in Holbrook, Arizona and Rialto, California are known to be still up and running. Despite their small looking exterior, the wigwam hotel rooms are actually quite spacious. The Wigwam Motels are best know for those along Route 66 and are found in many books pertaining to the "Main Street of America."