The Star-Studded El Trovatore Motel

Patrick and I just returned from a mini road trip to Arizona, and boy are y’all in for a slew of posts! But let’s start off with the first place we stopped for the night, the El Trovatore.

El Trovatore is not only right along Route 66, but it is perched right on the edge of a cliff, and offers spectacular views of Slaughterhouse Canyon, I know, what a name! We arrived shortly before a thunderstorm, so as we started to snap photos clouds rolled in and it began to rain.

The roadside sign for "El Trovatore" a brick structure stands on a hill above the motel, with a red and white sign jutting from the brick reading "El Trovatore Motel"

Until about ten years ago, the El Trovatore had become what many old motels of the 20s through the 50s had become, apartments. But thanks to new owners, it has returned to being a motel, complete with celebrity themed rooms, and what is said to be the world’s longest map of Route 66 painted across one of its buildings. Another building has been transformed into a western landscape featuring Looney Tunes characters. The place is kitschy to say the least, but we love kitsch. The new owner also restored the iconic neon for both the massive sign near the road and the tower on the hill. I always applaud anyone who invests in restoring neon!

In 1937 this motel began as a humble service station, owned by John F. Miller, but two years later, it 1939, it became a motel, starting at $3 a night, and was also the first to have air conditioning in the state. It’s also had notable guests, like Clark Cable, Jane Russell, James Dean, and the gal who inspired the decor for our room, Marilyn Monroe.

The El Trovatore, a long, low, single story building. A giant shield is painted on the pavement reading "Route 66." A tower stands on a hill and reads "El Trovatore"

A mural of a road, with a waitress in a 50s style pink uniform, a jukebox, and red sports car, with text reading "World's Longest Route 66 Map" painted above.

A mural of a WWII plane reads "Kingman Airfield 1942"

Part of the map mural, a hot rod sits under a target with text reading "Kingman You Are Here" and a painting of the El Trovatore tower.

Myself, wearing a t-shirt with a cowgirl who has been bucked off her horse, cut off jean shorts, standing in front of the massive mural.

The door to our room, which is white, has a turquoise diamond with "108" in the middle and small sign reading "Marilyn Monroe"

Inside our room, a white room with images of Marilyn Monroe on the wall, an archway on the left opens to a small desk.

A radio tower like structure rises from a hill above one of the buildings with "El Trovatore" in neon spelled down, a pink sign reading "Route 66" is at the bottom. The building is painted like a gas station, the building next to it is painted like a train.

One building features a massive mural of a stagecoach that is pulled by horses.

A mural of Bugs Bunny dressed like a sheriff is painted on a door to one of the rooms.

Two massive murals on the side of the buildings, one of Marilyn Monroe, the other of Elvis in front of a 50s car.

The pool, while empty, features a yellow submarine mural, with a cartoon octopus coming out of it. A pink heart reads "El Trovatore"

A building painted to look like a train.

Myself, wearing a t-shirt with a cowgirl who has been bucked off her horse, cut off jean shorts, standing in front of the building painted to look like a gas station.

The El Trovatore, a long, low, single story building. A giant shield is painted on the pavement reading "Route 66"

View of Slaughterhouse Canyon, with a mesa rising behind a train along the tracks.

Mural of a woody wagon sitting under the Santa Monica Pier sign, with text reading "...end of the road" at the bottom.

The roadside sign for "El Trovatore" a brick structure stands on a hill above the motel, with a red and white sign jutting from the brick reading "El Trovatore Motel" An old rusted car sits out front.

Sleep under the stars in a star inspired room at El Trovatoe at 1440 E Andy Devine Avenue (AKA Route 66) in Kingman, Arizona.

Outfit
Shirt: Atomic Swag (the same exact one doesn’t exist anymore, but this one is similar)
Shorts: Buffalo Exchange
Mocs: Minnetonka

Sources
About Us.” El Trovatore.
Plaques on site.

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