After a long day of driving on our Retro Roadtrip what could be a more welcomed sight than a glorious vintage neon sign, beckoning us to sleep in a wigwam. So we did!
While we stumbled into our cone shaped cottage and collapsed onto the bed, the morning gave us a bit more time to take in this roadside destination that has been keeping shutterbugs and roadtrippers delighted since 1937.
Built as part of a chain, with only 3 remaining (the other two are in California and Arizona) the 15 wigwams in Cave City are made of concrete and steel. “Cozy cones” indeed, they have either one or two double beds in them and each has their own bathroom. Many of them are outfitted with the original hickory and pine furnishings that the motel opened with!
The Cave City Wigwam village is family owned and operated, which you’ll find out immediately should you call to make your reservation and find one of the children answering the phone! No worries, they’ll pass the receiver over to mom or dad. Should you be rolling into the village later than planned (like we did) they are also very gracious in making sure you get your key, no matter how late it is!
Most folks were just staying for one night, so we had the place practically to ourselves after checking out a little late.
As far as the amenities go- I think it’s important to remember that you’re staying in an 60+ year old historic roadside loidging, and not a generic chain. Clean, cheery and cozy? Yep! Bed a bit soft and furninishings a bit eclectic? That too. But I’ll tell you, the shower in our wigwam totally beat out the one in the overpriced chain hotel we stayed in the night before.
Come on in- the wigwam’s fine!
I was glad to see that the giant teepee gift shop at the entrance (which was a restaurant at one point) was open when it was time for us to leave, so we got to chat with the owner – and commiserate with him about trying to find folks to do repairs on old stucco and plumbing (hello, Hacienda!)
There wasn’t much of a selection of souvenirs, but I did love the knotty pine interior, and as able to pick up a few vintage post cards to send to the Retro Roadkids, promising that we’d all stay here some day.
Our host said that there are folks who come back and stay every year, and some, like the lady featured below, who come back once every 54 years!
If we’re ever going through this area again we’ll totally stay here, and I encourage you to do the same.
Addition 8/3/2011: Read here about our online pal Mr. Modtomic’s swell visit to the Cave City Wigwams and check out his great photos of the interior of their wigwam.
Wigwam Village #2
601 North Dixie Highway
Cave City, KY 42127-8419
(270) 773-3381
View KY – Kentucky Retro RoadMAP in a larger map
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I’m jealous! There is a TeePee village near me in Cherokee, but the owners are updating them. You know how I feel about that.
Lizzie – I’m sure we both feel the same way about that-! This was a milestone place I’ve wanted to stay in for the longest time, so a nice sense of accomplishment having done so. Now I just want to stay in the other 2 in Cali and AZ!
I must go here!
Question: They have AC right?
We were there when it was a bit chilly and were glad for the little space heater, but yep, according to their website they do have AC!
loved seeing the cozy cone pics! we stayed in the ones in AZ a couple of years ago and had a blast!
We decided to check in when we got to town to see where we had to go. They were rude to us then because we came before 2:00pm check-in. They gave me a key to our room when I didn’t ask for it since we couldn’t get in our room. When we came back we were there a whole ten minutes and realize something wasn’t normal. From the time we walked in, it smelled like bleach. So we tried keeping the door open, which didn’t help. The smell was not healthy. So I went to complain and see what they could help us with the situation. I told them it smelled like bleach and the owner said, they don’t clean with bleach but I know what bleach smells like. He then continued to say he has never gotten any complaints before us. After asking/demanding a full refund he gave me $20 dollars. I told him I would be contacting my credit card company to stop payment. Then complained I didn’t go to the office, when this morning I had to go to his home. So he directed me to the office/store where I asked again for a refund but the owner already called to tell the worker not to refund me. So I refused to sign my credit card slip. I went to my car and called my credit card company. They told me to give the money back and to call back in two days to rebut the transaction. They suggested I get them to sign something stating why I refused to stay. Well, that didn’t happen. I have health issues, which I did not bring up, but the smell was bad. What was I suppose to do sleep with my door open all night. This happened about 4:00pm, which gave them plenty of time to rent the room to some other person .
I believe I will call the Better Business Bureau in the morning.
Jenny- that totally stinks (no pun intended) that you had such a bad experience at the Cave City Wigwams. While I know our little cone shaped room smelled a bit musty it wasn’t bad enough for us to want to leave. Hope you got some resolution to your situation.
Your comment is a sad but good reminder that a place can be “Retro Roadmap-worthy” but still have other issues, so, as with everything in life “Caveat Emptor!”
I read a few reviews like this on the web before we made a two day reservation and I read the Cancellation Policy on the Wigwam Village (#2) website. If you made a reservation (sounds like you did, though you didn’t state in the comment that you did) you agreed to pay for the room through the time reserved unless you cancel 3 days before the reservation. Sounds to me like you just didn’t do your homework and find out what to expect. I did and was absolutely ready to forfeit the two day’s payment if I didn’t like the room when we arrived. I don’t think that the BBB will help and I think it is wrong of you to involve them as ANY report to the BBB put a black mark on the business reported, legit or otherwise. The motel was simply following their published policy. Be an ethical person, pay your bill and learn something from your experience.
In a case like this, it may have been advisable to inspect more closely to see if all that bleach was an attempt to cover up mould or other problems which *do* have health implications. I have no idea whether this was the case here, but it would be a key fact should you need to escalate this to a legal dispute.
http://www.teepeemotel.net/
I’m late discovering this lovely blog. I have included another type of this theme motel. I haven’t stayed here YET.
Thanks
Wow! I didn’t have the Teepee motel on my radar but will put it on my list now – thanks!
My Dear Retro Roadmap Readers –
In an effort to reduce comment spam by bots on my site, I’ve closed the comments on this post.
But the last thing I want to see happen is that it stops the conversation on this topic, especially if you have something you want to add!
So if you want to comment on this post all you have to do is email me at modbetty AT retroroadmap DOT com and let me know what you want to say and what post it goes with. I’ll make sure your info gets matched up and added to the conversation!
Thanks for understanding!
Your hostess, Mod Betty
As promised, I’m adding a comment to this thread, so people can be updated with what other folks have found. Thanks Elaine, for the heads up:
“I thought you might like to know that the Wigwam Motel in Cave City is getting really run down. I hope people don’t read your blog and make a reservation before they check it out. I was there several years ago and it was running down then but when I checked it out this spring and read the reviews I changed my mind. Seems new people bought it and the large wigwam where you used to check in is closed and you have to go to a house next door. No upkeep done in a while. Too bad because I love the old places. Maybe they will see some of the reviews and start fixing the place back up. After all there are only 3 of them left. Love, love, love your blog as I am a retro/weird site traveler too. Keep up the good work.” -
So just keep this in mind when you’re checking out the Wigwam Motel. We had a fine stay when we went there but I also know that things do change in time.