Is the wheel well motel real?

The real motel that inspired this sweet gem in the film is the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. It's still up and running, so mosey on over and stay for a while.



The Wheel Well Motel from the Disney-Pixar movie Cars is not a real, functioning motel, but it is heavily inspired by iconic real-life locations along historic Route 66. Its architectural design and "teepee" or cone-shaped aesthetics are primarily based on the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, and the Wigwam Motels (specifically the ones in Holbrook, Arizona, and San Bernardino, California). The fictional motel's location near a scenic overlook also draws inspiration from the Chief Yellowhorse Trading Post near Lupton, Arizona, which is perched against dramatic red rock cliffs. While you cannot book a room at the "Wheel Well," fans can visit a life-sized recreation of the Cozy Cone Motel (which shares many design cues with the Wheel Well) at Disney California Adventure’s Cars Land. There, the "cones" serve as snack stands rather than guest rooms, but they capture the same retro-roadside charm that the filmmakers intended to honor from the golden age of American automobile travel.

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Route 66 became a popular route because of the active promotion of the U.S 66 Highway Association, which advertised it as “the shortest, best and most scenic route from Chicago through St. Louis to Los Angeles.”

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Route 66's popularity led to its downfall, with traffic swelling beyond its two-lane capacity. In 1956, legislation created the Interstate System, and over the course of three decades, five separate interstates bypassed segment after segment of Route 66.

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Of the original 2,448 miles that made up Route 66, about 80-85% is still drivable.

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Practicalities of driving Route 66 You need around three weeks to complete Route 66. There is no perfect time to drive Route 66. Due to its sheer size, you're likely to experience some adverse weather conditions, whatever the month.

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Jericho Gap, Texas This became so profitable that there were rumors that some residents watered down the road to increase the plight of Route 66 travelers. Eventually, Route 66 was rerouted to higher ground in the 1930s and the area dwindled into a ghost town.

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