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The Tee Pee's beacon to weary travelers awaits restoration.
Photo courtesy Ken Rudine, May 10, 2005 |
The
Tee Pee Motel of Wharton
is currently being restored and will soon be welcoming guests. The
once-famous landmark has been sitting deserted since the 1980s. Work
began in January 2005 by Statewide Solutions of East Bernard, Texas
and at the rate they're progressing, it might be finished by the time
you read this.
This is the biggest news in Wharton
County in years. It's bigger than the night they burned the wooden
sidewalks on the square and certainly bigger than the night they cut
down the Sycamore trees on the courthouse lawn. It might even be considered
a tie with the time Sheriff
Buckshot Lane burned the highway bridge. It's nice to get some
constructive news from Wharton
County. |
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Aerial
View of the Tee Pee Complex c. 1950s
Photo Courtesy Blue Dolphin Investments LP |
Designed
in 1942 by George and Toppie Belcher, the eleven stucco and wood rooms
were part of that golden era of roadside novelties when people would
drive miles out of their way to buy gas from an oil-derrick service
station, eat a hamburger served from the belly of a giant fiberglass
cow or go without lunches to see Ralph
the Swimming Pig at Aquarena Springs.
Actual construction of the Tee Pee was delayed until after WWII.
The Belcher's began in 1947, when lumber and critical building materials
were still being rationed. Lacy Helms, owner of a Wharton lumber yard,
had to jump through Federal hoops and unravel miles of government
red tape to just get enough lumber to build the framework. But after
completion - it made up for lost time. If a family was headed toward
Mexico in the 1950s - their map was usually circled at Wharton
- and "Tee Pee Motel" penciled-in on the map's margin. |
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The
motel before restoration
Photo Courtesy Blue Dolphin Investments |
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During a 1997
report on the motel, while it was standing vacant, Houston
television reporter Nancy Holland said "It [the motel] says something
about who we were at a certain time.” [The tee pees] " have an innocence
about them, even though that might have changed toward the last
years of their use. Actually, we were probably never as innocent
as we were naive.”
The restoration of the 59-year old structures has been promised
more times than there are tee pees; but this time they mean business.
"They" being Blue Dolphin Investments LP, the new owners. In addition
to each unit having a bedroom and bath, other amenities include
refrigerators, microwaves and coffeemakers - things that were either
luxuries or science fiction when your grandparents stayed at the
Tee Pee. The complex will also include an RV park with full hookups.
Included in the new decor will be portrayals of Native American
culture - specifically "tribes that are a part of Texas'
history." Susie Dusek, spokesperson for the group says in their
press release: "With the help of ten Native American tribes, each
of the Tee Pees will be characteristic of [a] tribe and will allow
each unit to take on it’s own personality."
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Restored
Tee Pees
Photo
Courtesy Blue Dolphin Investments |
There
was once a time when tee pee motels and tourist courts could be found
all along America's roadsides. But with the reopening of the Tee Pee,
it will be the only one in Texas and
only one of four in operation in the U. S. (The other states being
Arizona, California and Kentucky.)
Even without an announcement of a completion date, the motel already
has bookings for both the Tee Pees and the RV Park. |
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The
wind-swept tree is a permanent result of the near-constant coastal
breezes.
Photo Courtesy Ken Rudine, May 10, 2005 |
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Nearly
finished units.
Photo Courtesy Ken Rudine, May 10, 2005 |
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New
Old Neon
Photo
courtesy Susie Dusek, September 2005 |
Tee
Pee Motel R.V. Park sign
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2009 |
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