Coral Court Motel – Vanished From St. Louis, Missouri – Legends of America
Okay, history buffs and Route 66 dreamers, let’s talk about a place that’s gone but definitely not forgotten: the Coral Court Motel. This wasn’t just any roadside stop; it was a total icon of the Art Deco era, a place dripping with style and maybe just a little bit of shady secrets.
Back in the day, Marlborough, Missouri (basically a suburb of St. Louis), was where you’d find this gem. Imagine sleek, curved buildings, those cool glass blocks everyone was obsessed with, and these honey-colored tiles that just screamed "vintage glam." Sadly, like so many cool things from the past, the Coral Court was torn down in 1995. But the story? Oh, it’s a wild ride.
From Ex-Con to Motel Mogul
The whole thing started with a guy named John Carr. Now, John wasn’t your average entrepreneur. He’d done time in Leavenworth (a pretty serious prison in Kansas). Before the Coral Court, he was known for running a high-end brothel in St. Louis, and rumors swirled about his connections to the mob. Not exactly your typical hotelier, right?
In 1940, John bought a nice chunk of land along Watson Road, which was none other than the legendary Route 66. Perfect spot for a cash business, especially since it was just outside the city limits. He hired an architect named Adolph Struebig and basically said, "Go all out. Spare no expense!"
Construction kicked off in the summer of ’41, and by early ’42, the Coral Court was open for business. The timing was interesting because the U.S. was gearing up for World War II. There’s a theory that Carr named the motel after a coral business he had down in Mexico. The guy was always juggling something!
A Motel Unlike Any Other
The Coral Court was more than just a place to crash for the night. Each unit had two rooms and its own private garage. Can you imagine the privacy?! John was super picky about the grounds, making sure everything was perfect.
On a stretch of Route 66 packed with those classic "mom and pop" motels, the Coral Court was an instant hit. It was always booked solid. But here’s where things get interesting… There were whispers about the motel being a place where you could get away with things, no questions asked. It was rumored to have illegal gambling and call-girl services going on behind the scenes. At one point, Carr even built a secret underground room with an escape tunnel. And to keep the operation running smoothly, he supposedly bribed the local police. Scandalous!
Kidnapping and "No-Tell" Fame
In 1946, things got even bigger, with 23 more units added. Then, in 1951, Carr married a former prostitute named Jessie Hughes. Their relationship was… complicated, to say the least.
But the real drama came in 1953. A notorious kidnapper named Carl Austin Hall checked into the Coral Court. He and his accomplice, Bonnie Heady, had kidnapped and murdered a wealthy kid from Kansas City. A cab driver suggested the Coral Court, which made some people think the driver was in on Carr’s secrets.
Hall and Heady were caught, convicted, and executed in record time. But here’s the twist: only half of the ransom money was ever found. Some folks figured Carr had pocketed the rest.
This whole incident put the Coral Court on the map for a whole different reason. It became the place for affairs and secret rendezvous. A "no-tell motel" where you could hide your car in a private garage.
Swinging ’60s and a Decline
In the ’60s, they added a swimming pool. The motel boasted 77 rooms and cottages, private bathrooms, hot and cold water, maid service, and even 24-hour service. It was still a happening spot.
But then, in 1965, John and Jessie divorced. And things got really messy. Jessie ran off with a former con who worked at the motel, taking a briefcase full of incriminating documents and one of John’s Cadillacs! They fled to Florida and got married. Carr, being the kind of guy he was, tracked them down, sent some "friends" to bring Jessie, the briefcase, and the Cadillac back to St. Louis. Three years later, John and Jessie remarried. Talk about drama!
Despite all the personal turmoil, the Coral Court was still a celebrity hangout. Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster, Danny Thomas – they all supposedly stayed there.
The End of an Era
In 1972, Route 66 was bypassed by Interstate 44. This was a death knell for many businesses along the old road. John Carr kept the motel in good shape, but he had to rely more and more on those "no-tell" clients. He even started renting rooms by the hour. Public opinion started to turn against the place.
John Carr passed away in 1984, leaving the Coral Court to Jessie and his head housekeeper. Jessie remarried the motel manager and tried to keep things going, but the property started to fall apart. She eventually sold options to developers who wanted to build a shopping mall.
Preservationists tried to save the Coral Court, getting it listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. But it wasn’t enough. By 1993, the motel was closed and up for sale. No one wanted it at the high price and with all the needed renovations.
A Piece Lives On
In June 1995, the Coral Court was demolished. But before the bulldozers came in, volunteers worked tirelessly to dismantle one complete unit. Piece by piece, they moved it to the Missouri Museum of Transportation, where it’s still on display today. You can even see a 1941 Cadillac parked in front of its garage. It’s a cool reminder of what once was.
Jessie Carr Williams died in 1996. Today, the land where the Coral Court stood is a housing development. But the original stone gates are still there, a silent nod to the motel’s wild past.
So, there you have it. The story of the Coral Court Motel: a place of style, secrets, and a whole lot of drama. It may be gone, but it’s definitely not forgotten.