Teepees and Pyramids in Tempe

The May 31st AZ Central.com had an interesting article on the some unique architecture in Tempe, Az.

The city hall evidently is an inverted pyramid. I looked for a picture, but couldn't find one.

Most of the article was on a motel that no longer exists called known as the Tempe Teepees. They were originally the Wigwam Auto Court and later the Wigwam Lodge. I found this of interest because of a two night stay I had in Wigwam Village #2 in Cave City, Ky, right by Mammoth Cave.

The article continued that the wigwams never looked like teepees and Arizona's indigenous population never built anything like it. This didn't bother Frank Redford who patented the Wigwam design in 1936. Nor did it matter to Maurice Barth (1896-1973) who built the Tempe one.

As more and more folks were driving America's highway system in the 20s and 30s, new roadside architecture evolved to attract them. Neon lights and signs competed with each other to out-garish the next guy down the road.

In 1926, the new Federal Highway System was created. Four US highways and Az-93 came together in downtown Tempe on Mill Avenue and then went west on Mesa Highway along East 13th Street. It was renamed Apache Blvd. in 1950.

Some relics of the 1930s to 1960s remain in Tempe, but unfortunately, not the Wigwam Auto Court.

It was built in 1945-46 and predates the existing one in Holbrook, Az by 4 or 5 years. Interesting enough, it had six 35 foot tall, two-story wigwams, the only ones ever built that high. They and the rest of the 23 foot diameter units had concrete branches at the top to resemble lodge poles.

In the mid-60s, they were converted to apartments and half demolished in 1972. Arizona State University acquired the property in 1982 and had it bulldozed in 1983 for a new dormitory. The paper is looking for recollections of it. I also could not find any pictures of the place. I would have liked to have seen one of those two-story teepees.

ASU STRIKES AGAIN

The same university also just recently demolished the old Valley National Bank on Rural Road and Apache Blvd. in February. Preservationist fought the good fight, but lost in the end. However, they did save the unique gold-domed roof. It was one of the valley's first and most unique drive thrus.

The roof was disassembled and put in temporary storage and will be reinstalled somewhere on the campus.

Win Some, Lose Some. --RoadDog