The iconic Wigwam Village Motel on South Orange Blossom Trail was built by Orlando Builder Jerry Kinsley. Each wigwam had a bedroom and bathroom. It was built using metal lath, then sprayed stucco.
Photos courtesy of the Kinsley Archives.
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Wigwam Village Motel
1961 aerial photo of Wigwam Village Motel at 700 South Orange Blossom Trail built by Orlando builder Jerry Kinsley. Photo courtesy of the...
Wigwam Village Motel
Photo of the steel frames for the Wigwam Village Motel at 700 South Orange Blossom Trail built by Orlando builder Jerry Kinsley....
Wigwam Village Motel
Close up photo of the steel frames for the Wigwam Village Motel at 700 South Orange Blossom Trail built by Orlando builder...
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In the mid 50s, we used to drive from Atlanta to Ft Lauderdale each year for a post-Christmas vacation, In those days, it was about a 14 hour drive, and we liked to stop between Ocala and Orlando to break it up.
In 1955, I was eight and saw the Wigwam Motel for the first time. Being full of Davy Crockett, I absolutely had to stay there. It took a year of pestering my parents, but I won out and we stayed there in 1956. I was a bit disappointed that the interiors were pretty typical hotel toom look, but at least I got to find ou first hand.
Greetings Mr. Dornbush! Thank you for visiting our Orlando Memory post on the Wigwam Village Motel. That must have been so exciting to see the Motel in person. We hope you will find other posts on Orlando Memory that bring back thoughts of happy times in Orlando. THE ORLANDO MEMORY TEAM
I remember this motel on the south Trail from the 1960’s. I was fascinated by it as most five and six year olds would be. It was on the way to my Grandma’s (from Altamonte Springs). I asked my mom if she had stayed there before and indeed she had. Such an iconic site- everyone seemed to know it back then! I don’t remember when it was torn down but it definitely created a different landscape. I have such wonderful memories of Orlando from the 60’s to the late 70’s- when progress became ridiculous!
Greetings Angie! Thank you for visiting the Orlando Memory post on the Wigwam Village Motel. I was much older than you when I first saw the Wigwam Village, but just as fascinated! I passed on my way to work and back each day for several months before it was demolished in 1973. We hope you find other posts that bring back happy memories of the 1960s and 1970s and your Orlando memories with everyone! THE ORLANDO MEMORY TEAM
Wigwam village motel was ran by my mother, Alma Binkley. It’s sad that know one knew about her. She was a bad ass, she was color blind when it came to peoples. Everyone was welcomed. Most of the motel on OBT wouldn’t let African Americans stay or eat in their motels, but not my mom she loved to feeding people.
I love your post!
I was only 4 years old when we moved to Orlando from Chicago. I remember this motel vividly… it and Lake Eola were my first memories of coming to Orlando. Miss pre-Disney Orlando.
Me too!! We moved here in 1973, from, you guessed it!! Chicago!!
I miss the past off this wonderful town before Disney World.
Before The Rat ruined Florida:(
I didn’t know about this. Must have been an amazing sight to see.