El Trovatore Motel

El Trovatore Motel in Kingman, Arizona is Route 66 motel known for its theme rooms and the bright neon sign that towers over the property. Pull off the road, book a room, and spend the night in one of their Hollywood themed rooms on Route 66!

“Trovatore” is Italian for troubadour or traveler, making it a fitting name for a motel built along one of the most traveled roads in America. This motel has been attracting travelers since it opened in 1939.

The business started in 1937, originally operating as a service station and cafe. The tourist court was added later in 1939 and was the first air-conditioned motel in the state, a luxurious amenity at the time!

El Trovatore was built by developer John E. Miller, who built the first hotel in Las Vegas in 1906, the Sal Sagev (that’s Las Vegas spelled backwards). The Kingman motel attracted many celebrities through the years, including Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Jeff Chandler, Charles Bronson, Jane Russell, James Dean, and Don Knotts.

When you arrive you’ll find several single-story buildings with drive-up private entrances. Built around the parking lot, as you drive in, you’ll see a giant Route 66 shield painted on the pavement that welcomes you in before getting to the reception space. The walls of the motel are covered in fun murals, including Route 66 imagery, Looney Tunes, and other cartoon characters.

While much of the property does show its age, it has everything you’d need in a vintage Route 66 motel. There’s free Wifi, free parking, cable TV, microwaves, small refrigerators, and, of course, air conditioning.

The rooms are all Hollywood themed rooms, based around different stars of the golden area. Spend the night in a room themed after Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Elvis, John Wayne, or Audrey Hepburn room. There are pictures and quotes on the wall to let you know which Hollywood star you’re sleeping with and, as you come into your room, and old classic movie will be playing on the TV for that perfect extra touch.

In 2023 the Route 66 motel was featured on the TV show Motel Rescue, where a designer came in and helped redo parts of the motel. This included renovating the lobby, updating two new retro super deluxe kings rooms (with road trip and Route 66 themes), and repainting the old “World’s Longest Map of Route 66” that snaked around the building with a newer, more modern design.

Besides its celebrity status and decor, El Trovatore Motel is probably best known for its iconic 100-foot tall neon sign. Perched high on a brick structure on a hill in front, the motel’s name lights up brightly in red and white each night. Whether you’re booking a room or not, the neon sign makes for a fun roadside attraction, so pull over to take photos!