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Ames Tourist Court
Photo from a family album, circa 1930

In 1926 John W. Ogle operated what may be the earliest tourist court in Iowa at 318 East Lincoln Way.  This was the first motel in Ames and is at this time the longest running motel in Iowa.  The 1932 Hobbs Guide reported this was one of the finest tourist facilities on the Lincoln Highway, and that car parking was available inside the room.  By the 1960s the name had changed from Ames Tourist Court to Ames Tourist Motel.  A 1964 advertisement touted, direct dialing, television, courtesy coffee, 24 hour service, ice, air conditioning, kitchenettes and reasonable rates.  Since 1966 the name has been Ames Motor Lodge.  Learn more about the Ames Tourist Court.

2008 view of the Ames Motor Lodge

Perry and Nancy Upchurch are the current owners of Ames Motor Lodge.  Perry reports that the abstract for the property at 318 East Lincoln Way shows that a campsite for travelers occupied the location before 1926.  He also says that when he remodeled a few years ago he discovered evidence of the garage openings that allowed autos to be parked in each housing unit.  The automobile parking portions had been remodeled to provide additional housing units.