Stoner Tourist Camp

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Stoner Tourist Camp
1930s photo courtesy William Stoner

H. S. Stoner constructed a “tourist camp” behind his home in 1930 to accommodate the needs of the increasing number of highway travelers coming through Ames.  Located at 232 South Duff, the cabins were purchased in 1945 by Bayard Lodden and were later restructured as the Walnut Motel.  This photo faces east northeast and looks across Duff Avenue from South 3rd Street.

Cynthia Hattie Stoner (1875-1962) and Harry Sola Stoner (1871-1950)
Ames Daily Tribune Times, April 29, 1930

AMES BUILDING PERMITS - H.S. Stoner, 232 South Duff avenue, Ames, has been granted permission to erect a tourist court in the rear of his home.  The court will cost approximately $1,000 and will contain individual cabins.  The house will be used as an office.
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Ames Daily Tribune Times, June 6, 1935

MORE PERMITS ADDED TO AMES LIST - Four building permits totaling $2,900 were granted this week by City Manager John ames.  This brings the total for June to $10,400...

H.S. Stoner will construct a two-cabin tourist building at 232 South Duff avenue, 12 by 20 feet, to cost $400.
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Ames Daily Tribune and Times, December 3, 1935

WINTER CABINS, ROOMY, partly furnished or not.  Stoner Tourist Camp.  Phone 1464.
Ames Daily Tribune, June 9, 1945

LODDENS PURCHASE STONER TOURIST CAMP ON DUFF - Mr. and Mrs. Bayard Lodden today announced the purchase of the Stoner Tourist Camp at 232 South Duff from W.B. Stoner.  The camp has been operated by the Stoner family for the past 20 years .  Lodden, a member of the City Fire Department for the past 15 years, said that Mrs. Lodden would actively manage the camp while he will retain his position on the fire department.  The camp consists of eight cabins located on a block of ground, with space available for trailer houses.
Ames Daily Tribune, October 18, 1960

WALNUTS - FREE.  Bring containers.  232 South Duff.

1983 - For Sale by Terry Tuttle
Three bedroom house with full walk out office plus nine unit motel at 232 South Duff
Lot size, 99' by 280'
1930-1944 - Stoner Tourist Camp (H.S. Stoner)
1945-1950 - Lodden Cabins (Bayard J. Lodden)
1951-1957 - Lodden Motel (Bayard J. Lodden)
AAA Approved, 9 New Modern Units, Air Foam Mattresses, Automatic Heat, Television,
"Quietest Motel in Town", 2 Blocks South of Jct. 69 & 30
1958 - Lodden Motel (F. S. Garrett)
1959 - Walnut Motel (F. S. Garrett)
1961-1966 - Walnut Motel (Gertrude A. Chavis)
1966-1969 - Walnut Motel (Robert C. Towns)
1970-1979 - Walnut Motel (Samuel and Darlene Doty)
On US 30 and 69, Color TV, Room Phones, Carpeting, Central Heating, Air Conditioned Units
1980-1982 - Walnut Motel - (Terrence G. Tuttle)
1983 - House and motel vacant
1984 - 12 apartments
1985 - Vacant
1986 - Jiffy Lube
The last businesses operating at 232 South Duff were Touch-free Tunnel Carwash and Ames Moving Center/U-Haul Company.  The site is currently empty, waiting for the construction of a new bank.
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