Lazy A Motel
Why it's listed
Built in 1948-49 on Peoria Road in Springfield, this U-shaped motor court once offered 13 rooms to travelers on U.S. Route 66. Its stuccoed concrete block walls, flat roof with tile-topped parapets, tiled shed-roof hoods over entries, cast iron railings and heart-shaped door hardware reflect a modest Southwest Vernacular style, uncommon in Illinois. A two-story center section held the office and manager's apartment. Garages once sat between the rooms; only a few remain intact, while others now serve as bedrooms or kitchens for apartments. Original features such as the neon sign, wood gateways and wagon-wheel fence have been lost, though the grass courtyard survives. Harold Gordon and Daisy Gordon Tucker built it as a small family-run operation. It was listed for its link to Route 66 between 1949 and 1956 and as the only surviving Illinois example along the route of a motor court with garages between its units, reflecting the shift from autocamps toward the modern motel.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues local significance under Criterion A for its association with U.S. Route 66 and under Criterion C as an example of the owner-operated motor court with garages between the sleeping units. It is described as the only one of this type remaining on Route 66 alignments in Illinois. Its Southwest Vernacular style is unusual for the region.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 94001268, listed November 8, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2840 Peoria Rd., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Sangamon County |
| Listed | November 8, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94001268 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1949-1956 (Transportation); 1949 (Architecture) |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by Harold Gordon and Daisy Gordon Tucker) |
| Architectural style | Other: Southwest Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as apartments; the 13 original motel rooms remain basically unaltered, but most garages have been converted to bedrooms or kitchens and the neon sign, wood gateways and fence are gone. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 39.83926, -89.63323 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 94001268.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6506094
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.