Weston Steamboat Inn, Weston
May 2026
Celebrating pre-Civil War history, the Weston Steamboat Inn stands as a tribute to master navigator and riverboat captain R.N. Traver who built the home in 1845. At that time, steamboats regularly docked at Weston’s bustling riverfront to transport the area’s hemp and tobacco crops. Port trade ended in 1881 when the Missouri River diverted to more than two miles away. However, Weston continued to thrive.
Today, the Federalist-style inn still overlooks Weston’s historic downtown. Tastefully decorated, the brick home feels spacious and inviting due to its carefully curated, uncluttered décor. My husband and I chose the Commodore Suite, one of three spacious king suites with a separate entry and electric fireplace. The suite’s bathroom featured a freestanding modern soaker tub and large marble shower under a crystal chandelier.
Owners Rob and Glenna Nance retired from medical and teaching careers respectively and moved from Kansas City after purchasing the restored home. They opened the inn during the height of Covid and found people were flocking to Weston at that time. Restoration altered some aspects of the house while other features remain untouched. The original walnut woodwork is now painted giving it a fresh, clean vibe. Hickory floors compliment two original gas fireplaces and exposed brick on several walls. Sitting areas offer cozy nooks for guests.
“Every wall in the house is three bricks thick, and the former back door has been converted to the front entrance,” says Glenna. “One of Captain Traver’s daughters was an artist. Her sailboat painting still hangs above the sitting room fireplace.”
At breakfast, guests might feast on Glenna’s caramel creme brulee French toast served with bacon and eggs. As a retired culinary teacher, Glenna loves to cook. Breakfast recipes originate from her personal collection, which she constantly tweaks, incorporating seasonal produce, real butter and cream. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Nances host a complimentary social hour at 5 p.m. In warmer months, the wrap-around veranda and flower-filled back deck become a serene oasis, perfect for relaxing. Located several blocks from Main Street, guests can walk to restaurants.
Numerous activities in the area include touring and tasting at the Holladay Distillery and enjoying live Irish music at O’Malley’s Pub, both the oldest of their kind west of the Mississippi River. Downtown boutiques and galleries sell unique artwork, clothing, pottery and more. Nearby Green Dirt Farm Creamery serves artisan sheep cheeses on their sandwiches and charcuterie boards, and guests can dine on picnic tables under the trees.
Visit WestonSteamboatInn.com for more information.
Today, the Federalist-style inn still overlooks Weston’s historic downtown. Tastefully decorated, the brick home feels spacious and inviting due to its carefully curated, uncluttered décor. My husband and I chose the Commodore Suite, one of three spacious king suites with a separate entry and electric fireplace. The suite’s bathroom featured a freestanding modern soaker tub and large marble shower under a crystal chandelier.
“Every wall in the house is three bricks thick, and the former back door has been converted to the front entrance,” says Glenna. “One of Captain Traver’s daughters was an artist. Her sailboat painting still hangs above the sitting room fireplace.”
At breakfast, guests might feast on Glenna’s caramel creme brulee French toast served with bacon and eggs. As a retired culinary teacher, Glenna loves to cook. Breakfast recipes originate from her personal collection, which she constantly tweaks, incorporating seasonal produce, real butter and cream. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Nances host a complimentary social hour at 5 p.m. In warmer months, the wrap-around veranda and flower-filled back deck become a serene oasis, perfect for relaxing. Located several blocks from Main Street, guests can walk to restaurants.
Numerous activities in the area include touring and tasting at the Holladay Distillery and enjoying live Irish music at O’Malley’s Pub, both the oldest of their kind west of the Mississippi River. Downtown boutiques and galleries sell unique artwork, clothing, pottery and more. Nearby Green Dirt Farm Creamery serves artisan sheep cheeses on their sandwiches and charcuterie boards, and guests can dine on picnic tables under the trees.
Visit WestonSteamboatInn.com for more information.
Boots Court Motel
February 2026
Across the street, Boots’ diner served all-day breakfast and aired the daily radio show, “Breakfast at the Crossroads.” Route 66 and Highway 71 had been dubbed the “Crossroads of America.” Boots eventually sold the property, and the next owner added a back building with five larger rooms.
Fast forward to 2011, two Georgia sisters bought Boots Court to save it from demolition and moved to Missouri to reestablish the motel. They replaced the gable roof with the original flat roof design and restored the neon sign. (One of their daughters currently heads up housekeeping.) Eventually, local nonprofit Boots Court Foundation purchased the property and started additional renovations in 2021.
Today, rooms have been refurbished keeping many original features including pine flooring and doors, stucco walls, built-in desks and checkered bathroom tile. Art deco-style headboards mirror the motel’s exterior design. Rooms boast a radio—but no TV—5G wifi and top-quality bath towels and bedding. Guests in the front building use the old-time carports adjacent to rooms.
Manager Janna Conklin displays a world map and pins the states and countries from which guests come. My husband and I arrived on a Thursday evening just after a New Zealand couple. Two other guests were exploring Route 66 from Chicago through Oklahoma.
“One visitor from Finland rode his moped the entire length of Route 66. Afterward, he donated pieces of his moped to his favorite stops. He gifted us his handlebars, which we have on display,” says Conklin.
Guests check in at the Carthage Visitor Center next door, which formerly housed a 1964 Sinclair gas station. Its gift shop sells Route 66 souvenirs created by 21 local artists—t-shirts to notecards to Route 66 guides. Plans include constructing a green space connecting the motel and visitor center where fellow travelers can relax and swap Route 66 stories around fire pits and outside seating. With the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026, the foundation will partner with the city to celebrate.
“We love to welcome new guests and offer them the chance to experience the simpler days of travel,” says Conklin. “We already have reservations for the 2026 anniversary.”
Visit BootsCourt66.com for more information.