Built by Boots - Lloyd Boots recognized future of automobile tourism and created Boots Cottage Court along Highway 54

Rose and Lawrence Jackson pose outside the tourist court along U.S. Highway 54 in Eldon during the 1930s. The couple worked in the café and service station associated with the tourist court. Following the loss of his Bagnell garage in a 1931 fire, Lloyd Boots recognized the tourism potential created by the newly formed Lake of the Ozarks, developing what became Boots Cottage Court. The business expanded to include a service station, café, tavern, and tourist cabins. Courtesy of Randles Court

Editorial note: This is the first of two articles about the history of Randles Court in Eldon.

The fascinating story of Randles Court began not with a motel, but with a fire. In March 1931, a blaze destroyed Lloyd Boots' garage in Bagnell, a community experiencing dramatic change from the construction of Bagnell Dam. When many business owners might choose to rebuild and continue their operations, Boots chose a different path.

A later account published by the Tipton Times recalled that after losing his garage, Boots began hauling cobblestones to Eldon in 1931 to construct a service station. The Lake Sun Leader later reported that he "sought refuge in Eldon" and began constructing a service station and motel.
The businessman recognized the opportunity being created by the newly formed Lake of the Ozarks. The decision proved remarkably farsighted.

The completion of Bagnell Dam and the creation of Lake of the Ozarks transformed central Missouri. Thousands of visitors began traveling to the region to fish, boat and vacation. U.S. Highway 54 emerged as one of the principal routes serving the lake area, and Eldon became a gateway community for travelers headed south.

Boots’ vision was that the future belonged to automobile travelers. And rather than rebuilding in Bagnell, he positioned himself along Highway 54 in Eldon, where motorists would need fuel, food and lodging. What began as a service station soon evolved into a much larger enterprise.

The November 26, 1931, edition of the Eldon Advertiser reported the marriage of Helen Randles of Poplar Bluff and Lloyd Boots of Eldon. The newspaper noted that the couple would make their home in Eldon, where Lloyd was associated with his father's Super Service Oil Station.

The newlyweds quickly became part of Eldon's growing business community. By 1933, Lloyd Boots was identified as proprietor of Boots Super-Service Station. The station served motorists traveling through central Missouri during the rapid expansion of automobile travel. The operation soon expanded beyond fuel sales.

A July 4, 1935, article in the Eldon Advertiser reported that Boots had purchased the Lloyd Blackburn restaurant located in the east section of Boots Super Service Station. More significantly, the newspaper noted that he would operate the restaurant in connection with his service station and "modern cabins."

The brief announcement reveals that by the summer of 1935, Boots had already assembled the essential components of a successful roadside business. Travelers could purchase gasoline, enjoy a meal and spend the night in modern tourist accommodations without leaving the property.

Another newspaper article published on Sept. 26, 1935, reported a burglary at Boots Tavern. Although the story focused on the theft of approximately $30, it also revealed that the tavern operated in conjunction with the service station. Together, the service station, restaurant, tavern and cabins formed a complete roadside destination for motorists traveling Highway 54.

The timing could hardly have been better since only a few years earlier, Bagnell Dam had created the Lake of the Ozarks and generated a tourism boom throughout central Missouri. Families increasingly traveled by automobile, and Eldon occupied a strategic location along one of the primary routes leading to the lake.

Perhaps the most revealing glimpse into the growth of the business appeared in the April 22, 1937, edition of the Eldon Advertiser. At a time when much of the nation remained mired in the Great Depression, the newspaper reported that Lloyd Boots was excavating for four additional cabins at his property on U.S. Highway 54 and Mill Street. The article noted that the new units would be "larger and better than the others" and would be "strictly modern with private shower bath."

The expansion demonstrated both confidence and foresight. While many Americans struggled through economic hardship, Boots invested in modern accommodations designed to attract travelers. Newspaper accounts from the same year reported that the property offered 14 rental rooms in addition to a private apartment occupied by the Boots family.

By the late 1930s, the business had become a substantial roadside enterprise. Boots employed managers to oversee various aspects of the operation, allowing him to focus on expansion and development. The property included a service station, restaurant, tavern, lodging facilities and family living quarters. It was far more than a simple tourist camp.

In December 1938, the Eldon Advertiser reported that Lloyd Boots had erected a large neon sign bearing the words "Lloyd A. Boots Cottage Court." The newspaper also described the business as an "excellent cottage camp."

The glowing sign represented more than an advertisement. Across America, neon had become a symbol of the highway age. Long before GPS and interstate exits, travelers often chose their lodging based upon what they could see from the road. The new sign announced that Boots Cottage Court had become one of the region's premier roadside destinations.

The property's reputation soon extended far beyond Missouri. On Aug. 31, 1939, the Eldon Advertiser reported that Otis Hicks and his wife from Prescott, Arizona, stayed at Boots Cottage Court while visiting relatives in Eldon. According to the newspaper, Mrs. Hicks owned 30 cabins in Arizona's San Jose Valley and was therefore familiar with the lodging business. After her stay, she reportedly remarked that the Boots Cottages and their service were "the best they had found between Arizona and Missouri."

The same year, Lloyd Boots was elected president of the Eldon Lions Club, reflecting his growing stature as both a businessman and community leader. By the eve of World War II, Boots Cottage Court had become a well-known stop for travelers heading to and from Lake the Ozarks.

The story of Boots Cottage Court also carries a fascinating Route 66 connection. Lloyd's brother, Arthur Boots, would later establish the famous Boots Court Motel in Carthage along Route 66. Although the two businesses served different highways, they reflected the same entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to serving America's growing population of automobile travelers.

By the end of the 1930s, Lloyd and Helen Boots had built one of central Missouri's most successful roadside enterprises. Their service station, tavern, restaurant and modern cottage court represented the changing face of American travel. However, there was another chapter to be written. 

Following their divorce, Helen resumed her maiden name, Randles, in 1947. Around the same time, Boots Cottage Court became Randles Court, ushering in a new era for one of Highway 54's most recognizable landmarks.

The motel Lloyd Boots created would continue serving travelers for decades to come, even as ownership changed and the American road trip evolved. The story of Randles Court, however, was only beginning.

Jeremy P. Ämick is author of the upcoming historical compilation “Voices of the Moreau.”        

This vintage postcard depicts Randles Court and Coffee Shop along U.S. Highway 54 in Eldon during the property's heyday as a roadside destination. Originally established as Boots Cottage Court in 1931, the motor court became Randles Court after Helen Randles assumed ownership following her divorce from Lloyd Boots. For years, the motel and coffee shop welcomed travelers heading to and from the Lake of the Ozarks, becoming a familiar landmark during the golden age of automobile travel. Courtesy of Randles Court