| City/Town: • Elmwood |
| Location Class: • Commercial • Hotel/Motel |
| Built: • 1970's | Abandoned: • 2003 |
| Status: • Burned Down • Demolished |
| Photojournalist: • AbandonedOK Team |
Keith’s Korner
Keith Thomas created this business in the 1970s calling it Keith’s Korner. Later it would be passed down to his son Rusty in the late 1980s. Hours were 7 days a week Mon-Sat 7 am-10 pm and 8 am-10 pm on Sundays. Keith’s Korner and Quick Stop was the place to go for all your needs in town. Located right off of the highway it was perfect for those road tripping through the panhandle as a place to stop overnight, fuel up, or grab a bite to eat. In addition, they also auto repairman Leroy offered tire and auto repairs as well as oil changes. One of the few and far places in between to find any service you need in the Western Panhandle.
In November 1992 Keith’s Korner was used as refuge for those stranded in a heavy snowstorm in the western region. Oklahoma Highway Patrol was transporting people to churches, schools and the motel at Elmwood. People doubled up with strangers to spend the night until roads cleared up showing a true act of community support and helping a neighbor out. “We’ve probably got about 25 people here right in our motel,” said Rusty. A handful of others slept at the cafe next door and truck drivers lined the highway sleeping in their trucks. “Our population went up last night,” Thomas said. The small town of Elmwood only had 15 residents and his motel only had nine rooms. People were doubled up in rooms putting some in the game room. Strangers got to know one another and Rusty tried his best to find a place for everyone to safely rest that night.
Gallery Below Elmwood Pit Stop & Motel
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We ran this place in better days. I picked the name bc nothing marked Elmwood, OK so I wanted something to reflect the name. We made the sign & I cant believe it looks so good this many years later. Im proud of that 🙂 those telephone poles were a pain to move & put in but well worth it. Great pictures! Brings back a lot of good memories. We had some great times there I considered it a huge blessing & met a lot of great people.
You must be a ghost because the one and only owner of this place died nearly 20 years ago. Nice story loser.
You have no clue what you are talking about. You are wrong about 1 owner. Keith Thomas owned this place then his son Rusty at that time I was buying it. It was previously called Keith's Corner. My husband & son both have commented on the pictures because we did in fact live there & run this place from 1999-2003. Then the corporation commission shut down the fuel part of the business so I left & Rusty then sold it to the family that is still there after the motel burnt down. They only run the store now without fuel. Don't believe me pick up the phone & call.
Keith and Rusty told me they have no idea who you are but they suspect you of burning the place down.
Thats ridiculous! I paid Rusty every month to lease the place when I ran the place & my Dad worked for Keith years ago. It was fine when I was there & burned down long after I moved to Okc! The people are still there that lived there when it burned! Dont slander me you dont even know me!
Only Kidding!
Pretty Much the demise of the business was the regulations that the corporate commission inforced on fuel stations started in 2003 and was fully infect by 2007. This implied that we would have had to cough up $150,000 for upgrades. We didn't even make enough off of the business for small repairs, so that closed the fuel part in which slowed the business to even less income in which we had to give up on it in 2003. The fire clinched the deal years later. No amount of lowering prices helped in anyway. There wasn't enough business that way. Too Bad!
yea me and my family use to own this motel its really sad how things turned outfor it.
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You are wrong it was in operation when we lived there. 1999-2003. This is my son who did in fact live there with his Dad & I.
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Spanky's cafe or restaurant, if I remember correctly. They had great food in early 80s. Sorry to hear it burned.
I have been thru elmwood many times going to see family in Tyrone.I remeber bostons marina and we would laugh because there was no water to put a boat in.
Reminds me of the Bates Motel.
I stayed here in the 1970's! My husband and I were on a cross country road trip. Wow, what memories this brings back, thank you!
at one time this little burg — in the 70's had a couple of filling stations, the motel, and a resturant. The motel had a fire several years ago and the was pretty much the demise of the business.
haha, good one.
She just goes a little mad sometimes. We all go a little mad sometimes. Haven't you?
-Norman Bates
This is the type of hotel you see in one of those little horror flicks.