Courtesy Photo­Image Wagon Wheel Motel, 1950s

Courtesy Photo­Image Greg and Chance Nutter

Photo by  Wagon wheels were once evident at the entrance.

A 60-year-old motel is being removed from Rodeo Road on the north side of town, a counterpoint to the big construction projects underway near the South Platte River across town.

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In the 3200 block of Rodeo Road, Chance Nutter and his father Greg Nutter are tearing down the remnants of the Wagon Wheel Motel.

The Nutters own a company appropriately called “A ’Nutter Load” — a hauling and dirt moving business that originated in Hershey. They bought the dilapidated motel two months ago and began clearing the property, tearing down buildings, taking trees out and repairing a large two-bedroom house where the motel manager once lived.

The Wagon Wheel Motel opened in 1952, according to historical records at the North Platte Library. It became the Wagon Wheel Apartments in 1975.

The name drifted into obscurity 24 years later, disappearing from North Platte City Directories in 1997.

The Nutters became interested in the property as they looked for a place in North Platte to store construction equipment. A business associate put them in touch with the owner and they struck a deal, Chance Nutter said.

The Nutters have not found many historical items from the days of the motel, except some remnants of a neon sign and telephone lines that ran to and from a switch box in the basement of the house.

The Nutters plan to make the property the headquarters of their five-year-old business.

First published in the Nov. 21 print edition of the North Platte Bulletin.