This would have brought the total to 156. Work began on that phase sometime between August and November 1964. A new barber shop, beauty salon, and renovation of the banquet hall brought in an estimate of $500,000. *Phase II-C changed the expansion plan yet again, with only 48 more rooms added.Instead of the additional rooms, it planned to build a piano bar, an indoor swimming pool, and additional kitchen facilities and meeting rooms. Phase II-B scaled the expansion down to 80 rooms for $1.25 million because 140 more rooms would have taxed food and beverage facilities.Phase II-A was originally planned to have an additional 140 rooms at a cost of $2 million.( Minneapolis Star, May 17 and June 27, 1963) An adjoining gas station was part of the property. *The first phase opened for business on May 20, 1963, with 108 units, a restaurant that seated 200, a lounge that seated 55, and convention facilities that could seat up to 780.The ones that came to pass are marked with an asterisk. Smiley and Associates of Minneapolis, and constructed by Kraus Anderson. Ground was broken on November 19, 1962, with delays related to the installation of utilities.

The motel was one of 39 Thunderbird motels across the country, including the one in Las Vegas, according to the Minneapolis Tribune (August 18, 1962). Wallace had originally planned to build the complex at the Northwest corner of 494 and Cedar Ave. Wallace’s obituary, at the bottom of this page, tells the story of his love of his motel. Perfectly placed to take advantage of the new highway and the new Met Stadium nearby, the motel was the baby of Rodney S. The Thunderbird Motel was located at 2201 E.