Golden Spur Motel
2090 So. Pine St. – U.S. Highways 27 – 301 & 441
Ocala, Florida
MArion 9-2681

T.V. in rooms…Air Conditioned…Steam heat…Ceramic tiled baths, tub & shower
Wall to wall carpeting…Restaurants nearby.
John & Francis Kemp, Owners & Operators

This postcard, postmarked Jul 5 11 AM 1959 in Tallahassee, Florida and sent with a purple 3 cent liberty stamp, has both the AAA and the Member Congress The Diner’s Club logos.

The postcard was sent to Mr. Ernst Studt, 1331 42nd Street, Rock Island, Illinois.

July 3, ’59

Hi Dad!
Stayed at this motel last night – saw Silver Sprgs, Rainbow Sprgs & Tommy Bartletts little deer farm today. We’re staying in Tallahassee, Fla tonight – on to New Orleans tomorrow. Sure have seen lots of beautiful sights. We’re both fine & the weather has been hot but not unbearable. On to Houston after New Orleans. Love of love, Elaine & Art

Sounds like quite a busy trip, doesn’t it? According to Wikipedia, “Silver Springs is the site of one of the largest artesian spring formations in the world, producing nearly 550 million gallons of crystal-clear water daily.” Rainbow Springs is also in Marion County. The deer ranch is Tommy Bartlett’s International Deer Ranch, more of a petting zoo, now long gone.

According to the 1940 Census, Ernst Studt was 68 years old when he received this postcard from his daughter-in-law at the home on 42nd Street (son Arthur was listed as living at home with his folks at the time of the 1940 Census, aged 21). Here is the obituary for Elaine’s father.

Google Street View still has the Golden Spur as standing, but Yelp has posted that it is now closed.

If you’re interested in owning a piece of history, the Golden Spur is for sale! Listed at only $299,000.