Thrifty Scot was a chain of motels across the Midwest. The first location opened on May 13, 1973 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The chain was started by real estate developers Cy and Dan Brutger and within a few years the chain of no-frills, budget motels thrived.
I know that there were at least 28 and as many as 30 locations scattered across nine states. I have not found a directory for the Thrifty Scot. I pieced this directory together after going through dozens of newspapers, websites and books. I am fairly certain that the address I have are correct. The locations without an address, are the ones I found mentioned but never found any details.
The chain dissolved in 1986 when all locations became Days Inns.
COLORADO
FORT COLLINS
3625 E. Mulberry
Thrifty Scot 1 person: $26.90 2 persons: $30.90 Fort Collins, CO 80524 2 psns. 2 beds: $33.90 303/221-5490 Cribs & Rollaways: $3.00 Distance from campus: 5 mi., Exit 269B West from 1-25, AC, TV, phone, complimentary cont. breakfast, some rooms equipped for wheelchairs, some nonsmoking rooms, restaurants in vicinity. Reservations must be made by 15 June 1984.
IOWA
MASON CITY
2301 Fourth St. SW
NEWTON
I-80 & Hwy. 14 Exit
MINNESOTA
BEMIDJI
Highway 23
BRAINERD
Hwys 371 & 210
DULUTH
GOLDEN VALLEY
6300 Wayzata Blvd.
HIBBING
INTERNATIONAL FALLS
MINNEAPOLIS – BROOKLYN CENTER
Shinglecreek Parkway and Interstate 694
OWATONNA
Hwy. 14 & I-35
ST. CLOUD
130 N.E. 14th Ave.
WAITE PARK
40 South 10th Avenue
WINONA
Highway 44
MONTANA
BILLINGS
1345 Mullowney Lane
BOZEMAN
Oak Street
GLENDIVE
1321 N. 7th Avenue
HELENA
2001 Prospect Ave.
KALISPELL
1830 Highway 93 South
NEBRASKA
LINCOLN
I-80 @ Airport Exit
OMAHA
72nd & Grover
NORTH DAKOTA
BISMARCK
East Highway 83
FARGO
SOUTH DAKOTA
PIERRE
SIOUX FALLS
31st Street, West of I-29 Interchange
SIOUX FALLS
491 Cliff Avenue
SPEARFISH
WASHINGTON
SPOKANE
1919 N. Hutchinson Rd.
WISCONSIN
FOND du LAC
MANITOWOC
4004 Calumet Avenue
WYOMING
CASPER
There was at least one in West Covina, California. If its now the Days Inn it was at 2804 E Garvey Ave S. although that’s the south side of I-10 and I was sure it was north of the interstate.
Thrifty Scot Motel, Junction of Hwy 14 & Hwy 16 Winona, MN 55987
The specific address was 420 Cottonwood Drive, Winona, MN 55987 (it is now a Days Inn)