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Roadside Motels
Googie | Las Vegas | Neon | Orange County | Other Roadside | Reno

The Roadside Motel has been a major part of the American roadside culture for decades. Whether the sign read "Do it in a Tee Pee" (Wigwam Motel, Rialto CA) or "Color TV", each motel attempted to catch the eye of the weary traveler.

 

Oasis Motel (Demolished)
Anaheim, CA
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

Travelers and passersby alike would encounter a never-ending stream of neon motel signs as they pass from town to town. Stop to see the neon here at Roadside Peek's Neon Motels.

 

 

Star View Motel
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

Travelers also see s numerous googie motels in their travels, each one different from the rest. Between the glow of the neon and space age look of googie, the look of these roadside motels was never better.

 

 

 

Safari Inn
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

As time went by, other Roadside Motel signage evolved, not quite like the old googie/boomerang look, but unique nonetheless. One of the looks that evolved during the 1970's was the Tiki motel look, a style that could be found on more than a few apartment complexes and motels.

Bob's Motel
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Bob's Motel and Safari Inn are a couple of motel warriors that have lasted through the new decade. Although lately, the Bob's Motel paint is starting to look a little more worse for wear.

 

 

Stovall's Apollo Inn (removed)
Photo courtesy Louis Di Fazio

Another new addition is Orange County Motels. Primarily centering on motel signage near Disneyland, these signs are rapidly transforming from the astro googie look of the 60's and 70's to the new "resort" look of the millennium. As Disneyland continues to build the California Adventure resort next to the main park, these memorable signs just disappear.

 

 

A Fishers Inn
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The most recent addition to the Motels section is Las Vegas Motels. Yes, Vegas, the land of the posh resort hotels. In some circles, Las Vegas is home to the best googie around. Of course those of us from Southern California or Florida may dispute that notion. Nonetheless, Vegas does have some of the very best motel signage. See here for yourself!

 

 

Heart O Town Motel RenoHeart O' Town Motel (Demolished)
Reno, NV
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Travel down Virginia St. in Reno and the Heart O' Town Motel is a can't miss item, both literally and figuratively. Unfortunately this motel was demolished recently and the sign is now gone. Check out the look of this marquee from back in the day. See ths motel and more at Roadside Peek's Reno Motels.

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© Copyright 1998-2021 Syd Nagoshi. All rights reserved. No portion of this document may be reproduced, copied or revised without written permission of the author.