Galaxie Motel
Brigham City, UT
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

This space-age looking motel is called the Galaxie Motel, and the name fits perfectly. Between the starburst and futuristic styling of the sign, you almost expect to see a flying saucer landing nearby.

I've always enjoyed stopping to photograph this sign. It's one of those motel marquees that instantly transports you back to a time when America was fascinated with the Space Age and the future seemed limitless. The sign has a fun personality and stands out from many of the more traditional motel signs found throughout the West.

UPDATE: The Galaxie Motel is still standing and remains in business today. Better yet, the wonderful vintage sign is still out front doing exactly what it was designed to do more than 60 years ago. Signs like this have become increasingly rare, which makes it all the more enjoyable to find one still welcoming travelers to town. 06-26

Old Trapper Motel
Logan, UT
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

It's been a long day on the road, so why not spend the night at a place called the Old Trapper Motel? The sign out front certainly caught my attention. Now shut down that "old trapper" while I look for a place to stay for the night... oh wait ... never mind!

From what I understand, the motel featured a collection of small themed rooms, giving travelers something a little different from the typical roadside stop. I've always enjoyed places that try to do things their own way, and the Old Trapper Motel appears to have been one of those places.

What I like most is that it wasn't just another generic motel. Between the name, the sign, and the themed rooms, it had a personality all its own. Those are often the places I remember long after the trip is over.

UPDATE: The property remains standing today and continues to operate as a lodging facility under the Trapper Lodging name. While it has evolved over the years from its motel roots, the historic buildings and guest units remain part of the property, preserving a piece of Logan's roadside history. 06-26

Sunset Motel (Closed)
Pueblo, CO
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

This old roadside sign stood outside the Sunset Motel in Pueblo, CO. The sign bears a striking resemblance to another Sunset Motel sign once found along Route 66 in Moriarty, New Mexico.

The motel was located at 2124 Lake Avenue, along a corridor that included several mid-century roadside lodging properties serving automobile travelers through southern Colorado.

UPDATE: The Sunset Motel is now permanently closed. Posada acquired the motel in November 2020 and later redeveloped the property into Sunset Senior Housing, an affordable senior housing project completed in March 2023.

Trails End Motel
Dubois, WY
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

Here's a nice marquee outside of the Trails End Motel in Dubois. I can't quite tell what the frame on top of the sign was intended to display, but it certainly adds a little mystery to an otherwise straightforward roadside marquee.

Dubois has always struck me as the kind of town where a classic motel sign feels right at home. Surrounded by mountains and serving as a gateway to Yellowstone, it's easy to imagine generations of travelers pulling in after a long day on the road. The Trails End sign may not be flashy, but it has the kind of honest roadside character that fits the town perfectly.

UPDATE: The Trails End continues to welcome travelers to Dubois, and the historic roadside sign remains standing out front. In a time when so many classic motel signs have disappeared, it's always good to see one still doing the job it was built to do which is letting weary travelers know they've found a place to spend the night. 06-26

Holiday Motel
Jerome, ID
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

Check out the marquee for the Holiday Motel in Jerome, Idaho. What caught my eye wasn't the motel itself so much as the sign. The star on top, complete with the colorful balls surrounding each point, gives it a fun space-age look that feels right out of the late 1950s or early 1960s.

I've always been drawn to signs like this. The motel may have been fairly ordinary, but the owner clearly wanted something memorable out front. Even today, the star still gives the property a little personality and helps it stand apart from the countless roadside motels that once lined America's highways.

UPDATE: The Holiday Motel continues to stand along Main Street in Jerome, though the property now operates under different branding and caters more toward extended-stay guests. Fortunately, the vintage star-topped marquee remains in place, serving as a reminder of an era when motel owners weren't afraid to add a little flair to their roadside signs. 06-26

Zion Inn Motel (Closed)
Cedar City, UT
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

Here's a nice sign for the Zion Inn Motel in Cedar City. While it may not have been as elaborate as some of the classic neon signs found throughout the West, I always liked the way the neon tubing wrapped around the lettering. At night, it gave the sign a clean glow that was easy to spot from down the street.

Cedar City has long been a stopping point for travelers heading to and from Zion National Park, and places like the Zion Inn were part of that roadside experience. The sign had a more modern look than many of its mid-century counterparts, but it still carried enough neon to catch the eye of anyone cruising through town after dark.

UPDATE: The Zion Inn Motel is closed. The place is now called Kolob Travel. 06-26