Winston Motel (Gone)
Redford, MI
Photo courtesy Rick McOmber

The Winston Motel advertises something you don't see on too many old roadside motel signs—hot tubs. That alone makes it memorable. Then there's the big yellow arrow, which seems to be pointing drivers toward...something. Maybe the office, maybe the hot tubs, or maybe just an available room. Whatever the destination, it's hard not to notice. 07-06

Located along busy Telegraph Road, the Winston Motel was one of many independently owned motels that lined this well-traveled Detroit-area highway. The oversized marquee did exactly what it was supposed to do: catch the eye of passing motorists and give them a reason to slow down. Sometimes a bright arrow was all the advertising a motel needed.

UPDATE: The Winston Motel is gone, but the building lives on as the Redford Inn & Jacuzzi Suites. The old marquee and its famous yellow arrow have disappeared, although the property's hot tub theme is still very much alive. 07-26

Grand Tulane Motel (Gone)
Livonia, MI
Photo courtesy Rick McOmber

Here's a rather interesting marquee. The Grand Tulane Motel sign looks like it dates back quite a few years, and it's easy to imagine how impressive it must have been when all of the neon was still glowing. Even without the lights, it's the kind of old roadside sign that's worth slowing down for. 07-06

The motel stood along historic Grand River Avenue, once part of old U.S. 16 before the interstate era changed the way people traveled. Like many roadside motels from the 1940s and '50s, it welcomed motorists making their way across Michigan. Even after the neon faded, the vintage marquee still hinted at what must have been a much brighter roadside attraction years earlier.

UPDATE: The Grand Tulane Motel is gone, although the old sign structure still stands. The property is now home to an auto dealership, and the original motel sign has been repurposed with new panels. 07-26

Indian Trail Motel (Demolished)
Wisconsin Dells, WI
Photo courtesy Dan Schuster

The Indian Trail Motel features a big red arrow that leaves little doubt where to find the office. It's the kind of eye-catching roadside sign that did exactly what it was supposed to do—get your attention and point you in the right direction. 12-06

Located along Broadway in Wisconsin Dells, the Indian Trail Motel was a classic single-story motor court where guests could park right outside their rooms. The oversized arrow gave the motel plenty of personality and probably convinced more than a few travelers to pull in after a long day on the road.

UPDATE: The Indian Trail Motel is gone, and the property has been redeveloped as part of the neighboring Bella Vista Motel. Unfortunately, the big red arrow didn't survive the transformation. 07-26

Star Motel (Gone)
Wisconsin Dells, WI
Photo courtesy Dan Schuster

The Star Motel features a marquee that looks like it could have come straight from a classic Holiday Inn. Standing tall above the Wisconsin Dells Parkway, it was the kind of sign that was hard to miss and probably talked more than a few travelers into pulling off the road. 12-06

Wisconsin Dells has always been known for its colorful roadside attractions, and the Star Motel fit right in. Like many of the independent motels that once lined the strip, it offered travelers a convenient place to spend the night while exploring the area's waterparks, attractions, and scenic surroundings. The motel itself was fairly straightforward, but the towering marquee gave it plenty of personality and made it stand out from the crowd.

Signs like this were once a familiar sight all across the country. Inspired by the famous Holiday Inn "Great Signs" of the 1950s and '60s, they were designed to be seen from a distance and make choosing a motel an easy decision. It's easy to see why this one caught Dan Schuster's attention.

UPDATE: The Star Motel no longer operates as an independent motel. It became part of the Mt. Olympus Hotel Village during a major expansion, and the old marquee has disappeared. 07-26