River-Aire Motel
Sault Ste Marie, MI
Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley

The River-Aire Motel is one of those places that's easy to miss if you're not paying attention. At first glance, it almost looks like only the old sign is left. But tucked behind the house out front are a handful of motel units, making it one of the smallest roadside motels around. 12-08

When this photo was taken in 2008, it wasn't clear if the motel was still open. The sign had already lost some of its neon tubing, giving it a worn but still charming look. Even so, it was another reminder that not every roadside motel fit the typical long row of rooms along the highway.

UPDATE: The River-Aire Motel is still operating today. Fortunately, the vintage roadside sign is still standing, although some of its original neon tubing is missing. 07-26

Dunrovin Motel (Gone)
Sault Ste Marie, MI
Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley

The Dunrovin Motel had a simple message for travelers passing through Sault Ste. Marie: "The Quiet Motel." Sometimes that's all you needed after a long day on the road. While it may not have had the flashiest sign in town, it had a personality all its own. 12-08

By the time the old roadside motels began disappearing from the Soo, the Dunrovin was one of the casualties. The motel is gone today, and so is the sign that once welcomed travelers looking for a quiet night's stay.

UPDATE: The Dunrovin Motel has disappeared from the roadside, and its vintage sign is gone as well. Another mom-and-pop motel has quietly become part of history. 07-26

Sunset Motel (Gone)
Sault Ste Marie, MI
Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley

The Sunset Motel had one of the more distinctive roadside signs in the Sault Ste. Marie area. By the time this photo was taken in 2008, the place looked like it had already been left behind. Despite several visits that summer, there never seemed to be a car or person around. Oddly enough, the grass was always neatly mowed, making it hard to tell if the motel had quietly closed or if someone was simply keeping up the property. 12-08

The motel dated back to the heyday of Upper Peninsula road trips and welcomed travelers arriving from I-75 and old Mackinac Trail. Its roadside sign, complete with a directional arrow and vacancy panel, was designed to catch the attention of motorists looking for a place to spend the night. Like many small mom-and-pop motels, it advertised simple comforts rather than luxury, proudly promoting itself as "Clean, Cozy, Carpeted, Comfortable!"

UPDATE: The Sunset Motel has since closed, and the vintage roadside sign has been removed. Another familiar stop along the old highway has quietly faded into history. 07-26

7 Seas Motel (Gone)
Sault Ste Marie, MI
Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley

The 7 Seas Motel was one of three classic motels that once lined West Portage Avenue across from the Soo Locks. It had a unique layout, with the motel rooms tucked above and behind the street-front 7 Seas Gift Shop, making the most of its prime location overlooking one of Sault Ste. Marie's busiest tourist areas. 12-08

By the time this photo was taken in 2008, both the motel and gift shop appeared to be closed. It was another reminder that even properties with some of the best locations couldn't escape the changing travel landscape. Along with neighboring motels, the 7 Seas was part of an era when travelers could pull in, spend the night, and walk across the street to watch the freighters pass through the Soo Locks.

UPDATE: The 7 Seas Motel and Gift Shop are both gone, and the old roadside sign has disappeared as well. Today, another piece of the Soo's roadside history has quietly slipped away. 07-26

Rest a While Motel (Demolished)
Sault Ste Marie, MI
Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley

The Rest a While Motel had one of those names that probably sounded pretty good after a long day behind the wheel. Unfortunately, by the time this photo was taken in 2008, there wasn't much left to rest at. The motel had already been demolished, leaving behind little more than a pile of rubble and an overgrown lot. 12-08

Like so many independent roadside motels, the Rest a While quietly disappeared with very little documentation of its history. Even the vintage sign that once welcomed weary travelers had already vanished, leaving almost no trace that a motel ever stood here.

UPDATE: The Rest a While Motel is long gone, and today there's little evidence it ever existed. Another small piece of Sault Ste. Marie's roadside history has faded away. 07-26

Captains Quarters Motel
Saugatuck, MI
Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley

The Captain's Quarters Motel is another one of those classic mom-and-pop motels that's still welcoming travelers today. Located along Blue Star Highway, the old U.S. 31 route around Saugatuck, it's the kind of place that brings back memories of family road trips before the interstates took over. 12-08

The motel has a simple, traditional layout with rooms spread across a few single-story buildings, and the vintage roadside sign still does a nice job of catching your attention. It's not an over-the-top marquee, but it has just enough character to fit the motel's nautical theme and remind you of an earlier era of roadside travel.

UPDATE: The Captain's Quarters Motel remains open and family owned. Fortunately, the vintage roadside sign is still standing and continues to welcome travelers along Blue Star Highway. 07-26

Shangrai-La Motel (Rem.)
Saugatuck, MI
Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley

The Shangrai-La Motel sits just north of Saugatuck along the old U.S. 31, now known as Blue Star Highway. Built in the early 1950s, it was a classic roadside motel with drive-up rooms, a swimming pool, and plenty of mid-century style. The name was inspired by the WWII aircraft carrier U.S.S. Shangri-La, giving the motel a memorable identity for travelers heading up Michigan's west coast. 12-08

After years of decline, the motel closed and sat abandoned before being purchased in 2011. Rather than being demolished, the property was completely restored and transformed into the retro-themed Saugatuck Motel, preserving much of its mid-century character while giving it a new life.

The original Shangri-La sign is gone today, replaced by a newer sign that reflects the motel's updated identity. It's always a little disappointing to lose a classic roadside marquee, but it's nice to see the property itself still welcoming travelers more than 70 years after it first opened.

UPDATE: The motel has been beautifully restored and continues to operate as the Saugatuck Motel. While the original Shangri-La sign is gone, the property remains one of the best-preserved examples of a classic mid-century roadside motel along Michigan's Blue Star Highway. 07-26