The City Creek Inn featured a sign that lit up the night for travelers passing through Salt Lake City. These photos caught the marquee glowing against a spectacular Utah sunset, creating one of those scenes that reminds you why neon and dusk go so well together. 09-06
Originally known as the Covered Wagon Motel, the property featured one of the more memorable motel signs in Salt Lake City. The colorful marquee depicted a covered wagon and pioneer family, a fitting tribute to Utah's pioneer heritage and a roadside landmark that welcomed visitors arriving near downtown.
UPDATE: The City Creek Inn has since been demolished and the property redeveloped. It's now a Seasons on City Creek Apartments complex. Sadly, the colorful covered wagon sign disappeared as well. Once a familiar sight along North Temple, the marquee now survives only in photographs and memories. 06-26
City Creek Inn
Salt Lake City, UT Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
City Creek Inn marquee
Salt Lake City, UT Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
City Creek Inn Close up
Salt Lake City, UT Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Sand and Sage Motel (Rem.)
Denver, CO Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Denver is home to the Sand and Sage Motel and its classic neon marquee. Check out the way the arrow and motel lettering glow red at dusk, giving the sign the kind of roadside presence that photographers are always hoping to find.
Located along East Colfax Avenue, the Sand and Sage was one of many motels that catered to travelers passing through Denver during the heyday of the American road trip. The glowing neon arrow helped pull attention from the busy boulevard and remains the sign's most distinctive feature. 07-07
UPDATE: The Sand and Sage Motel no longer operates as a traditional roadside motel. The property has been repurposed for supportive housing, providing a new use for the longtime Colfax landmark. The iconic sign is gone replaced by a small sign years ago. 06-26
Niagara House Motel
Denver, CO Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Most of the letters still lit up in this dusk shot of the Niagara House Motel sign. The vertical "MOTEL" lettering and arrow helped give the marquee a classic roadside look that fit right in along East Colfax Avenue. 07-07
Built in 1959, the Niagara House Motel was one of many independently owned motels that lined Colfax during the heyday of automobile travel. Its sign advertised the kinds of amenities travelers expected in the era, while the tall vertical design made it easy to spot from a distance.
UPDATE: The Niagara House Motel continues to operate along East Colfax Avenue. While the original name lettering on the sign has been replaced over the years, the familiar vertical "MOTEL" section and arrow remain standing, preserving at least part of the marquee's mid-century character. 06-26
White Swan Motel (Converted)
Denver, CO Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The neon lettering still glows on the sign at the White Swan Motel. Even years after it was installed, the marquee remained one of the more recognizable signs along West Colfax Avenue. 07-07
Built in 1945, the White Swan Motel was part of the long line of roadside lodging properties that catered to travelers passing through the Denver area. The sign originally featured a white swan perched atop the marquee, helping give the property a distinctive identity among the many motels that once lined the corridor.
UPDATE: The White Swan Motel has found a new purpose. The property was renovated and converted into a family shelter, providing temporary housing and support services for those in need. While the motel no longer serves travelers in the traditional sense, the site's continued use ensures that this longtime Colfax landmark remains an active part of the community. 06-26
Stonewall Motel (Gone)
Denver, CO Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The vacancy sign is lit up at the Stonewall Motel. Like many motels along West Colfax Avenue, the property relied on a bright roadside marquee to attract travelers looking for a place to spend the night. 07-07
The Stonewall Motel was part of the long line of independent motor courts that once lined U.S. Route 40 as it passed through the Denver area. Its sign advertised modern conveniences of the era and became a familiar sight for motorists heading west toward the mountains.
UPDATE: The Stonewall Motel has since been demolished, and the property has been redeveloped sometime after 2017. Redeveloped into a parking lot. Fortunately, the motel's iconic roadside sign was saved before demolition and became part of the Colfax Avenue Museum collection. While the motel itself is gone, a piece of its roadside history survives. 06-26
Sands Motel (Gone)
Denver, CO Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Sands Motel marquee featured a distinctive yellow lantern perched atop the sign. Simple but effective, the lantern helped the motel stand out from the many roadside lodging properties that once lined East Colfax Avenue. 07-07
Like countless motels built during the golden age of automobile travel, the Sands relied on a memorable sign to attract travelers passing through town. The lantern became the property's signature feature and helped make the motel a familiar landmark along one of Colorado's most famous commercial corridors.
UPDATE: The Sands Motel has since been demolished, and the property redeveloped. around 2007. The motel's signature yellow lantern and roadside marquee disappeared along with it, marking the loss of another East Colfax icon that once helped light the way for travelers. 06-26
Sand and Sage Motel (Rem.)
White Swan Motel (Converted)
Stonewall Motel (Gone)
Sands Motel (Gone)
