Timberline Motel (Gone)
Denver, CO
Photo courtesy Jason Carlton

The Timberline Motel is another fine piece of roadside Americana off Colfax. What a shape to the sign, and the colors are pure vintage.

What caught my attention here is the unusual shape of the marquee. The sign didn't need a giant starburst or oversized arrow to stand out. Its distinctive silhouette and western-inspired styling gave it a personality all its own. Combined with the vintage color scheme, it was one of those signs that looked like it belonged on Colfax.

The motel itself has been part of the East Colfax landscape for many years. While often associated with Denver's famous motel strip, the property actually sits just inside neighboring Aurora.

UPDATE: The Timberline Motel continues to operate today as an extended-stay property, but sadly its iconic roadside sign is gone. In November 2021, the vintage marquee was destroyed when it was struck by an out-of-control vehicle. While the motel remains, one of Colfax's most distinctive roadside signs now survives only in photographs and memories. 06-26

Wyoming Motel (Gone)
Central WY
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

The Wyoming Motel stands guard looking for tired travelers in Wyoming. When this photo was originally added to the site, the location was simply noted as "Central WY," and the exact town remained a mystery.

Since then, evidence has surfaced suggesting this sign may have been located in Riverton. The sign appears to have been associated with the same property that also featured the nearby Hi Lo Motel marquee, creating years of confusion in roadside archives and motel histories.

Whatever its exact location, this is a classic Wyoming motel sign. The bold lettering and straightforward design made it easy for travelers to spot while crossing the state's wide-open highways. Signs like this weren't trying to be flashy—they were simply there to let weary road trippers know a room was waiting ahead.

UPDATE: Research conducted since this photo was originally posted suggests the sign likely stood at the former Ol' Wyoming Motel property in Riverton. The motel has since closed, and the vintage signs that once stood on the property have reportedly been removed. While the exact history of the sign remains somewhat unclear, photographs like this help preserve a piece of Wyoming's roadside past. 06-26

Hi Lo Motel (Gone)
Riverton, WY
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

The Hi Lo Motel, also in central Wyoming, featured a tall marquee advertising many of the amenities travelers were looking for at the time. Color TV, phones, and air conditioning all received top billing on the sign.

I've always enjoyed signs like this because they serve as little time capsules. Today, nobody would think twice about a motel having a television, telephone, or air conditioning. Decades ago, however, those were selling points worth putting in giant letters for everyone driving by to see.

The tall sign helped the Hi Lo Motel stand out along the highway, and its colorful design made it hard to miss. It was a classic example of roadside advertising from an era when motels competed for attention one passing car at a time.

UPDATE: The Hi Lo Motel is no longer in operation, and its distinctive roadside marquee has been removed. Once a familiar sight along Riverton's highway corridor, the sign now survives primarily through photographs and archival collections documenting Wyoming's roadside history. 06-26

Stardust Motel (Gone)
Newcastle, WY
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

This Stardust Motel featured a somewhat unique marquee outside. With its starburst topper and traditional mid-century lettering, the Stardust was a flashback to the space-age era.

I've always been a sucker for motel signs with starbursts. It didn't take much in the 1950s and 1960s to make something look futuristic, and a well-placed starburst was often all it took. Combined with the motel's name, the sign captured the optimism and excitement of the atomic age when anything that hinted at space travel seemed modern and exciting.

The Stardust name appeared on motels all across America, but this Wyoming example had plenty of character of its own. The sign was a memorable roadside landmark for travelers passing through Newcastle for many years.

UPDATE: The Stardust Motel has been demolished, but fortunately the story doesn't end there. Before the property was cleared, the motel's distinctive starburst sign was removed and preserved. The marquee reportedly survives today at a private residence near Newcastle, while another sign from the property found a new home elsewhere in town. Although the motel itself is gone, pieces of its roadside history live on. 06-26

Motel Welsh
Wall, SD
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

The Welsh's Motel indirectly advertises low rates by stating there is no pool or costly franchise to deal with here at the Welsh.

I've always gotten a kick out of this sign. Most motels advertise what they have. Welsh's decided to advertise what they don't have. No pool. No franchise. Just a locally owned motel in Wall.

I enjoy stopping here on the way to checking out Wall Drug. The last time I was here, I was headed over for some cherry pie. While most people are focused on Wall Drug, signs like this are the kind of thing that catch my attention. The sign is packed with information and has plenty of personality, which is probably why I photographed it in the first place.

UPDATE: Welsh's Motel remains open in Wall and continues to welcome travelers visiting the Badlands and Wall Drug. Better yet, the vintage sign is still standing out front, making it one of the more memorable motel marquees in town. 06-26