Long Holiday Motel
Gunnison, CO
Photo courtesy Chris Krok

The Long Holiday Motel in Gunnison features a fantastic starburst orb on top of its marquee. I enjoyed seeing this motel for myself and checking out that starburst. It made me think of spending a long holiday exploring places just like this and searching out old signs along the way.

The oversized orb is what makes this sign so memorable. Plenty of motels had starbursts, but few had one quite this prominent. It's a great example of the atomic-age styling that found its way onto motel signs throughout the West during the golden age of road travel.

Even if you didn't need a room, the sign alone was worth slowing down for. It's the kind of roadside detail that helps make a road trip memorable and reminds you why these old motels continue to capture our attention decades later. 09-06

UPDATE: The Long Holiday Motel remains in operation and continues to welcome travelers to Gunnison. The motel's iconic roadside sign, complete with its fantastic starburst orb, remains standing and serves as one of the property's most recognizable features. 06-26

Fireside Motel (Gone)
Ephraim, UT
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

This marquee for the Fireside Motel points the way in.

I've always liked motel signs that incorporate arrows into the design. There's something very practical about them. Not only do they advertise the business, but they also make sure you know exactly where to turn. In the days before GPS, signs like this did a lot of the work.

The large directional arrow is the star of the show here. It's simple, effective, and impossible to miss. Combined with the motel's name, it creates the kind of straightforward roadside advertising that helped countless travelers find a place to spend the night. 09-06

UPDATE: The Fireside Motel has permanently closed. The motel and its distinctive arrow sign are no longer standing, bringing an end to a longtime roadside landmark in Ephraim. 06-26

Homestead Motel
Denver, CO
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

A rather standard appearing motel, the Homestead Motel's colors seem to flash back a few decades.

Not every memorable motel sign needs a giant starburst, arrow, or rooftop ornament. Sometimes it's the colors that catch your attention. The Homestead's sign has a distinctly retro look that feels like it was pulled straight from an earlier era of roadside travel.

I've always enjoyed signs like this because they don't try too hard. The design is simple, the message is clear, and the vintage color scheme gives the whole place a bit of old-school character. Along a corridor known for its collection of classic motels and neon signs, the Homestead fits right in. 09-06

UPDATE: The Homestead Motel remains in operation today, and its vintage roadside sign continues to greet travelers along the historic West Colfax corridor. Although often associated with Denver's motel strip, the property is actually located in neighboring Lakewood. 06-26

El Rancho Motel (Gone)
Riverton, WY
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The El Rancho Motel featured one of the more unusual motel signs you'll find anywhere in Wyoming. What caught my attention was the sombrero-clad character holding the MOTEL panel as if it were a giant rolled-up parchment. It's the kind of playful roadside design that would have been impossible to miss when driving through town.

The sign combined a western theme with a healthy dose of mid-century creativity. While plenty of motels used horses, cowboys, or ranch imagery, the El Rancho took a different approach with its oversized character and distinctive silhouette. Even among vintage motel signs, this one managed to stand out from the crowd.

The motel appears to have operated for many years in Riverton and became a familiar local landmark thanks to its memorable marquee. 09-06

UPDATE: Turns out the sign is now gone. The sign was replaced with a plastic sign about a decade ago. 06-26

Coachman Inn Motel
Green River, WY
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The Coachman Inn Motel in Green River features a sign with one of the more detailed illustrations you'll find on a roadside motel marquee. Check out the stagecoach scene complete with horses, coach, and driver. It's the kind of artwork that probably took longer to appreciate than it did to drive past.

I've always liked signs that tell a story, and this one does exactly that. Rather than relying on flashy neon or oversized lettering, the Coachman Inn used a detailed western-themed image to catch the attention of travelers passing through town. The result is a sign that stands out because of its craftsmanship rather than its size.

The motel has been a familiar sight in Green River for many years, and the stagecoach graphic remains the feature that makes it memorable. 09-06

UPDATE: The Coachman Inn Motel remains in operation in Green River. The motel continues to welcome travelers, and the distinctive stagecoach sign still stands out front as one of the property's most recognizable features. 06-26

Buckaroo Motel (Gone)
Rawlins, WY
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

Check out this marquee located in the driveway of the Buckaroo Motel in Rawlins, Wyoming. There's even an image of a buckaroo on this fun-colored sign.

What I like most about this sign is its personality. The bright colors and buckaroo character gave the motel an identity all its own and helped it stand out among the many roadside lodging properties that once lined Wyoming's highways. It's the kind of sign that was designed to catch your eye from a distance and make you remember the place long after you'd passed through town.

The Buckaroo Motel operated for many years in Rawlins and became a familiar stop for travelers making their way across southern Wyoming.

UPDATE: The Buckaroo Motel is permanently closed. Looks like it became the Express Lodge . 06-26