 Mecca Motel
Colorado Springs, CO
Photo courtesy Larry Glass
Check out the Mecca Motel marquee along West Colorado Avenue in Colorado Springs. Between the unusual lettering and the giant starburst perched above it, this sign gives motorists plenty to look at. Even in daylight, that spiky topper makes a convincing argument for pulling over with a camera. 10-07
The Mecca dates to 1953, placing it among the motor courts built as automobile vacations flourished after World War II. Its location between Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs put travelers close to the attractions that helped make the Pikes Peak region such a popular destination.
 Mecca Motel
Colorado Springs, CO
Photo courtesy Jeffrey Cook
The low motel buildings leave the roadside advertising to the marquee. Rather than spreading the name across a broad rooftop, the sign stacks its message beneath that prominent starburst. It's a compact display with enough personality to hold its own against a mountain backdrop.
The starburst belongs to the era when motel signs borrowed freely from futuristic design. Travelers might be headed toward historic towns and mountain scenery, but their accommodations could advertise with something that looked ready for the space age. The Mecca managed to combine both worlds beside the highway.
 Mecca Motel marquee
Colorado Springs, CO
Photo courtesy Lizabeth Salinas of the Mecca Motel
The sign became an attraction beyond the lodging business. In a 2012 account, the owner noted that people regularly stopped to photograph it. With a marquee like this, the motel didn't need every visitor to book a room to become part of their vacation pictures.
UPDATE: Here's a shot of the Mecca Motel marquee on a nice sunny day in the Rockies. Many thanks to Lizabeth Salinas of the
Mecca Motel for photo. 01-08
UPDATE: The Mecca Motel remains open, and its landmark starburst sign continues to mark the property along West Colorado Avenue. More than seventy years after the motel's beginnings, travelers can still find an independent lodging stop beneath that distinctive display. Good to see this piece of Colorado Springs roadside character still in place. 06-26 |
 Chief Motel (Demolished)
Colorado Springs,
CO
Photo courtesy Larry Glass
The Chief Motel was quite a sight after dark along South Nevada Avenue. Opened in 1955, the property featured an animated neon headdress that gave its roadside sign the illusion of movement. It was hard to overlook among the corridor's many motel marquees. 10-07
There were plenty of late nights spent photographing this sign. One evening, someone suddenly jumped out of the nearby brush while I was setting up, providing considerably more excitement than expected. The neon wasn't the only thing keeping a photographer awake that night.
UPDATE: The motel was demolished during the 2016 redevelopment of South Nevada. Its neon had already been removed in 2014, but the sign itself escaped demolition after being purchased by an anonymous buyer in 2016. It no longer stands beside the highway, but fortunately this memorable display avoided the scrap heap. 06-26
 Circle S Motel
Colorado Springs,
CO
Photo courtesy Larry Glass
Check out the little cowboy atop the Circle S Motel sign in Colorado Springs. He isn't simply hanging around up there. The figure and his oversized lasso give the marquee a playful Western welcome, making this South Nevada Avenue motel easy to pick out along the road. 10-07
The property had a neon sign during the 1950s, but the display evolved over time. The cowboy and bulb outlined lasso were added sometime after 1965, giving the motel an extra bit of roadside showmanship. That helps explain why the character looks like more than an ordinary decoration.
 Circle S Motel
Photo courtesy Robin McCracken
The combination fits the Circle S name nicely. It sounds like a cattle brand, and a cowboy working a lasso carries that idea right onto the sign. Along a highway corridor filled with competing lodging advertisements, a little action overhead was a useful way to get noticed.
UPDATE: The Circle S Motel is still alive and well off the roadside in Colorado Springs. 01-13
UPDATE: The Circle S appears to remain open along South Nevada Avenue, and its distinctive sign and cowboy reportedly survive. While many neighboring motel displays have disappeared during redevelopment, this one continues representing an earlier chapter of the road. Good to see the little fellow still holding his position above the marquee. 06-26 |
 Gables Motel
Colorado Springs,
CO
Photo courtesy Larry Glass
The Gables Motel sign gave motorists along North Nevada Avenue something worth looking up for. Its colorful lettering stood out during the day, while the neon gave the property another way to catch attention after dark. A room could wait until morning to make an impression. The sign had to do it from the road. 10-07
A 1959 lodging guide lists this location as the Colonial Motel, placing roadside accommodations here well before the Gables name appeared. North Nevada was part of the Highway 85 and 87 corridor, lined with motor courts serving travelers through Colorado Springs.
UPDATE: The Gables has closed, and its vintage sign has reportedly been gone for roughly a decade. By 2024, the former motel was boarded up and fenced off. This photo preserves the brighter roadside identity that once greeted passing motorists. 06-26
 Frontier Motel (Demolished)
Colorado Springs, CO
Photo courtesy Larry Glass
The Frontier Motel brought a fitting Western name to North Nevada Avenue in Colorado Springs. Its roadside marquee helped distinguish the property along a corridor crowded with places offering a night's lodging. The sign was part advertisement, part landmark, giving arriving guests something recognizable to watch for. 10-07
The Frontier stood along the old Highway 85 and 87 route through the city. Interestingly, a 1959 lodging guide lists a different name at its later location: Clover Court. That's a useful glimpse into how these properties changed identities while continuing to serve the same stream of motorists.
UPDATE: The Frontier Motel and its vintage marquee have been demolished. An exact demolition date remains elusive, but the loss removed another independent lodging stop from North Nevada Avenue. This photo catches its Frontier identity before the buildings and sign disappeared, preserving one more chapter in the corridor's motel history. 06-26
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