Aristocrat Motel (Demolished)
Denver, CO
Photo courtesy Jason Carlton

The Aristocrat Motel sat along Colfax Avenue, which once served as the main highway through Denver. While the sign wasn't as flashy as some of its neighbors, the lettering and geometric styling gave it a distinctly mid-century look that fit right in along the avenue.

Like many motels on Colfax, the Aristocrat catered to generations of travelers passing through town during the heyday of automobile travel. By the time this photo was taken, the sign had become a reminder of an era when independent motels lined the highway and competed for attention with creative designs and neon-lit marquees.

UPDATE: The Aristocrat Motel is gone, having been demolished after serving for a time as transitional housing. It's now the Theodora Family Hotel. The sign disappeared along with the building, making this another familiar piece of Colfax that exists only in photographs now. Colfax has lost a lot of its classic motels over the years, and the Aristocrat was one more chapter in that story. 06-26

Alpine Inn
Georgetown, CO
Photo courtesy Michael Brichford

The Alpine Inn was always hard to miss while driving through Georgetown. Between the colorful exterior and the large marquee out front, it added a splash of color to one of Colorado's most picturesque mountain towns.

I've always enjoyed wandering around Georgetown. The town is packed with historic buildings, railroad history, and mountain scenery, and the Alpine Inn felt right at home there. The sign may not have been the flashiest in the West, but it had enough character to make you take notice as you passed through town.

UPDATE: The Alpine Inn no longer operates under its original name, and the property has been renovated and repurposed over the years. Even so, it's easy to remember a time when the colorful motel and its roadside marquee welcomed travelers arriving in Georgetown. Like many roadside places, it wasn't necessarily a destination in itself, but it helped give the town a little extra character. 06-26

Faun's Motel (Gone) Pocatello, ID Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn Pocatello is home to Faun's Motel, one of the many mom-and-pop roadside properties that once catered to travelers passing through town. While the motel itself was fairly modest, places like this were a familiar part of the American roadside landscape for decades. 09-06 I've always had a soft spot for these smaller independent motels. They may not have had giant neon signs or flashy architecture, but they were often the places that gave a town its character. Every highway seemed to have a few of them, quietly welcoming travelers at the end of a long day on the road. UPDATE: Faun's Motel is no longer operating as a motel. The property has since been converted into apartments, and the old roadside sign is gone. Like so many small independent motels across the West, it slowly faded from the travel landscape and found a new purpose. 06-26

World Motel (Demolished)
Salt Lake City, UT
Courtesy Wes Cross

The World Motor Hotel was evidently quite a sight and, judging by this 1965 postcard, looked like it was one of the premier places to stay in Salt Lake City. The towering sign alone would have been enough to catch the attention of travelers passing by on State Street.

Opened in 1960, the World Motor Hotel represented the optimism of the highway travel era. With hundreds of rooms, a restaurant, meeting facilities, and a giant sign towering above the property, it was designed to be more than just a place to spend the night. It was the kind of motor hotel that proudly announced its presence to everyone driving through town.

UPDATE: The World Motor Hotel closed at the end of 1988 and was demolished shortly thereafter. The sprawling complex disappeared, and even the massive 130-foot sign that once dominated the skyline was removed. Looking at this postcard today, it's hard not to imagine what a sight that sign must have been when it was flashing above State Street at night. 06-26

Dixie Palm Motel (Demolished)
St. George, UT
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

The Dixie Palm Motel featured a roadside marquee with colors from yesteryear. Between the palm tree imagery and the bright, vintage color scheme, the sign was a perfect fit for St. George's warm desert setting.

Opened in 1947 along what was then U.S. Route 91, the Dixie Palm Motel welcomed generations of travelers making their way through southern Utah. One of the more interesting features of the sign was its use of a "Full House" message instead of the more common "No Vacancy" panel found on most motel marquees.

UPDATE: The Dixie Palm Motel has been demolished, and the colorful marquee that once welcomed travelers to St. George is gone as well. I always thought the sign fit the city perfectly. With its palm trees and vintage colors, it felt right at home in the desert landscape. Another classic St. George neon landmark has faded into history. 06-26

Parkway Motel
Orderville, UT
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

Welcome to the Parkway Motel in Orderville. The neon marquee looks like it could be quite a sight at night, especially for travelers making their way along Highway 89 between southern Utah's scenic destinations.

Located north of Kanab, the Parkway Motel has long served road trippers heading toward places like Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the surrounding red rock country. The sign gives the property the kind of roadside presence that makes a small motel stand out along a long stretch of highway.

UPDATE: The Parkway Motel continues to operate in Orderville, and the vintage neon marquee remains standing out front. It's always good to see a classic roadside motel sign still welcoming travelers through southern Utah. 06-26