Gila Bend, AZ - When you travel to Gila Bend Arizona, a must stop is the Best Western Space Age Lodge Motel and Restaurant. It's a good stop especially if you are a fan or believer in aliens. There is a gift shop that features cool alien souvenirs right next to the restaurant.
Space Age Lodge
Gila Bend, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Out in the desert town of Gila Bend sits one of Arizona’s great roadside survivors, the Best Western Space Age Lodge & Restaurant. The giant flying saucer above the entrance makes it clear that this is not going to be an ordinary motel stop.
The Neon Space Restaurant sign has been altered since this photo was taken
The lobby at night
Gila Bend, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Space Age Lodge opened in 1965, right in the middle of America’s fascination with rockets, astronauts, and the race to the moon. Sputnik had been launched only eight years earlier, and the first moon landing was still four years away. The future was coming fast, and roadside businesses were ready for it.
The Space Age Lodge was originally named Stovall's Space Age Lodge when it was built in 1965 by the legendary Al Stovall. Al Stovall was the owner of other Space Age motels including a couple that used to be in Anaheim, CA.
Space Age Lodge at night
Gila Bend, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Hotel developer Al Stovall created the property as Stovall’s Space Age Lodge. Stovall was already known for operating futuristic motels around Anaheim, California, including the Inn of Tomorrow, Apollo Inn, and Galaxy Motel. He apparently liked outer space almost as much as he liked renting rooms.
Gila Bend was a good place for the idea. The little desert town sat along the old U.S. 80 route and later Interstate 8, carrying travelers between Tucson, Phoenix, Yuma, and San Diego. After hours of empty highway, the sight of a flying saucer perched above a motel must have been difficult to resist.
The Best Western Space Age Lodge can be found at 401 E Pima in Gila Bend. Find more information at the official Best Western Space Age Lodge website.
Space Age Lodge (99)
Gila Bend
, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The main attraction is the restaurant and office building, topped by a wide silver spacecraft with glowing trim and portholes. It looks as though a UFO landed on the roof and decided to stay. The surrounding signs, murals, and space decorations continue the theme inside.
The restaurant serves the sort of straightforward road food that belongs at a desert motel. Burgers, steaks, sandwiches, breakfast plates, and coffee provide fuel for the next stretch of highway. The walls are decorated with planets, rockets, astronauts, and alien artwork, so lunch comes with a little trip around the galaxy.
The lobby post fire in 1999
Gila Bend, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Right beside the restaurant is a gift shop filled with alien souvenirs. Visitors can browse flying saucer trinkets, shirts, toys, postcards, and other outer-space oddities. Even travelers who do not need a motel room can leave with proof that they stopped somewhere strange.
The Space Age Lodge nearly came to an unfortunate end in 1998. A malfunctioning neon sign sparked a fire that badly damaged the restaurant and lobby. Rather than simply announcing an electrical fire, the owners reportedly posted a sign claiming the place had been “attacked by aliens.” Really!
After a fire hit in 1998, literally sparked by a lighting malfunction. Right after the fire, you could see a banner outside that said "attacked by aliens", exemplifying the humor and creativity of the ownership. The motel was now a part of the Best Western motel chain and renovated and restored.
The door to the restaurant at the renovated Space Age Lodge (99)
Gila Bend, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Fortunately, the lodge was rebuilt instead of being replaced with something ordinary. It reopened in 1999 with the flying saucer, neon, murals, and space theme restored. The rebuilt version may not contain every original detail, but it kept the personality that made the place worth stopping for.
While the space age look is now newer looking, the motel did their best to maintain the "space age" theme.
The motel eventually became part of Best Western, bringing modern rooms and amenities without removing the roadside fun. Guests can still spend the night beneath the UFO, cool off in the swimming pool, and walk over to the coffee shop for breakfast. That is about as close as most road-trippers will get to sleeping at a lunar base.
The lobby
Gila Bend, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
No confirmed alien landing has ever been documented at the motel, although a few UFO stories have naturally become attached to the place. In a town surrounded by miles of dark desert sky, it seems almost required.
Stand in the lobby and look up while you are visiting. The paint scheme does its best of making you feel like you are looking up into outer space.
UPDATE: The Best Western Space Age Lodge remains open and continues welcoming earthlings in Gila Bend. The restaurant, motel, flying saucer, restored neon, and alien gift shop are all still operating, making this one roadside stop that has survived well into the future it once imagined. 08-26
More Photos
The view from the parking lot Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The swimming pool Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Alien pod? Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Road trip Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The restaurant sign Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The view from the parking lot Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Space Age Lodge
The lobby at night
Space Age Lodge (99)
The door to the restaurant at the renovated Space Age Lodge (99)
The lobby
