The Experience Motor Lodge

Algiers Motel (Gone)
San Mateo, CA
Photo courtesy Kirk Maillet

Check out this fantastic sign from San Mateo, CA. The Algiers Motel marquee and its great detail was designed by sign designer Eugene Maillet of Sunnyvale.

Located along the El Camino Real corridor near Redwood City, the Algiers Motel was a classic mid-century peninsula stop. Promoted back in the day as "Your Home Away From Home," the motel welcomed travelers rolling along the old highway with modern perks like color TV, kitchen units, and a heated swimming pool, along with a popular on-site restaurant. But it was the marquee that really stole the show, showcasing Maillet's sharp eye for roadside styling with its dynamic lettering and intricate neon layout that lit up the boulevard.

UPDATE: The Algiers Motel and its restaurant have long since vanished, and the fantastic Eugene Maillet neon marquee is gone from El Camino Real. 09-26

El Rancho Motel
Stockton, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The El Rancho Motel off the 99 features a vintage sign with a zig zag type of arrow. This motel and a couple of others along the same row is a favorite and traditional stop when traveling either up or down Highway 99.

Located along the old highway frontage road north of Stockton near the speedway, the El Rancho Motel has been welcoming valley travelers since the mid-century auto court era. While the motel originally opened with a simpler roadside sign, this towering, 25-foot marquee with its bold, angular zig-zag arrow was installed by the early 1960s to catch the eyes of speeding highway motorists. The classic roadside beacon was treated to a full restoration in 2023 by Robinson Electric Sign Service, bringing its painted panels and mid-century punch back to life.

UPDATE: The El Rancho Motel remains open for business along the Highway 99 frontage, and its restored zig-zag arrow marquee still stands tall. 09-26

Stanford Arms Motel (Rem.)
Palo Alto, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

A vintage roadside motel, the Stanford Arms Motel stands guard in Palo Alto. Sitting right along El Camino Real at the corner of Harvard Avenue, just across the city line in Menlo Park, this motor court was a familiar sight for travelers and university visitors for generations.

Dating back to the 1930s, the Stanford Arms offered low-rise, courtyard-style lodging with park-at-the-door units and kitchen apartments. Out front by the busy boulevard, the old neon marquee stood guard for decades, greeting motorists traveling the historic peninsula corridor. Around 2010, the longtime property shifted away from its historic identity, taking on a modern update and rebranding as the Stanford Inn.

UPDATE: The property continues operating as the Stanford Inn, but the vintage Stanford Arms marquee was removed during the renovation. 09-26

Casa Grande Motel (Demolished)
Petaluma, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The Casa Grande Motel of Petaluma features a decades old sign that appears to be from the 60's. Located along Petaluma Boulevard South on old U.S. 101, this classic motor court was an eye-catcher for redwood-bound travelers cruising through Sonoma County.

Opened in 1948 by Clyde and Earl Callaway, the motel showcased clean Streamline Moderne lines and greeted drivers right on what was originally 3rd Street. Out front, the vintage marquee with its bold angles and mid-century lettering stood guard by the roadside for decades, beckoning passing motorists to pull in for the night. In 2005, the city acquired the property and demolished the complex, though the historic sign was saved from the scrap heap by collectors.

UPDATE: The Casa Grande Motel is long gone, having been torn down several years for redevelopment. 08-12

UPDATE: The Casa Grande Motel was demolished in 2005, but its vintage roadside marquee was salvaged and preserved in private hands. 09-26

San Juan Motel (Demolished)
Sacramento, CA
Photo courtesy Sal Garcia

Here's a funky looking sign for the San Juan Motel. This 1940's era motel features a sign that is a flashback to the days when big bold letter strokes and eye catching colors were still in vogue. Apparently the motel did a brisk business back when the State Fair was located nearby at Stockton Blvd and Broadway.

Located along Stockton Boulevard on the old U.S. 99 alignment through south Sacramento, the San Juan Motel served cross-state motorists and fairgoers for decades. With its unmistakable steel arrow marquee pointing the way, the property was a familiar roadside beacon. After closing its doors in 2010, the historic motel buildings were demolished, but the standout marquee avoided the wrecking ball. The site has since been revitalized with new affordable housing, and the historic arrow sign was fully restored to stand as a proud piece of roadside history for the neighborhood.

UPDATE: The San Juan Motel was demolished in April of 2010. According to the Sacramento Bee, the motel had been acquired by the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency in December 2008. 09-10

UPDATE: The motel buildings were demolished in 2010, but the iconic arrow sign was restored and stands on-site at the new housing community. 09-26

King's Highway Motel (Demolished)
Santa Clara, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Here's a nice red sign for the King's Hwy Motel in Santa Clara. The bold neon arrow still points toward where the office used to be, even if a few of the incandescent chaser bulbs have gone missing over the years.

Opened back in 1948 along El Camino Real this nineteen-unit, single-story court dated back to the era when the Santa Clara Valley was still blanketed in fruit orchards and dotted with mom-and-pop roadside stops. In its later years, the motel shifted away from the highway trade to provide weekly residential rooms before the city took over the parcel. The old motor court was leveled in May 2015, but its red marquee with the giant sweeping arrow was rescued from the scrap heap.

UPDATE: The King's Highway Motel was demolished in May 2015, but its classic red arrow marquee was saved and sold to a private neon collector. 09-26