Motel Row (Demolished)
Sacramento, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Along the old highway in Sacramento was this batch of old motels. Unfortunately,
time caught up to them and the whole stretch was leveled. Seen here are
the Pacific, Ritz, and Rolling Green motels. Another motel row that used to dot the Southwest is relegated to being just a memory.
Pacific Motel (Demolished)
Sacramento, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Pacific Motel was the first motel encountered along this old highway. It's a shame that this motel marquee was removed.
Located along Auburn Boulevard in Sacramento, the Pacific Motel served as the gateway to a bustling post-war motor court row on the old U.S. Route 40 highway alignment. Welcoming cross-country travelers heading into the state capital, it stood as the very first stop in a celebrated cluster of mid-century lodges that once included neighbors like the Ritz Motel and the Rolling Green Motel.
Out by the roadway, the motel's vintage marquee beckoned passing motorists off the busy corridor for decades with its classic roadside charm. Around 2001 and 2002, however, the property became ground zero for a major commercial redevelopment push. Facing eminent domain proceedings to assemble land for a modern retail shopping center, the owners eventually yielded, and the entire complex was completely razed and cleared from the strip.
UPDATE: The Pacific Motel was demolished during the early 2000s Auburn Boulevard redevelopment sweep, and its historic roadside marquee is gone. 09-26
Ritz Motel (Demolished)
Sacramento, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Here's a close-up of the Ritz Motel marquee. Though a bit weatherbeaten and faded, the Ritz and its sign brought about a feeling of melancholy for all the roadside travelers, past and present.
Located along Auburn Boulevard near Howe Avenue, the Ritz Motel was once an integral piece of Sacramento's vibrant post-war traveler row on the historic U.S. Route 40 and Highway 99E corridors. Operating right across from the Haggin Oaks Municipal Golf Course, the 20-unit AAA-approved court was managed during its peak years by Mr. and Mrs. Y. Nishimoto.
Out by the roadway, the motel's vintage neon marquee stood as a beloved highway fixture for decades. When modern freeway bypasses diverted traffic, the corridor gradually declined, and by the early 2000s the site became embroiled in a controversial redevelopment push by local housing and redevelopment officials. Despite pushback, the property was condemned, shuttered, and completely razed alongside its weathered roadside sign to make way for new commercial development.
UPDATE: The Ritz Motel was demolished in the early 2000s redevelopment push along Auburn Boulevard, and its vintage neon marquee was removed. 09-26
Rolling Green Motel (Demolished)
Sacramento, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Rolling Green Motel was the third in this row of motels, leveled for "progress." You can see the construction sign on the marquee in this photo, taken at least a few years ago.
Located along Auburn Boulevard near Howe Avenue, the Rolling Green Motel stood as the third consecutive motor court in Sacramento's post-war traveler strip on old U.S. 40. Situated across from the Haggin Oaks Golf Course, the mid-century lodge welcomed motorists with an outdoor swimming pool and an on-site restaurant.
Out front, its roadside marquee beckoned drivers until the block was cleared in the early 2000s. With construction notices draped over the sign, the motel and its marquee were completely bulldozed in 2002 to make way for modern commercial redevelopment.
UPDATE: The Rolling Green Motel was demolished in 2002 during the Auburn Boulevard redevelopment sweep, and its roadside marquee was destroyed. 09-26
Llano Motel (Demolished)
Santa Rosa, CA Photo courtesy Devil Doll
Here's an old motel marquee for the Llano Motel in Santa Rosa, CA. The sign attempts to be a bit different with its letters positioned a little out of synch.
Located along Santa Rosa Avenue south of downtown, the Llano Motel originally served motorists traveling the old Redwood Highway alignment of U.S. 101. The classic single-story motor court was painted in a distinctive pastel pink and offered 20 rooms to travelers journeying through Sonoma County during the post-war roadside boom.
Llano Motel about to be demolished
Santa Rosa, CA Photos courtesy Bro Duke
Out front, the property stood out thanks to its eye-catching neon marquee, featuring playfully staggered, offset lettering that broke away from conventional sign design. In its later years, the motel fell into severe decline and became the target of a major city nuisance abatement action. Following a permanent closure, the entire complex and its vintage roadside sign were completely bulldozed in March 2007.
UPDATE: The Llano was demolished on March 10, 2007 after being the subject of much controversy. The city of Santa Rosa demolished it because the owners were allowing prostitution to
go on. Normally, they would just arrest the owner and/or force him to
sell the property.
In this case, despite the building's historical significance (it's 87
years old) the city opted to demolish what was a well kept-up
building and neon sign. These days, the city has a sign ordinance
that only allows signs on the ground or on the building itself. As a
result, most signs are backlit plastic. But the city's real motive for demolishing the building is it's close
proximity to a huge shopping center. The motel will make way for a
new Starbucks, or other chain store. Many thanks to Bro Duke for update. 03-07
Llano Motel about to be demolished
Santa Rosa, CA Photos courtesy Bro Duke
UPDATE: The Press Democrat has reported that the owners have filed a multi-million dollar federal lawsuit against the City of Santa Rosa. Photos of the Llano's last days are here. Many thanks to Bro Duke for update. 04-07
UPDATE: The Llano Motel was completely demolished in March 2007, and its unique out-of-sync neon marquee was destroyed. 09-26
Beck's Motor Lodge (Rem.)
San Francisco, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Beck's Motor Lodge features some interesting colors and the framework of a marquee that probably dates back to the mid-century. Anchoring Market Street since 1958, this longtime motor lodge has been a fixture of the neighborhood for generations.
Built with a classic mid-century layout wrapped around a central parking courtyard, Beck's offered motorists an authentic drive-up motor court experience right in San Francisco. The towering marquee out front hangs directly over the sidewalk, catching the eye of passing traffic along Market. While the sign faces were updated with a bold new blue-and-orange design during a comprehensive 2016 renovation, the original vintage Googie framework remains proudly in place.
UPDATE: Beck's Motor Lodge continues to operate on Market Street, with its mid-century marquee structure replaced with contemporary styling. 09-26
Motel Row (Demolished)
Ritz Motel (Demolished)
Rolling Green Motel (Demolished)
Llano Motel (Demolished)
Llano Motel about to be demolished
Llano Motel about to be demolished
Beck's Motor Lodge (Rem.)
