Thunderbird Lodge
Off the 99 in Redding, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Why does it seem like motels and lodges named Thunderbird are all treasures? The is no disappointment with its neon thunderbird glowing through the night. Located right along the historic U.S. 99 corridor on Pine Street in Redding, this classic motor court has been welcoming travelers to Northern California since opening its doors in 1960.
As a proud survivor of the mid-century Thunderbird Lodge referral network, the property retains its authentic exterior-corridor layout while benefiting from recent multi-stage modernizations that keep it looking sharp. The real crown jewel of the location is its dual-sign setup. While most motels made do with a single roadside marker, this property features two identical, fully functional neon pylons manufactured by the Electrical Products Corporation, complete with vibrant neon-outlined bird motifs that light up the night for drivers approaching from either direction.
UPDATE: The Thunderbird Lodge remains open and beautifully maintained along Pine Street in Redding, with its twin vintage neon bird marquees surviving intact and glowing brightly after dark. 09-26
Star Lake Motel (Rem.)
S. Lake Tahoe, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The neon still lights up at the Travel Inn Motel in San Carlos. Sitting along El Camino Real on the historic surface route of U.S. 101, this mid-century Peninsula motor court has welcomed travelers navigating the San Francisco Bay Area since opening in the 1950s.
Billed on vintage postcards as the town's largest and finest motel, the two-story property originally lured motorists with 34 soundproof rooms, a heated swimming pool with a sun patio, and in-room radios and telephones. The property underwent extensive modernizations and dropped its classic moniker to emerge as a contemporary boutique stay known as the LiA Hotel. Along the curb, the original glowing neon marquee was stripped and replaced with modern corporate signage, but the vintage exterior-corridor building continues to host overnight guests along the historic avenue.
UPDATE: The former Travel Inn Motel along El Camino Real in San Carlos remains open and operating as the LiA Hotel, though its original roadside neon marquee has been removed and replaced with modern signage. 09-26
Tradewinds Motel (Demolished)
Sacramento, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The sign for the Tradewinds Motel in Sacramento still advertises the fact that its rooms carry phones and color TV. Looks like the neon on this gem of a sign still works right. Located along Auburn Boulevard on the historic alignment of U.S. 40 and U.S. 99E, this classic court originally welcomed travelers as the Town and Country Motel before adopting the Tradewinds name in the early 1970s.
For decades, the motel's tall marquee caught passing motorists with its promises of modern comforts. Over time, the sign lost its vintage sparkle when the neon tubing was stripped and replaced with flat plastic panels. The motel eventually met the wrecking ball to make way for a car dealership, wiping out both the motor court and its historic sign.
UPDATE : The neon on this old sign is history, though the sign itself still remains.
UPDATE: The Tradewinds Motel along Auburn Boulevard in Sacramento has been completely demolished, and its landmark roadside marquee was removed when the property was cleared in 2015. 09-26
Cal Va Rado Motel (Gone)
S. Lake Tahoe, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The neon sign for the Cal Va Rado Motel leaves no pretension as to which state this place is located. Both of these neon signs still appear to be in fantastic working order. Situated right along Stateline Avenue just steps from the California and Nevada border, this classic motor court was a fixture of South Lake Tahoe's bustling mid-century tourist corridor during the post-war road trip boom.
The motel's memorable name was a clever portmanteau blending three Western states, California, Nevada, and Colorado, designed to catch the eye of road-tripping families rolling into the Tahoe Basin from across the country. Built in a rustic exterior-corridor style that fit the alpine surroundings, the court offered traditional drive-up convenience for vacationers eager to explore the lake and nearby border attractions.
Cal Va Rado Motel
S. Lake Tahoe, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
What really set the property apart along the roadway was its creative dual-sign presentation. Out front near the property line, two distinct neon marquee panels were paired together to form a vibrant, multi-directional roadside beacon that ensured approaching drivers could spot the court from down the avenue. After welcoming travelers for decades, the independent lodging court closed down permanently, and its distinctive neon signs were dismantled from the roadside.
UPDATE: The Cal-Va-Rado Motel along Stateline Avenue in South Lake Tahoe has permanently closed, and its unique dual-sign neon marquee has been removed from the property. 09-26
Rio Motel (Demolished)
Oakland , CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Check out the fine neon on this roadside motel, the Rio Motel of Oakland.
Check out the fine neon on this roadside motel, the Rio Motel of Oakland. Located along West MacArthur Boulevard, this vintage motor court stood right in the thick of a historic automotive corridor that once carried U.S. 50 traffic through the East Bay.
The motel also held a special place in regional commercial history. In 1979, it was operated by first-generation immigrants Pravin and Sima Patel, becoming the modest starting foundation for what would later grow into Ridgemont Hospitality. For passing motorists, the court was impossible to miss thanks to its celebrated roadside marquee. Around 2011, the old single-story motor court was permanently demolished and cleared away to make room for high-density housing as part of the MacArthur BART Transit Village redevelopment, bringing down its classic neon marquee in the process.
UPDATE: The Rio Motel along West MacArthur Boulevard in Oakland was demolished around 2011 for transit village redevelopment, and its classic neon marquee was removed from the site. 09-26
Driftwood Lodge (Demolished)
S. Lake Tahoe, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The Driftwood Lodge is also located in the center of the old roadside lodging in South Lake Tahoe. Situated on Laurel Avenue just steps from the Stateline casino strip, this classic motor court opened in 1964 following the post-Olympics travel boom.
During its prime, the lodge offered vacationers a heated pool, private beach access, and meals from the adjacent Driftwood Cafe. The property and its vintage marquee were completely demolished in the fall of 2006 for a planned convention center project that never materialized. While the motel itself is gone, the historic Driftwood Cafe survived by relocating down the street to Heavenly Village, where it continues to serve guests today.
UPDATE: The Driftwood Lodge along Laurel Avenue in South Lake Tahoe was permanently closed and demolished in the fall of 2006, and its classic roadside marquee was removed when the block was cleared. 09-26
Travel Inn Motel (Gone)
San Carlos, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Thunderbird Lodge
Star Lake Motel (Rem.)
Tradewinds Motel (Demolished)
Cal Va Rado Motel (Gone)
Cal Va Rado Motel
Driftwood Lodge (Demolished)
