Cottage Inn
S. Lake Tahoe, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Follow the neon to the Cottage Inn in Tahoe. Situated along Emerald Bay Road (State Route 89) beneath towering pine trees, this cozy motor court has welcomed travelers heading toward the scenic South Shore since the 1950s.
Built in a classic rustic style, the property features knotty pine walls, cozy suites, and an outdoor communal fire pit that captures the feel of vintage mountain travel. The inn was later thoroughly updated by its owners to modernize the rooms while preserving its authentic mid-century character. Out by the road, the original 1950s neon marquee continues to serve as an inviting beacon for highway travelers.
UPDATE: The Cottage Inn along Emerald Bay Road in South Lake Tahoe remains open for business, with its vintage roadside neon marquee still surviving on the property. 09-26
Holiday Lodge (Gone)
S. Lake Tahoe, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The Holiday Lodge also lights up the sky in the Tahoe area, catching the attention of potential lodgers. Tucked along Laurel Avenue near the Heavenly Gondola and the Stateline district, this large 165-room motor court welcomed generations of vacationers to the South Shore.
During its prime, the lodge drew families with a seasonal pool and prime access to the slopes and lakeside casinos. Out front, its towering marquee combined bold neon typography with illuminated panels to guide motorists in from the busy corridor. The motel has since shuttered, with its classic roadside neon marquee dismantled from the street.
UPDATE: The former Holiday Lodge along Laurel Avenue in South Lake Tahoe permanently closed, with its vintage roadside neon marquee removed following the property's closure. 09-26
Marina Motel
San Francisco, CA Photo courtesy Justin Montano
The Marina Motel in San Francisco
still glows at night and even features a detailed mural on the wall.
The Marina Motel in San Francisco still glows at night and even features a detailed mural on the wall. The motel is housed in a Spanish themed building dating back to the 30's. Located at 2576 Lombard Street near the Palace of Fine Arts, this historic courtyard auto court opened its doors in 1939 to celebrate the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge, earning the distinction of being the very first motel constructed along what later evolved into Lombard Street's dense "Motel Row" on old U.S. 101.
Constructed by original owner Lou, the son of a California Gold Rush miner, the property showcases an authentic Spanish-Mediterranean architectural theme. Its distinctive layout features a welcoming central cobblestone courtyard where guest accommodations were built directly above secure, individual parking garages to cater to the burgeoning automotive traveler. Complementing the historic stucco arches are the motel's signature vibrant floral murals painted across the courtyard walls, which have defined the property's artistic character for decades.
Marina Motel
San Francisco, CA Photo courtesy Justin Montano
Remarkably avoiding corporate chain takeovers, the motor court has remained in the same family line for more than eighty-five years, actively owned and operated today by the founder's granddaughters. Out front, its classic neon street marquee stands as one of the oldest enduring landmarks along the strip, still illuminating the evening sky just as it did for travelers arriving over the bridge in the late 1930s.
UPDATE: The Marina Motel along Lombard Street in San Francisco remains open for business, with its historic roadside neon marquee and signature floral murals still surviving on the property. 09-26
Motel Capri
San Francisco, CA Photo courtesy Justin Montano
The end of the rainbow... or at least the various neon signs advertising the Motel Capri. Tucked away at 2015 Greenwich Street right where San Francisco's Marina District borders Cow Hollow, this stylish mid-century motor inn has been welcoming travelers to the city by the bay since opening its doors in 1957.
Conveniently positioned just off the bustling commercial corridors of Lombard and Union streets, the 46-room property was tailored specifically for the post-war automotive traveler. In a dense, hilly metropolis where vehicle space has always been at a premium, the Motel Capri maintained a rare and beloved roadside amenity: free, guaranteed on-site parking integrated directly into its classic auto-court footprint. Over the decades, the independent inn has resisted corporate chain standardization, instead leaning into its authentic retro roots by meticulously preserving its original mid-century charm while quietly outfitting guest rooms with modern conveniences.
Shhh.... it's very quiet here at the Motel Capri. It's just one block
away.
Motel Capri
San Francisco, CA Photo courtesy Justin Montano
Out along the quiet neighborhood sidewalk, the motel's show-stopping roadside marquee remains one of the finest surviving neon sights in the city. Renowned among roadside enthusiasts for its playful "rainbow" effect, the tall pylon sign features eye-popping multi-colored panels stacked beneath bold neon lettering designed to beckon motorists turning off the main thoroughfares. Both the vintage property and its legendary illuminated landmark continue to thrive today, still lighting up the evening fog just as they did in the late 1950s.
UPDATE: The Motel Capri along Greenwich Street in San Francisco remains open for business, with its spectacular vintage roadside neon marquee still surviving and lighting up the night sky. 09-26
Motel Capri
San Francisco, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Motel Capri
San Francisco,
CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Cottage Inn
Holiday Lodge (Gone)
