Pacific Motel (Demolished)
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The Pacific Motel is another streamline motel in the Northern California area. Best of all, it lights up. Located along Auburn Boulevard in North Sacramento, this spot sat right on the bustling northeastern approach into the capital along old U.S. 40 and U.S. 99E.

Back in its prime, the low-slung court stood shoulder-to-shoulder with its neighbors—the Ritz and the Rolling Green—forming a classic little mid-century "motel row" that welcomed highway travelers coming down from the foothills. With its sleek lines and glowing neon sign, the Pacific was a favorite stop along the boulevard for years. Around 2002, the block was targeted for retail redevelopment, and the vintage courts were cleared away under the threat of eminent domain, taking the Pacific and its glowing neon with them.

UPDATE: The Pacific Motel along Auburn Boulevard was demolished around 2002, and its classic neon marquee was removed when the block was cleared for commercial development. 09-26

Campus Motel
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The Campus Motel features script that looks a whole lot like the cosmic lettering that used to grace the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas. Located along Santa Rosa Street in San Luis Obispo, this classic motor court sat right near the busy junction of U.S. 101 and Highway 1.

Opened around 1958 with 28 deluxe rooms and family suites, the motel pitched itself to motorists as the "Gateway to Hearst Castle," treating guests to a heated pool, ten-channel TV, and in-room coffee. The real showstopper out front was its roadside sign, sporting that futuristic, Space Age script that felt straight off the Las Vegas Strip. While the motor court still stands and welcomes coastal travelers, its vintage mid-century sign was eventually taken down and replaced by standard modern branding.

UPDATE: The Campus Motel remains open for business along Santa Rosa Street under the name San Luis Inn & Suites, though its vintage Stardust-style script sign has been removed. 09-26

Washoe Motel (Rem.)
S. Lake Tahoe, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Sitting along Emerald Bay Road—State Highway 89—the Washoe has served as a rustic mountain getaway for decades, offering easy access to the lake, Camp Richardson, and the surrounding trails. Built with authentic mid-century cabin charm, the rooms still hang onto that great knotty pine wall paneling from the good old days. While the property has modernized over the years, shifting to boutique vacation studio rentals with kitchenettes, the drive-up motor court bones remain intact. Best of all, that vintage neon sign out front continues to hold its own beside the highway.

UPDATE: The motel remains open along Emerald Bay Road under the name The Washoe Lodge, with its neon sign replaced. 09-26

Rancho Grande Motel
Lodi, CA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

Here's another shot of the eye-catching marquee for the Rancho Grande Motel, located off the main highway in Lodi. This shot shows the sign with much of the neon working, lighting up the evening along South Cherokee Lane.

Dating back to around 1948, the Rancho Grande opened its doors right during the post-war travel boom, catching motorists rolling through town along the original surface alignment of U.S. 99. Like so many classic motor courts of the era, it gave folks an easy drive-up spot to park for the night. The big neon marquee out front is a real survivor, still doing what it was built to do after all these decades.

UPDATE: The Rancho Grande Motel is still open for business along South Cherokee Lane in Lodi, with its vintage neon marquee surviving intact and still glowing at night. 09-26

Traveler's Motel (Rem.)
Williams, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Think Williams, CA and think of the Traveler's Motel and its working neon sign out front. Sitting along 7th Street, this roadside stop was positioned right on the busy surface alignment of old U.S. 99W as it cut straight through the Sacramento Valley.

Dating back to the 1950s, the motel pitched itself as being "in the heart of the hunting country," offering cozy cottages and kitchenette units geared toward duck hunters, fishermen, and family road-trippers alike. The low-slung motor court has managed to outlive the old highway era, seeing a series of updates over the years to stay fresh. Unfortunately, its classic multi-colored neon roadside marquee didn't make the cut and was taken down in 2012, replaced by a modern backlit plastic sign box.

UPDATE: The motel remains open for business along 7th Street under the name Traveler's Inn, though its original neon roadside marquee was removed in 2012 and replaced with a plastic sign. 09-26

Star Motel
San Francisco, CA
Photo courtesy Scott Strickland

A bright neon star tops the sign for the Star Motel on Lombard Street. It is a simple idea, but it works. The star catches the eye first, then the vertical lettering leads it down to the motel below. Even the “No Vacancy” indicator has its place in the show. 09-09

The Star is part of Lombard’s old motel row, where travelers arriving from the north could find a room after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. With so many motels along the same stretch, a sign needed something memorable. A glowing star did the job nicely.

The rooms have been updated over the years, while the motel has kept its mid-century exterior and neon sign. The star is still up there doing what it did in this photo, giving passing drivers a reason to look twice.

UPDATE: The Star Motel remains open as a renovated boutique motel, and its vintage neon sign still lights up Lombard Street. 09-26

Motel 99 (Gone)
Redding, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The tall sign for Motel 99 was hard to miss after dark. Here it is glowing along North Market Street in Redding, with the vacancy light letting drivers know there was a room waiting. A good roadside sign could do its work from half a block away, and this one had plenty of height to help. 12-10

North Market Street was once part of the Highway 99 route through town. Motels and motor courts gathered along this stretch north of the Sacramento River, giving travelers plenty of choices before continuing on. Old Motel 99 postcards advertised air conditioning, kitchens, a swimming pool, and other comforts for a stop along the way.

The motel buildings are still there and have continued to serve as lodging under other names. The towering sign, however, has disappeared. It is uncertain when it came down or what became of it afterward.

UPDATE: The marquee is long gone as the motel has been taken over by a chain. 08-12

UPDATE: The former Motel 99 property continues under a newer lodging name, but its neon marquee no longer stands on North Market Street. This night shot catches it doing what it did best: lighting the way in from the road. 09-26