Vestal Motel (Gone)
Vestal, NY
Photo courtesy Jay Lin

Cruising along the Vestal Parkway (Route 434) in upstate New York, the Vestal Motel was once a prime example of classic post-war motor court hospitality. Featuring a sprawling U-shaped layout with parking stalls right at each room door, the motel welcomed generations of road-trippers navigating the Southern Tier corridor.

Out front stood a grand mid-century roadside marquee, complete with vibrant neon framing that caught the eye of passing motorists day and night. To stay competitive with the expanding corporate chain hotels in the late 1970s and '80s, the motel proudly tacked on illuminated add-on panels advertising modern road luxuries like "Free HBO" and "Color TV"—proving to weary drivers that it was keeping up with the times!

UPDATE: The Vestal Motel ceased commercial lodging operations years ago, and its grand roadside neon sign has since been removed from the parkway. 08-26

Motel 47 (Closed)
Watertown, NY
Photo courtesy Jay Lin

Cruising north toward the Thousand Islands along Bradley Street Road (Route 12), the vivid roadside sign outside Motel 47 in Watertown, New York brought a warm splash of sunshine to the North Country. The bright, pastel color scheme felt straight out of California or Florida, even if there wasn't a single palm tree in sight!

The cozy motor court was built, owned, and operated for 27 years by William "Corky" and Anna Murrock, who personally welcomed generations of motorists navigating upstate New York. With its standout retro palette contrasting against snowy winters, the eye-catching neon marquee served as a cheerful beacon for weary drivers looking to pull off the road for the night.

UPDATE: Motel 47 closed down when the Murrocks retired in 1997, and the colorful roadside sign and motel structures have since been removed from the property. 08-26

Blue Dolphin Motel (Rem.)
Amherst, NY
Photo courtesy Steve Felder

Now what exactly is Amherst known for, other than the site of the Hindenburg's last days? Well, though that tragedy was actually in Lakehurst, New Jersey and this is Amherst, New York, check out the Blue Dolphin Motel (Blue Dolphin Motor Lodge). Does this make sense? Didn't think so!

Located along the heavily traveled Niagara Falls Boulevard (U.S. Route 62), this classic 1950s single-story motor court was once a prime stop for vacationers cruising between Buffalo and the falls. Complete with drive-up room parking, the lodge was best known for its standout roadside neon sign featuring a leaping blue dolphin that welcomed generations of road-trippers to pull in for the night.

UPDATE: The motel was eventually remodeled and rebranded as the Amherst Inn & Suites, and the whimsical jumping blue dolphin neon sign has since been replaced by a modern backlit marquee. 08-26

Gunn's Corner Motel (Gone)
Gunn's Corner, NY
Photo courtesy Jay Lin

A beautiful hand-painted mural of a Thousand Islands shoreline highlights this bright and cheerful roadside sign at Gunn's Corner, New York. The motor court was aptly named the Gunn's Corner Motel (Gunns Corners Motel).

Situated at the rural crossroads where Route 12 and Route 180 converge—about nine miles north of Watertown—the intersection traces its name back to John N. Gunn, a War of 1812 veteran who settled the corner in 1836. Long after the original 19th-century hotel on the site was lost to a fire in 1947, Mr. and Mrs. Roy E. Simonds opened this mid-century motel to catch vacationers heading north. Complete with modern amenities like "TV in every room," the colorful painted scenic marquee served as a welcoming beacon along the direct route to the river.

UPDATE: The Gunn's Corner Motel closed its doors long ago, and both the lodging structures and the hand-painted shoreline sign have been cleared from the intersection. 08-26

Metropolitan Motel (Demolished)
Asbury Park, NJ
Photo courtesy Kelly Coalier

Cruising down Asbury Avenue toward the ocean in Asbury Park, New Jersey, the Metropolitan Motel (The Metropolitan Hotel & Motel) was a true image of an old-time motor court. With its eye-catching lettering and bold trim, the roadside sign looked like it came straight out of a classic Main Street penny arcade.

The property had quite the pedigree long before the neon ever arrived. The grand main hotel structure was originally built in 1900 as an ornate, Spanish Revival-style landmark. When the post-war automobile boom hit the Jersey Shore in the 1950s, the owners embraced the highway age by adding a modern 100-plus room motor court wing directly onto the compound. Operating for decades as the premier kosher resort in town, the compound treated guests to top-notch mid-century luxuries like running ice water taps in every room, heated swimming pools, and convenient drive-up lodging just blocks from the boardwalk.

UPDATE: After closing its doors in 1989, the long-abandoned complex was demolished in phases between 2008 and 2009, and its vintage arcade-style marquee was cleared from the corner. 08-26

Blue Star Motel (Demolished)
Newport News, VA
Photo courtesy Barry Wells

The Blue Star Motel in Newport News, Virginia is a true remnant of the road's historical past. Check out the vintage marquee that once greeted motorists cruising along the Jefferson Avenue corridor (U.S. Route 143).

Situated along a primary artery feeding traffic through the Virginia Peninsula toward Hampton Roads naval shipyards and coastal ports, this mid-century motor court held immense cultural significance. During the era of segregated travel, the motel served as a vital safe haven for African American road-trippers, proudly earning a listing in the historic 1958 edition of The Negro Travelers' Green Book. Later in its lifespan, the old motor lodge had a second act as a multi-vendor roadside antique mall before the commercial landscape along the avenue shifted.

UPDATE: The Blue Star Motel was completely demolished back in the 1990s, and its vintage roadside marquee was removed from Jefferson Avenue when the site was cleared. 08-26