he Marble Gate Motel carries quite a huge arrow on its marquee. Well, at least the wayside traveler wouldn't miss it as they drove by! Originally thought to be located in Winchester, Virginia, this classic roadside court was actually situated along State Route 51 in the Belle Vernon and Rostraver Township area of southwestern Pennsylvania.
Built during the post-war auto boom as a low-slung, single-story motor court with park-at-your-door convenience, the motel was impossible to overlook thanks to that massive directional arrow pointing motorists straight into the driveway. To lure weary drivers off the highway, the sign proudly touted budget rates (around $22 a night back in the day), "Free TV," and the ultimate mid-century travel luxury: coin-operated "Magic Fingers" vibrating beds.
UPDATE: The Marble Gate Motel closed its doors to travelers years ago, and its giant neon arrow marquee has since been removed from the Route 51 corridor. 08-26
Cruising down the historic Lee Highway (U.S. Route 11) in the Shenandoah Valley, the Rockingham Motel features a huge arrow just pointing anyone passing by to its lodging facilities. While originally cataloged as sitting up the road in Mauzy, this classic Virginia roadside stop is actually located just south of Harrisonburg.
Built during the post-WWII highway travel boom as a long, single-story motor court with park-at-your-door convenience, the motel was once an official AAA-recommended stop operated by Mr. and Mrs. E.G. Kochli. Period postcards bragged about top-tier mid-century amenities like ceramic tile baths, individually controlled air conditioning, a picnic play lawn for the kids, and that giant flashing neon arrow pointing motorists right into the driveway for a good night's rest.
UPDATE: The Rockingham Motel remains open for travelers along South Main Street, though its grand vintage neon arrow sign has since been replaced by a modern backlit plastic marquee. 08-26
DeSoto Motel (Demolished)
Olean, NY Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
There are three DeSoto Motels scattered across the New York and Pennsylvania region, and this standout was situated just outside Olean, New York. Love that classic '50s architecture on the office!
Cruising along the old highway corridor on NYS Route 417 right at the town line between Olean and Allegany which is just down the road from the St. Bonaventure University campus, the DeSoto Motel (Motel De Soto) was once a premier vacation destination and a true heavyweight in Western New York's post-war roadside lodging scene.
DeSoto Motel Olean, NY Photo courtesy Jay Lin
First welcoming guests during the great automotive travel boom of the 1940s, this sprawling 77-room motor court was built with the quintessential mid-century courtyard blueprint that road-trippers came to know and love. Single-story, low-slung guest cabin wings wrapped neatly around a spacious central courtyard, offering motorists the ultimate in drive-up convenience right outside their individual room doors. The oasis-like grounds boasted lush, manicured green lawns and a sparkling open-air swimming pool complete with a sunny lounging terrace where weary drivers could relax after a long trek behind the wheel.
Out front, the stylish mid-century office facade and its eye-catching, stylized script marquee stood proud along the highway. In its operational prime, period postcards and travel guides heavily promoted the property as a scenic stopover for vacationers exploring the enchanted mountains of Cattaraugus County along the historic Route 17 corridor, long before high-speed interstates bypassed the charm of these classic two-lane roads.
DeSoto Motel
Bonaventure, NY Photo courtesy Alan Culley
UPDATE: Here's another sign for the DeSoto Motel in Olean, NY. The marquee looks similar to the photos above taken about a decade prior. 12-07
UPDATE: After welcoming generations of travelers, families, and campus visitors, the DeSoto Motel officially closed its doors to the public in 2009. The property went through foreclosure and sat vacant for several years while developers explored adaptive reuse concepts, including a plan to preserve and convert the retro motel cabins into off-campus housing for nearby university students. When that initiative fell through and the physical structures began to rapidly deteriorate in the harsh upstate winters, the site was cleared for new development. In December 2015, the roar of heavy machinery brought an end to an era as the entire motor court complex and its vintage roadside sign were completely demolished, leaving this mid-century favorite as just a fond memory of the open road. 08-26
Holly Hill Motel (Closed)
Aberdeen, MD Photo courtesy Chris Richey
The Holly Hill Motel in Aberdeen, Maryland still advertises its swimming pool prominently on top of its roadside marquee to attract travelers. Situated along South Philadelphia Boulevard (U.S. Route 40) south of downtown, this classic 26-room motor court was once a prime stop along a major pre-interstate highway corridor.
Built during the post-war auto boom, the low-slung court offered park-at-your-door convenience, private tile baths, and that refreshing in-ground pool. The motel and its surrounding strip also witnessed historic moments in the early 1960s as a focal point for Route 40 civil rights integration efforts involving military travelers from the nearby Aberdeen Proving Ground. Over time, the property adapted to the changing roadside, even filling in the pool in 2001 to make room for a mini-golf course.
UPDATE: The Holly Hill Motel has since closed down, though the shuttered buildings and its faded roadside pylon marquee still stand along Route 40. 08-26
Johnnie's Motel (Rem.)
McConnellsburg, PA Photo courtesy Moon Mullins OX-76
Well, with a name like Johnnie's Motel, how can one go wrong? Check out this place and its free air conditioning! Situated right at the busy junction of U.S. Route 30 (Lincoln Way East) and PA Route 16 in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, this classic stop has been welcoming Lincoln Highway travelers since the 1940s.
Originally opened and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Earl S. Alloway, the 14-unit brick motor court was built with the quintessential park-at-your-door convenience of the post-war auto boom. Vintage postcards heavily promoted modern luxuries like Simmons furniture, foam rubber mattresses, carpeting, and free radios, along with that prominent roadside marquee bragging about "Free Air Conditioning" to lure drivers off the highway. With an adjoining diner serving up hot, home-cooked comfort food to truckers and vacationers alike, the property earned a recognized spot along the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor.
UPDATE: Johnnie's Motel and Diner continues operating along Route 30, though the vintage neon details on the roadside marquee have since been replaced with modern backlit panels. 08-26
Marble Gate Motel (Gone)
Rockingham Motel (Rem.)
Holly Hill Motel (Closed)
Johnnie's Motel (Rem.)
