Rite-Spot Motel
Route 30, Fayettesville, PA
Photo courtesy Moon Mullins OX-76

How can you go wrong when you find the Rite-Spot Motel (Rite Spot Motel)? Much better than the opposite! Located along scenic Lincoln Way East (U.S. Route 30) in Fayetteville, Pennsylvania, just east of Chambersburg and a short hop from Gettysburg, this 21-room motor court is a classic slice of Lincoln Highway history.

Built during the post-WWII automotive travel boom, the low-slung, single-story tourist court was designed with authentic park-at-your-door convenience for cross-country motorists. Its mid-century charm is so well preserved that it even served as a featured filming location in director John Putch's regional cult-classic movie Route 30. Out front, the vintage neon roadside sign continues to shine bright, guiding highway travelers into the driveway just like it did decades ago.

UPDATE: The Rite Spot Motel remains open for business along Route 30, keeping its classic mid-century neon sign glowing for travelers exploring the Cumberland Valley. 08-26

See's Motel (Rem.)
West Virginia
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

See's Motel is located in West Virginia. A nice classic sign with a down home name, this roadside stop welcomed travelers right along West Main Street in the small mountain valley town of Wardensville.

First opened in 1933 by Christopher J. See, this ultra-cozy, four-room motor court was a true definition of family-run Appalachian hospitality. Christopher’s daughter, Marlene See, took over operations and spent decades greeting guests at the front desk, famously making the spotless little motel legendary by delivering warm, freshly baked homemade brownies directly to guest rooms (except during Lent, when she gave up baking!). With no in-room phones and plenty of old-school charm, it offered a peaceful, nostalgic retreat for highway motorists rolling through Hardy County.

UPDATE: Following Marlene's passing in 2012 after nearly eight decades of continuous family stewardship, the historic property was completely renovated and reopened in 2017 as the Firefly Inn, with the classic roadside sign replaced by a modern wooden marquee. 08-26

South Shore Motel (Demolished)
Grandhaven, MI
Photo courtesy Steve Felder

The marquee for the South Shore Motel really makes one think of lodging by a beautiful lake. Or at least at a place that has TV, radio, phones, and air conditioning to boot! Situated along South Beacon Boulevard (U.S. Highway 31) in Grand Haven, Michigan, this classic motor court was once a prime stop for beachgoers heading toward the shores of Lake Michigan.

Built during the post-WWII automotive vacation boom, the single-story linear court offered highway motorists ultimate park-at-your-door convenience. Mid-century chrome postcards and souvenir matchbooks proudly promoted its lineup of modern amenities, with the eye-catching roadside pylon marquee calling out air conditioning, individual room telephones, radios, and TV to draw weary lake-bound travelers off the highway.

UPDATE: The South Shore Motel closed its doors decades ago and was completely demolished, with the property and its vintage marquee replaced by modern commercial retail. 08-26

Dutch Treat Motel (Gone)
Strasburg, PA
Photo courtesy Michael Sekeres

The Dutch Treat Motel located just outside of Strasburg, Pennsylvania long served customers visiting the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Situated along Herr Road in Ronks—right across from the Sight & Sound Theatres complex—this cozy 25-room roadside stop was a favorite for families exploring Lancaster County.

Built during the post-war regional tourism boom, the low-slung, single-story motor court offered park-at-your-door convenience, an outdoor swimming pool, and a grassy courtyard complete with a gazebo. Out front, the colorful mid-century roadside sign welcomed generations of road-trippers looking for an affordable and relaxing stay in Amish Country.

UPDATE: The Dutch Treat Motel has since ended its run as a transient tourist court, with the property converted into extended-stay housing and the classic roadside marquee replaced. 08-26

Congress Inn (Demolished)
Lancaster, PA
Photo courtesy Bob Jagendorf

Feel a sense of patriotism as you pass by the Congress Inn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and its red, white, and blue marquee off the road. Located along Lincoln Highway East (U.S. Route 30), this standout motor lodge was once the premier accommodation along Lancaster County's bustling tourist strip.

Opened in 1958 by local entrepreneur Earl E. Clark, the motel debuted as a proud member of the prestigious Congress of Motor Hotels association. With over 70 modern units, an on-site coffee shop, and luxuries like ceramic tile baths and coin-operated "Massage-A-Matic" vibrating mattresses, it quickly grew into the largest motel in the region. Most famously, after listening to guests repeatedly ask for more family-friendly activities in the area, Clark purchased land directly across Route 30 and opened the iconic castle-themed amusement park Dutch Wonderland in 1963.

UPDATE: Operating in its final years as the Passport Inn, the historic motel complex was permanently closed and completely demolished in 2010 to make way for a shopping center, with its patriotic roadside marquee removed from Route 30. 08-26

Pennsylvania Dutch Motel (Demolished)
Denver, PA
Photo courtesy Bob Jagendorf

This rather unique sign for the Pennsylvania Dutch Motel in Denver, Pennsylvania, has plenty going on. TV, air conditioning, and yes, even a PHONE IN ROOMS panel hanging right there beneath the main sign. Remember when having a telephone in your motel room was something worth advertising?

The motel sat along U.S. 222 near the Pennsylvania Turnpike and had 20 rooms built with local Decker stone. Vintage postcards also advertised wall-to-wall carpeting and tile baths, so this must have been a pretty modern stop in its day.

UPDATE: The Pennsylvania Dutch Motel has since been demolished and the roadside sign removed. The property was later redeveloped for a commercial business. 08-26

Motel Ten Acres (Gone)
Galloway Township, NJ
Photo courtesy Bob Jagendorf

Here’s a nice old roadside sign for the Motel Ten Acres, located along Route 9 in Galloway Township near Atlantic City. The motel name sits high above the road in big letters, the sort of sign that was hard to miss when heading down the highway looking for a room.

The Ten Acres started out as a guest house in the late 1940s and eventually grew into an 18-room motor court. It even had a large swimming pool that longtime local stories say was opened to neighborhood kids, with local youngsters hired as lifeguards.

There was also a coffee shop on the property, which survived through several names over the years. The space is now home to the Cracked Egg Cafe.

UPDATE: The Ten Acres no longer operates as a traditional tourist motel, and the original roadside sign has been altered or removed. 08-26

"Indian" Motel (Gone)
Lake George, NY
Photo courtesy Steve Felder

This "Indian" Motel, located in Lake George, New York, features a very prominent Native American profile on its marquee top. Situated along the scenic Lake Shore Drive (Route 9N) corridor heading north from the village toward Bolton Landing, the Indian Motel (Indian Trail Motel) was built to capture the imagination of post-war family vacationers exploring the Adirondacks.

Capitalizing on the region's deep frontier lore and French and Indian War history, the mid-century motor court was styled with rustic Adirondack-style accents. Out front stood a standout double-sided roadside marquee, anchored by a detailed sheet-metal chief profile wearing a neon-illuminated headdress set into a log-beam frame that caught the eye of travelers cruising along the lake.

UPDATE: The original Indian Motel name and its distinctive neon-accented headdress marquee have long vanished from Lake Shore Drive, removed during subsequent property renovations along the resort strip. 08-26