Big Bunny Motel
Denver, CO
Photo courtesy Larry Glass

The Bunny Motel was formerly known as the Bugs Bunny Motel. One look at the rabbit perched atop the sign and it's easy to see where the name came from.

Built in 1952 along West Colfax Avenue, the motel became a familiar roadside landmark for generations of travelers. For decades, the property operated under the Bugs Bunny name until a copyright challenge from Warner Bros. forced a change. Rather than replace the sign entirely, the owners made a simple modification, transforming the Bugs Bunny Motel into the Big Bunny Motel while preserving the famous rabbit that had become part of the property's identity. 11-07

UPDATE: The Big Bunny Motel remains in operation today, and the iconic rabbit-topped sign continues to greet travelers along West Colfax Avenue. While the name may have changed, the motel's most recognizable feature remains intact, making it one of the corridor's most memorable surviving roadside landmarks. 06-26

Lucky U Motel
Denver, CO
Photo courtesy Larry Glass

The Lucky U Motel features one of the more recognizable motel signs in the Denver area. Rising high above South Broadway, the marquee is shaped like a giant shamrock, making it difficult for passing motorists to miss.

Opened in 1953, the motel welcomed travelers during the postwar boom in automobile tourism. While countless roadside motels have lost their original signs over the years, the Lucky U's distinctive shamrock has remained a familiar landmark for generations of Denver-area residents and road trippers alike. 11-07

UPDATE: The Lucky U Motel remains in operation today, and its iconic shamrock sign continues to stand watch over South Broadway. The vintage marquee remains one of the best-known surviving motel signs in the area and a reminder of the golden age of roadside travel. 06-26

Rocky Mountain Motel
Denver, CO
Photo courtesy Larry Glass

The Rocky Mountain Motel was known for a sign that proudly incorporated the Rocky Mountains into its design. The mountain silhouette helped give the marquee a sense of place and made it a fitting landmark along East Colfax Avenue.

Like many motels that lined historic U.S. Route 40, the Rocky Mountain Motel catered to travelers heading west toward Colorado's mountains and ski country. Its distinctive sign became one of the many memorable pieces of roadside architecture that helped define the corridor. 11-07

UPDATE: While the Rocky Mountain Motel no longer operates under its historic name, the story has a happy ending for preservationists. The property has been redeveloped as a boutique hotel, and the iconic mountain-topped sign was preserved as part of the project's transformation. The motel may be gone, but one of its most recognizable features continues to survive along East Colfax Avenue. 06-26

Trails End Motel
Sheridan, WY
Photo courtesy Larry Glass

The name Trails End Motel is a popular one for roadside motels. Fortunately, many of the signs that bear this name are quite eye-catching. Here's one located in Sheridan, Wyoming.

For generations, signs like this welcomed travelers arriving in town after a long day on the road. The bold design and bright neon helped the Trails End stand out among the many independent motels that once lined America's highways. 11-07

UPDATE: The Trails End Motel remains in operation in Sheridan. Better yet, its vintage roadside marquee continues to survive, serving as a reminder of the era when independent motels relied on memorable signs to attract passing motorists. 06-26

Stardust Motel (Demolished)
New Castle, WY
Photo courtesy Larry Glass

This unique sign is found at the Stardust Motel, located in Newcastle, WY. With a name like Stardust, a memorable sign almost seems mandatory, and this one certainly delivered.

Built in 1954, the motel welcomed travelers during an era when independent roadside businesses relied on colorful neon and distinctive designs to stand apart from the competition. The Stardust sign became a familiar sight for motorists passing through eastern Wyoming and remains a great example of mid-century roadside advertising. 12-07

UPDATE: The Stardust Motel is gone. The motel buildings and its vintage roadside signs were removed in 2021, ending nearly seventy years of roadside history at the site. Today, a Dollar General occupies the property where the motel once stood. 06-26

Zion Inn
Cedar City, UT
Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner

This diamond-shaped sign is the marquee for the Zion Inn in Cedar City, UT. Its distinctive shape helped it stand out from the many roadside motel signs that once lined highways throughout the West.

The Zion Inn welcomed travelers along Main Street during the golden age of automobile tourism. For years, the motel and its unique marquee served as a familiar landmark for visitors passing through southern Utah. 01-09

UPDATE: The Zion Inn's distinctive diamond-shaped sign remains standing in Cedar City. Earlier reports linking the property to a motel demolition appear to have confused it with another Cedar City motel. While the property's history has evolved over the years, the sign survives as a reminder of the city's roadside lodging era. 06-26