Town & Country Motel
Denver, CO Photos Tammy Terwelp
Denver, CO was home to the Town & Country Motel, a property that featured more than just a roadside sign. The cursive script lettering mounted to the building was a classic example of mid-century motel design, while the vertical "MOTEL" letters running down the chimney created a distinctive look that was hard to miss. 11-09 The combination of rooftop lettering, building-mounted signage, and roadside advertising gave the property a unique identity along East Colfax Avenue. It was the kind of design detail that helped independent motels stand apart from their competitors during the golden age of roadside travel. 11-09
UPDATE: The Town & Country Motel is gone. The motel, its distinctive chimney lettering, and the roadside sign have all been demolished right around 2020, and the property has since been redeveloped. Today, photographs like these serve as a reminder of one of East Colfax Avenue's more memorable motel designs. 06-26
Lamplighter Motel (Closed)
Longmont, CO Photo courtesy Robin McCracken
Check out this old roadside motel found in Longmont, CO. The Lamplighter Motel featured both a name and marquee reminiscent of the classic mom-and-pop motel era. The property sat near Quality Liquors and its famous yellow boomerang arrow, making this stretch of Main Street a memorable stop for fans of vintage roadside signs.
Like many independent motels built during the postwar travel boom, the Lamplighter relied on its roadside sign to attract passing motorists. Its simple design and familiar name reflected an era when locally owned motor courts were a common sight along America's highways. 02-10
UPDATE: The Lamplighter Motel is permanently closed. While the motel itself no longer operates, the vintage roadside marquee remains standing, preserving a visible reminder of Longmont's roadside lodging history. 06-26
Eddie Bohn Motel (Gone)
Denver, CO Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
West Colfax was home to the Eddie Bohn Motel and the famous Pig 'N' Whistle restaurant, one of Denver's best-known roadside landmarks. Opened in 1924 by former boxer Eddie Bohn, the property grew into a popular destination for travelers, athletes, and celebrities passing through Denver. Among those connected to the property were heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey, a friend of Bohn's, and boxing legend Sugar Ray Robinson, who stayed at the motel.
The motel and restaurant operated for decades along historic U.S. Route 40 before eventually closing in 1991. Even after the business shut down, the property remained a recognizable landmark on West Colfax Avenue.
Unfortunately, the boarded up restaurant was gutted by a fire on April 22, 2010 though the motel marquee is still intact. More information on the fire can be found in this Denver Postarticle. 04-10
UPDATE: Much of the original Eddie Bohn Motel and Pig 'N' Whistle complex has been demolished following years of vacancy and a devastating fire that damaged the restaurant in 2010. Fortunately, the iconic roadside marquee survives and remains standing today, preserving a visible connection to one of Denver's most historic roadside destinations. 06-26
Golden Motel (Demolished)
Golden, CO Photo courtesy Robin McCracken
Here's the marquee for the Golden Motel in Golden, CO. While the name may have been straightforward, the motel's roadside sign served as a familiar welcome to travelers passing through town.
Like many independent roadside motels, the Golden Motel was part of an era when family-owned lodging properties lined America's highways and relied on eye-catching signs to attract passing motorists. 09-10
UPDATE: The Golden Motel is gone. Both the motel and its vintage roadside marquee were demolished sometime after 2008, leaving photographs like this as a reminder of a once-familiar stop in Golden. 06-26
Driftwood Motel
Denver, CO Photo courtesy Robin McCracken
Check out this old roadside motel sign for the Driftwood Motel, located just off East Colfax Avenue in Denver.
The motel dates to the 1950s and became part of East Colfax history in 1967, when Paul McCartney and Mal Evans passed through Denver and filmed portions of the corridor near the property. The motel’s vintage sign remains a reminder of the independent lodging businesses that once defined this stretch of the city. 09-10
UPDATE: The Driftwood Motel remains standing and continues to operate as a low-budget lodging property near East Colfax Avenue. Its vintage roadside sign also remains intact, still pointing travelers toward the property from its corner perch along the corridor. 06-26
Cameron Motel (Closed)
Denver, CO Photo courtesy Robin McCracken
Here's another of Denver's great roadside signs of yesteryear. The Cameron Motel marquee reflects the bold size, sharp angles, and distinctive styling that defined many motel signs from decades past.
Built in 1956, the Cameron Motel welcomed travelers for many years and became a familiar sight along the south side of Denver. Its large roadside sign was designed to stand out in an era when motorists relied on eye-catching marquees to guide their overnight lodging decisions. 07-11
UPDATE: The Cameron Motel is gone, having been demolished as part of a redevelopment project that transformed the property into a residential community. Fortunately, the motel's iconic roadside sign was preserved and incorporated into the new development, allowing a piece of the site's history to remain visible even after the motel itself disappeared. 06-26
Town & Country Motel
Eddie Bohn Motel (Gone)
Golden Motel (Demolished)
Driftwood Motel
Cameron Motel (Closed)
