Lincoln Motel
Chandler, OK
Photo courtesy Greg West

The Lincoln Motel has welcomed Route 66 travelers to Chandler since 1939. Originally called Lincoln Court, its cottage-style rooms and colorful neon make an appealing combination along the Mother Road. 07-07

Built by Joe Gibson, the property features individual bungalow-style cabins. Earlier advertisements offered television, refrigerated air conditioning, thermostat-controlled heat, a playground and truck parking. Plenty of reasons to stop before continuing west.

The towering neon sign appears to date from a 1950s modernization. Its double-sided design helped the older motor court keep pace with newer roadside competition.

UPDATE: The Lincoln remains in operation, retaining its cottage-court layout and familiar neon sign. Travelers can still spend the night behind one of Chandler’s classic roadside advertisements. 06-26

Rocking R Motel
Burlington, KS
Photo courtesy Greg West

The Rocking R Motel sign once welcomed tired travelers along U.S. Highway 75 in Burlington. Its colorful neon made this independent motor court easy to spot after dark.

Operated for many years by Eddie and Reta Rich, the motel offered sixteen ground-level rooms. Advertisements promoted air conditioning, television, telephones, carpeting and complimentary coffee. After a long drive, that covered quite a few essentials.

The marquee supplied the nighttime sales pitch, giving motorists a bright invitation to leave the highway and call it a day.

UPDATE: The original building remains standing but has been converted to other uses and no longer operates as a traditional motel. 06-26

The Rudd Motel
Nowata, OK
Photo courtesy Greg West

The Rudd Motel has welcomed travelers to Nowata with a colorful neon sign along U.S. Highway 169. Sometimes a straightforward roadside advertisement is all a motor court needs to make an impression. 01-06

Its single-story layout recalls the postwar years when independent motels served vacationers, traveling salesmen and workers crossing northeastern Oklahoma.

The freestanding sign is the real attraction. Bold colors and an illuminated vacancy panel share some family resemblance with Burlington’s Rocking R marquee. Both knew how to catch a tired driver’s attention.

UPDATE: The Rudd remains open under new ownership. Its vintage sign still stands beside the highway, continuing the motel’s familiar roadside welcome. 06-26

New Motel
Yukon, OK
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The New Motel in Yukon had a name that refused to age. Decades after opening, the oversized “NEW” lettering still delivered its optimistic roadside message. Apparently, nobody put an expiration date on the advertisement. 07-07

Built during the postwar travel boom along Main Street, the motel offered a convenient overnight stop on Route 66. Its low-profile motor-court layout remains a reminder of those earlier highway days.

The colorful marquee was the memorable part, attracting attention long after the property could reasonably claim to be new.

UPDATE: The motel remains in operation, but its vintage pole sign disappeared years ago. A plain replacement now carries the name, leaving the earlier marquee to roadside memories. 06-26

Desert Hills Motel
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Desert Hills Motel brings a little desert scenery to Tulsa’s Route 66. Its giant neon cactus and sweeping red arrow make this 1953 motor court hard to overlook along 11th Street.

Built by Claude Neon Federal Sign Company, the marquee was restored in 2004 before Tulsa’s International Route 66 Festival. It remains the property’s brightest calling card.

The rooms have an unusual arrangement, set diagonally to provide more space while retaining parking outside the doors. Movie appearances, including The Christmas Child and Return to Sender, added another chapter to the motel’s history.

UPDATE: The Desert Hills remains open, with its restored cactus sign continuing to light the roadside. No need to reach Arizona for a little neon desert atmosphere. 06-26

Oasis Motel
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Oasis Motel is a welcome sight along Tulsa’s Route 66. While much of the roadside landscape has changed, its neon recalls the days when independent motels competed for every passing car. 08-17

The name offered exactly what tired motorists wanted after a long drive. Bright lettering and distinctive mid-century styling helped turn that promise into a reason to pull over.

Along with the Desert Hills Motel, Meadow Gold sign and other familiar landmarks, the Oasis gives visitors plenty to watch for along 11th Street. An evening drive offers another chance to appreciate the old advertisements.

UPDATE: The Oasis sign remains part of Tulsa’s Route 66 streetscape, preserving a colorful reminder of the highway’s independent lodging days. 06-26

Mayo Motor Inn
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Mayo Motor Inn proves that even a parking garage can deserve a neon sign. Its 15-foot marquee above Cheyenne Avenue gives visitors another reason to look beyond the neighboring Mayo Hotel.

Completed in 1952 and designed by Leon B. Senter & Associates, the garage accommodated 400 vehicles. An underground pedestrian tunnel connected it to the hotel, while gasoline pumps, a wash bay, car lifts and tire sales offered more than a parking space.

The Streamline Moderne building’s porcelain-enamel sign was made by Claude Neon Federal Sign Company. It gave the practical business of storing cars a little luxury-hotel presentation.

The property joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. 08-17

UPDATE: The Mayo Motor Inn remains an active parking facility serving the hotel. Its restored neon continues adding some mid-century style to downtown Tulsa after dark. 06-26