Oasis Motel
Tulsa, OK
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The Oasis Motel in Tulsa offers a little roadside escape along East 11th Street. Its eye-catching neon sign gives Route 66 travelers a reason to slow down, whether they need a room or just another photograph for the road-trip collection. With a name like Oasis, the place certainly knew how to appeal to someone who had spent the afternoon behind the wheel.

Built in 1953, the motel welcomed motorists during the growing popularity of family automobile vacations. Its low-rise room blocks and parking outside the doors kept things convenient. Pull in, unload the suitcase and give the car a rest until morning. No long hotel corridors required.

Oasis Motel
Tulsa, OK
Photo courtesy Charles Brock

The familiar sign dates to around 1960, adding another layer of roadside personality to the property. Its unusual shapes and neon lettering belong to the days when independent motels needed a memorable advertisement to compete for passing traffic. Along Route 66, a plain little vacancy board could have a hard time keeping up.

An early-1960s postcard promoted the Oasis with a swimming pool, room telephones, coffee service and a lounge. The pool had an L-shaped layout between the driveway and the street, giving summer travelers another reason to stop. After a hot day crossing Oklahoma, a dip in the water probably sounded considerably better than another hour on the highway.

Fortunately, this is one of the success stories. Rather than disappearing like so many vintage motel signs, the Oasis marquee was restored through local preservation efforts and once again lights up Route 66. The motel also features a colorful "Welcome to Tulsa & Route 66" mural on one end of the building, making it an easy stop for roadside enthusiasts.

Oasis close up of the lettering
Tulsa, OK
Photo courtesy Charles Brock

A rather interesting sign, the Oasis Motel marquee always made me wonder if I was looking at a crescent moon or a banana. As it turns out, it's a crescent moon nestled inside a starburst—a fitting design for a motel named "Oasis." Then again, any sign with a name like Oasis makes you wonder if the whole thing might just be a mirage.

The motel also has a Route 66 mural on the end of a building, giving visitors something else to check out besides the sign. Between the painted highway tribute and the older motor-court layout, the Oasis wears its roadside connections where passing travelers can see them.

Oasis Motel
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

A rather interesting sign, the Oasis Motel marquee always made me wonder if I was looking at a crescent moon or a banana. As it turns out, it's a crescent moon nestled inside a starburst—a fitting design for a motel named "Oasis." Then again, any sign with a name like Oasis makes you wonder if the whole thing might just be a mirage.

UPDATE: Here's another shot of the Oasis Motel sign, this one without the sputnik that used to be atop the sign. The motel appeared to be used for long term lodging. 08-17

UPDATE: The Oasis remains in operation along East 11th Street, offering overnight and extended stays with parking outside the rooms. Its neon sign was refurbished in 2020, helping this longtime Route 66 landmark keep its place in Tulsa’s roadside lineup. More than seventy years after opening, the old motel still offers travelers a place to pull over and call it a night. 10-26

Western Capri Motel (Removed)
Tulsa, OK
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The Western Capri Motel once had a huge marquee with an immense arrow pointing travelers right into its den. Located along Tulsa's old Route 66 corridor, the sign had the kind of bold roadside presence that made passing motorists take notice.

The motel opened in 1950 and was promoted as an "Ultra Modern" stop for travelers, offering conveniences such as free television, wall-to-wall carpeting, individually controlled room temperatures, and an on-site restaurant. The original neon sign matched that promise, with a sweeping arrow and starburst canopy giving the property plenty of mid-century flash.

Western Capri Motel (plastic sign)
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Unfortunately, the sign did not survive. In 2006, the Western Capri marquee was removed and cut apart rather than preserved. The pieces were later tracked to a local scrap yard, where the sign was destroyed and lost for good.

UPDATE: The Western Capri Motel sign has been replaced with a generic plastic version. 10-10

UPDATE: The motel property still operates as budget lodging, but the original neon sign is gone. A generic plastic sign now stands in its place, making the loss of the Western Capri marquee another tough reminder of how quickly classic Route 66 neon can disappear. 06-26

Desert Hills Motel
Tulsa, OK
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The Desert Hills Motel sits just down the road from Tulsa's famous Rose Bowl and features one of the best-known motel signs along Route 66. The glowing green cactus seems to give a friendly roadside wave to passing motorists, while the flashing arrow points the way inside. It's a sign that's hard to forget once you've seen it.

Built in 1953, the 50-room motel has welcomed Route 66 travelers for more than seven decades. One of its more unusual features is the diagonal layout of the guest rooms, a design that allowed for larger rooms while making the most of the property's narrow lot. Although it's often said the motel has appeared in several movies, specific film appearances haven't been conclusively verified.

Desert Hills Motel
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Desert Hills has managed to hold onto much of its mid-century character. Its iconic neon sign was carefully restored and relit in 2004 as part of preparations for Tulsa's International Route 66 Festival, and a vintage 1957 Chevrolet parked near the office adds another nostalgic touch. The original swimming pool is gone, having been converted into a grassy courtyard, but the motel still captures the spirit of the Mother Road.

UPDATE: The roadside gem of the Desert Hills Motel still stands along busy Route 66 in Tulsa. 08-17

UPDATE: The Desert Hills Motel remains open under independent ownership and continues welcoming travelers along historic Route 66. Its beautifully restored neon cactus sign still lights up the Tulsa skyline, making it one of Oklahoma's best-preserved roadside motel landmarks. 06-26