Star Lite Motel (Gone)
Sturgis, SD
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The Star Lite Motel announced itself with a huge neon star above its marquee. Black Hills travelers and Sturgis Motorcycle Rally visitors had little trouble spotting this independent lodging stop.

The oversized star gave motorists something memorable to watch for before finding a room involved checking a phone.

UPDATE: The motel has been demolished and the property redeveloped. The star-topped sign was also removed, but whether it was saved remains unknown. 06-26

Gateway Motel (Rem.)
Tulsa, OK
Photo courtesy Charles Brock

The Gateway Motor Hotel in Tulsa still advertises a great rate, rain or shine. I can't say what the rooms are like these days, but the roadside sign still looks terrific and continues to catch the eye of travelers passing along Route 66. The large marquee is a reminder of an era when a good sign could be just as important as the motel itself.

Originally built in the early 1950s as the Town & Country Motor Hotel and Restaurant, the property offered 62 air-conditioned rooms, family suites, a swimming pool, and a 24-hour restaurant with room service. As Tulsa grew and travel habits changed, the motel was renamed the Gateway Motor Hotel (later Gateway Motor Inn), while the restaurant and pool eventually disappeared.

Despite the changes, the vintage sign has remained. It's one of the surviving roadside landmarks on Tulsa's western Route 66 corridor and a nice reminder of the city's busy motel era.

UPDATE: The Gateway Motor Inn remains open, primarily serving budget and long-term guests. The historic roadside marquee was replaced. 06-26

Cotton Boll Motel (Closed)
Canute, OK
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The Cotton Boll Motel brought a little agricultural identity to Route 66 in Canute. Built by local cotton farmers, it opened on May 29, 1960, with sixteen rooms offering air conditioning, television, carpeting and tiled bathrooms. Quite a comfortable invitation after a long day crossing western Oklahoma.

Its porcelain-enamel sign, made by Seright Neon of Elk City, became the motel’s unmistakable roadside calling card. Even after the rooms went quiet, the weathered marquee continued attracting travelers with cameras instead of suitcases.

Interstate 40 bypassed Canute in 1970, taking much of the through traffic with it. The Cotton Boll carried on until the early 1990s, and its buildings later became a private residence.

UPDATE: The restored Cotton Boll sign was ceremonially relit on March 21, 2026, after more than thirty years without neon. State grant funding and local preservation efforts returned its familiar glow to Route 66. The motel no longer takes guests, but its old advertisement has another nighttime audience. 06-26

Washita Motel (Closed)
Canute, OK
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Here’s the Washita Motel in Canute, now serving as a private residence. Many thanks to Clarke Ingram for helping identify its name.

Originally built in Foss, the individual motel units were moved to Canute during the 1960s to welcome Route 66 travelers. Business declined after Interstate 40 bypassed town, but the Washita held on until 1992.

The weathered sign still stands beside the former rooms, giving roadside visitors another reminder of Canute’s highway lodging days.

UPDATE: Canute received Route 66 Revitalization Grant funding in 2025 to repaint and stabilize the marquee. Whether the work will include restoring its neon remains unconfirmed. 06-26

Western Motel
Sayre, OK
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The Western Motel in Sayre features one of the most distinctive motel signs you'll find anywhere on Route 66. Instead of the usual arrows or starbursts, the marquee showcases a colorful desert scene complete with a towering saguaro cactus. Stare at it long enough and you'll start wondering if you've somehow crossed into Arizona. 10-05

The motel officially opened on August 30, 1959, when more than 600 people attended its grand opening. Built by Ollie and Ruby Elliott, the 25-room motel was designed with upscale touches for the era, while the elaborate neon sign became its unmistakable roadside calling card. Surrounded by dozens of flashing bulbs, the scenic panel was impossible for travelers to miss.

UPDATE: The Western Motel remains open under independent ownership. Thanks to a Route 66 Revitalization Grant awarded in 2025–2026, restoration of the historic marquee is underway, with plans to relight the neon once fundraising and restoration work are complete. 06-26

Thunderbird Motel
Dodge City, KS
Photo courtesy Greg West

This fancy sign belongs to the Thunderbird Motel in Dodge City. The colorful thunderbird perched above the marquee, along with the bold red-and-white design, makes it a real roadside attraction. And if the glowing sign wasn't enough to convince passing motorists, the promise of "Clean Rooms" probably sealed the deal. 10-05

Although the motel's exact construction date hasn't been confirmed, its architecture and sign are unmistakably products of the mid-century motel era. The stylized thunderbird reflects a popular design trend of the 1950s, when bold graphics and memorable symbols helped independent motels stand out to travelers cruising America's highways.

UPDATE: The Thunderbird Motel remains open as an independently operated motel. Its beautifully restored vintage sign still greets travelers along Wyatt Earp Boulevard and continues to be one of the city's best surviving examples of mid-century roadside neon. 06-26