The Maples Motel
Sandusky, OH Photo courtesy Emily Steele
This neon shot of the Maples
Motel in Sandusky, Ohio shows the old sign doing exactly what it was built to do—letting travelers know there was still a vacancy waiting for them. It's a great looking sign, especially after dark when the neon comes to life.
The Maples has been welcoming guests for well over a century and is still family owned today. Over the years the motel has grown, but it has managed to keep the kind of roadside charm that made independent motels so popular with travelers.
One of the best parts of the sign is the old "Color TV" panel, a reminder of a time when that was considered a big selling point. It's little details like that which make old motel signs so much fun to photograph.
UPDATE: The Maples Motel is still open and continues to welcome travelers. The vintage neon sign is still standing and remains one of the area's best roadside attractions. 07-26
Stars Motel (Demolished)
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Devil Doll
Here's a shot of The
Stars Motel sign all lit up for the evening. Judging by this photo, the neon was in excellent shape and looked every bit as inviting as it must have when it first went up. It's the kind of sign that made roadside motels impossible to miss after dark.
The Stars Motel was part of Chicago's old "Motel Row" along North Lincoln Avenue, where travelers heading out of the city had plenty of places to spend the night before the interstate era changed the way people traveled.
UPDATE: The Stars Motel on Lincoln Avenue is in the process of being demolished for new condo development. Thanks to the concern by the new developer over saving this sign, the sign was placed on eBay and sold for about a hundred dollars. The sign was purchased with plans to install it in a clothing store on Armitage Avenue in Chicago. Many thanks to Scott Schiller for update. 09-06
Even after the motel itself was demolished, the sign continued to stand over the empty lot for several more years. It became a familiar sight for anyone driving through the neighborhood and a reminder of the many independent motels that once lined the street.
UPDATE: The Stars Motel was demolished in 2006, and the famous neon sign remained standing until it was finally removed in December 2015. 07-26
Tip Top Motel (Gone)
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Devil Doll
The Tip Top Motel had a marquee that certainly lived up to its name. With its glowing neon lettering, colorful accents, and bright arrow pointing the way to the entrance, it was one of those motel signs that was hard to miss along Chicago's old Motel Row. 05-09
The Tip Top welcomed travelers during the heyday of roadside motels, when North Lincoln Avenue was lined with independent places catering to motorists heading in and out of the city. Signs like this competed for attention, and this one did a pretty good job of standing out from the crowd.
One detail that's easy to overlook is the smaller neon panels advertising amenities like air conditioning and kitchenettes. Back then, those were selling points worth putting right on the sign.
UPDATE: The motel building is still standing and now operates under a different name, but the classic Tip Top Motel marquee has been removed. 07-26
Villa Rosa Motel (Rem.)
Perry, OH Photo courtesy Steve Felder
The Villa Rosa Motel looks terrific in the twilight. With its glowing script neon and classic roadside marquee, it's the kind of place that's worth stopping for even if you're just passing through. Signs like this always seem to look their best after the sun goes down.
Located along old U.S. Route 20, the Villa Rosa is a classic roadside motor court where you can still pull right up to your room. While the rooms have been updated over the years, the vintage sign remains the real attraction.
The marquee has a simple but elegant design, and the flowing script gives it a look that stands out from many of the block-letter motel signs built during the same era. It's easy to see why this one caught Steve's eye.
UPDATE: The Villa Rosa Motel is still open and continues to welcome travelers. Turns out that this eye-catching sign disappeared almost two decades ago, replaced by a bland sign. 07-26
Saranay Motel (Demolished)
Royal Oak, MI Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
The Saranay Motel in Royal Oak, Michigan had one of the more interesting motel signs around. The colorful marquee really came alive at night, creating a neat diamond-shaped effect that was hard to miss from Woodward Avenue. 04-01
The Saranay welcomed travelers for decades along one of Michigan's best-known highways. Like many independent motels of its era, it offered a convenient place to spend the night while its distinctive sign worked around the clock to attract passing motorists.
The multi-colored neon is what really made this one special. Depending on the angle, the sign almost seemed to change shape as the lights reflected through the diamond pattern. It was definitely one of those signs that looked even better after dark.
UPDATE: The Saranay Motel was demolished in 2019, and the sign was removed the following year. Today an AutoZone occupies the property. 07-26
Kingswood Motel (Demolished)
Detroit, MI Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
Enjoy the look of the Kingswood Motel in Royal Oak, Michigan, especially after dark. The bright neon marquee was one of the many signs that once lit up Woodward Avenue, making it hard for passing motorists to miss. 04-01
The Kingswood was part of the long line of independent motels that once stretched along Woodward Avenue during the heyday of automobile travel. Before the interstate highways changed the way people traveled, this area was lined with places just like this, each trying to outdo the next with a memorable sign.
The Kingswood's marquee had the classic mid-century look that fit the motel perfectly. It's always fun to look back at photos like this and imagine what Woodward Avenue must have looked like when all of the neon was glowing at the same time.
UPDATE: The Kingswood Motel was demolished in 2003, and a Fifth Third Bank now occupies the property. The old neon sign is gone. 07-26
Hart Motel (Removed)
Marion, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
The Hart Motel in Marion, Indiana had one of the more distinctive motel signs around. Its colorful neon marquee featured a flashing snaking arrow that pointed motorists right toward the office. Sitting up on a hill near the Mississinewa River bridge, it was hard to miss when driving into town. 06-07
The motel has been welcoming travelers for many years and still operates today as one of Marion's remaining independent roadside motels. While the buildings are still there, the old sign is what made the place stand out from the crowd.
That winding arrow gave the marquee plenty of personality and was a nice change from the usual straight arrows found on so many motel signs. It's too bad more of these creative designs haven't survived.
UPDATE: The Hart Motel is still open, but the colorful neon sign with its flashing arrow has been removed. 07-26
Villa Rosa Motel (Rem.)
Kingswood Motel (Demolished)
Hart Motel (Removed)
