Belvedere Motel (Gone)
Cairo, IL Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The Belvedere Motel in Cairo, Illinois featured a classic neon marquee that looked especially good after dark. The bright sign stood along the roadside welcoming travelers and was a nice reminder of the days when independent motels relied on colorful neon to attract passing motorists. 06-07
Located at the southern tip of Illinois, Cairo was once a busy stop for travelers heading through the region, and motels like the Belvedere were built to serve that steady stream of traffic. While the buildings themselves were fairly simple, a good sign could make all the difference, and this one certainly did its job.
The marquee had a clean, classic design that fit the motel perfectly. It may not have been the biggest sign around, but it had the kind of look that always makes it worth pulling over for a photograph.
UPDATE: The eye-catching sign was removed around 2014. Another roadside treasure is gone and now just a memory. 07-26
Coral Court Motel (Demolished)
St Louis, MO Photo courtesy Alan Culley
The Coral Court Motel was once one of the true treasures along Route 66. Located on Watson Road in the St. Louis area, its distinctive design and beautiful neon marquee made it one of the most recognizable motels on the Mother Road. Unfortunately, the Coral Court was demolished several years ago. 06-07
Opened in 1941, the Coral Court stood out from just about every other motel of its day. The Streamline Moderne design, colorful glazed tile, glass block construction, and individual garages for every room gave it a futuristic look that quickly made it a Route 66 favorite.
Fortunately, not everything was lost. Before the wrecking crews arrived, one of the motel's cabins was carefully dismantled and later reconstructed inside the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis. Even better, the famous roadside sign was also saved and restored, giving Route 66 fans a chance to enjoy one of the highway's best-known neon landmarks.
UPDATE: The Coral Court Motel was demolished in 1995, but Cabin No. 5 has been preserved at the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis. The restored neon sign also survives, making this one of the few lost Route 66 motels whose legacy can still be experienced today. 07-26
Dice's Motel (Gone)
Muncie, IN Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley
The Dice's Motel in Muncie, Indiana featured a colorful neon marquee complete with a large arrow pointing travelers toward the office. It was the kind of roadside sign that did exactly what it was supposed to do—catch your eye from a distance. Unfortunately, the sign was already gone by the time the motel changed its name to Budget Motel. 07-07
Like many roadside motels built during the heyday of automobile travel, Dice's offered modern conveniences such as air conditioning and television to attract passing motorists. The neon sign gave the property plenty of personality and helped it stand out along the highway.
It's always disappointing to see a distinctive sign replaced with a standard plastic one. The old marquee had character, while the replacement looked like just about every other motel sign around.
UPDATE: The motel has since closed, and the old Dice's neon marquee is long gone. Another roadside sign that lives on only in photographs. 07-26
Pine Haven Motel
Fort Wayne, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
The Pine Haven Motel in Fort Wayne, Indiana features a well lit sign that fits the name perfectly. The neon outline of a pine tree completes the theme and gives the old marquee a nice roadside look. 07-07
This is one of those signs that shows how motel advertising changed over the years. Older signs often bragged about "Color TV," while this one moved things forward by advertising cable TV and air conditioning. Those little updates tell their own story.
The motel has been around for many years and still has the feel of an older roadside stop. The sign is the real attraction here, especially at night when the pine tree outline lights up the sky.
UPDATE: The Pine Haven Motel is still open, and the vintage pine tree sign is still standing. Not sure if the neon still lights up every night, but it's nice to see the old marquee still around. 07-26
Wolf's Motor Court (Demolished)
Elwood, IN Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley
Here's another old Indiana motel sign that once lit up the night. Wolf's Motor Court in Elwood featured a classic neon marquee with bold script lettering that must have looked great when it was fully illuminated. Unfortunately, by the time this photo was taken, the neon had already gone dark. 07-07
Wolf's was a typical roadside motor court where travelers could pull right up to their room after a long day on the road. The sign was the property's biggest attraction, with its simple design and stacked "Motor Court" lettering giving it that unmistakable mid-century look.
Even without the glowing neon, it was still easy to appreciate the craftsmanship that went into signs like this. It's always a shame when they lose their lights, because they never quite have the same presence during the day.
UPDATE: Wolf's Motor Court has since been demolished, and an O'Reilly Auto Parts now occupies the property. The old neon sign is gone, leaving only photographs behind. 07-26
Gateway Motel (Demolished)
Merrillville, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Merrillville, Indiana was once home to the Gateway Motel, whose bright red neon lettering made it easy to spot from busy U.S. 30. 07-07
Located at the intersection of U.S. 30 and State Road 53, the Gateway welcomed travelers for decades during the height of the roadside motel era. Early postcards show it operating by the early 1950s as a small cabin-style motor court before it expanded into a larger motel with air-conditioned rooms and an adjoining restaurant.
The sign was the real attention-getter. Its bold red script stood out against the night sky and did exactly what a good motel sign was supposed to do—tempt weary travelers into pulling off the highway for the evening.
Like so many independent motels, though, the Gateway eventually disappeared as the commercial strip around it continued to change.
UPDATE: The Gateway Motel has been demolished, and the classic red neon sign is gone as well. Another roadside favorite has faded into history. 07-26
The 
Dice's Motel (Gone)
Wolf's Motor Court (Demolished)
Gateway Motel (Demolished)
