San Bar Motel (Gone)
St Ignace, MI
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Check out the sign at the San-Bar Motel in St. Ignace, Michigan. Everything was working when this photo was taken, including the neon letters and the glowing vacancy sign. It's always nice to find an old motel sign just as it was meant to be seen. 12-07

Located along North State Street overlooking Moran Bay, the San-Bar Motel welcomed travelers for decades as they made their way to Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Mackinac Island. Vintage postcards show the motel was around by the mid-century years, and its bright roadside sign helped make it easy to spot from the highway.

UPDATE: The San-Bar Motel has since closed. Not sure if the old sign is still around, but it's a shame if it disappeared along with the motel. 07-26

Debonair Motel (Demolished)
McCordsville, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The bright neon at Debonair Motel welcomed motorists along Pendleton Pike in McCordsville, Indiana. By the time this view was taken, Indianapolis development was spreading eastward, putting the older highway businesses in the path of change. The marquee still offered a colorful reminder of the road’s earlier days. 12-07

Mary Cook owned and operated the independent motel for nearly four decades. Its neon sign helped distinguish the property from the growing development around it, continuing the familiar roadside tradition of catching travelers’ attention before they reached the driveway.

UPDATE: The Debonair Motel was demolished. Myself and another fellow tried to rescue it with no return calls.  I did rescue the Motel 6 T 7 down the street, which will be restored & put into a new sign museum. Many thanks for update. 02-08

UPDATE: Debonair Motel has been demolished. Attempts to contact the owners about rescuing the sign reportedly went unanswered, and its eventual fate remains unknown. The motel disappeared as suburban development continued along Pendleton Pike. 07-26

Star Motel (Rem.)
Jeffersonville, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The swooping marquee at Star Motel gave U.S. 31 travelers a cheerful welcome in Clarksville, Indiana. Its oversized yellow star and sweeping lines made it hard to overlook. Earlier captions placed the property in Jeffersonville, but this roadside stop belongs to neighboring Clarksville. 12-07

The family-owned motel follows the familiar single-story arrangement, allowing guests to park near their rooms. It operates alongside the nearby Bel-Air Motel, keeping two independent lodging names in service. The original marquee supplied the extra flair, giving motorists something more memorable than a standard motel panel.

UPDATE: Star Motel remains open, but its distinctive neon sign has been removed. The lodging business continues without the sweeping display that once announced it along the highway. Another creative motel marquee has disappeared while the rooms behind it carry on. 07-26

Belle Vista Motel (Gone)
Fort Wayne, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The neon marquee at Belle Vista Motel gave travelers through Fort Wayne, Indiana, a colorful roadside welcome. Along Bluffton Road, its bright lettering helped this independent motel catch the eye before motorists reached the driveway. It was the kind of sign worth noticing even if you didn’t need a room. 12-07

The Summers family operated Belle Vista from 1955 to 1998. Rebecca Summers continued its long run after her husband, H. Lewis, died in 1970. Promotional matchbooks and pencils helped keep the motel’s name handy after guests headed home, small souvenirs from the days before online reservations.

UPDATE: Belle Vista Motel has closed, and the neon sign’s fate remains unknown. Its exact closing date has not been established. If anyone remembers staying here or knows what became of the marquee, there’s still more of this roadside story to tell. 07-26

Bel-Air Motel (Rem.)
Clarksville, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The Bel-Air Motel in Clarksville, IN (just outside Jeffersonville) is another one of those classic roadside motels that's easy to spot thanks to its vintage neon sign. As the sun goes down, the script lettering really comes to life and gives the place that old highway feel. 12-07

The Bel-Air has been welcoming travelers along U.S. 31 for decades and remains in business today. The motel is a traditional single-story motor court where you can still park right outside your room, just like in the heyday of road trips. It also operates alongside the neighboring Star Motel, giving this stretch of highway a nice reminder of when independent motels lined America's main roads.

While the exact age of the motel isn't known, the sign is pure mid-century roadside Americana and thankfully is still standing today.

UPDATE: The Bel-Air Motel remains open, however its classic roadside marquee was switched out from neon several years ago. 07-26

Sands Motel (Gone)
St Ignace, MI
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Check out the marquee at the Sands Motel in St. Ignace, Michigan. It may not have been the flashiest sign in town, but it had the kind of simple roadside style that made independent motels so inviting to passing travelers. 12-07

Located along Business Loop I-75, the Sands Motel was one of many family-owned places that welcomed visitors heading to Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Mackinac Island. The motel was still operating when this photo was taken, and its classic marquee was a familiar sight along the busy motel strip.

UPDATE: The Sands Motel has since closed and the property sat abandoned for a number of years. Not sure if the old marquee is still around, as recent information couldn't confirm whether it survived after the motel was vacated. 07-26

Greunke's Inn
Bayfield, WI
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Bayfield, Wisconsin is home to Greunke's Inn, and its glowing neon sign is hard to miss after dark. It's the kind of sign that fits perfectly in a town filled with historic buildings and plenty of character. 01-08

The inn traces its roots back to the 1800s, making it one of Bayfield's oldest lodging properties. Since 1940, Greunke's has welcomed guests with comfortable accommodations and a seasonal restaurant that's become a favorite stop for both locals and visitors. Inside, you'll even find a collection of vintage Coca-Cola memorabilia and an old Wurlitzer jukebox that add to the nostalgic atmosphere.

UPDATE: Greunke's First Street Inn & Dining is still open, and the classic neon sign continues to greet visitors during the operating season. 07-26