Heart O Chicago Motel (Closed)
Chicago, IL Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The red, white, and blue sign at Heart O’ Chicago Motel looks ready for Independence Day any time of year. Its heart-shaped logo and bold colors made this Lincoln Avenue property easy to recognize. That’s a pretty cheerful introduction for a roadside motel.
Built in 1957, Heart O’ Chicago became a longtime survivor of the avenue’s “Motel Row.” Independent lodging stops lined this former U.S. 41 corridor, competing for travelers with colorful signs and convenient rooms. The patriotic marquee helped this one stand apart.
UPDATE: Heart O’ Chicago stopped operating as a traditional motel following its 2024 sale to the City of Chicago for temporary emergency shelter use. The familiar sign remains standing, keeping a colorful piece of Motel Row in view. Hopefully, that heart stays part of Lincoln Avenue for years to come. 07-26
Lincoln Motel (Gone)
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
The sweeping neon arrow at Lincoln Motel left little doubt about where motorists should turn. Built in 1958 along Chicago’s Lincoln Avenue, the motel had a marquee worth noticing even if you weren’t looking for a room. That oversized curve gave the sign plenty of personality.
Lincoln belonged to the avenue’s familiar “Motel Row,” where independent properties welcomed travelers along U.S. 41. Its bright display helped distinguish the motel from neighboring lodging stops, giving weary drivers an easy landmark to follow.
UPDATE: The Lincoln Motel was demolished in November 2007 after being condemned. An empty lot remains. 09-17
UPDATE: Lincoln Motel was condemned and demolished in November 2007. Its neon arrow disappeared as well, and whether any portion was saved remains unknown. The property later became associated with community garden use, replacing one of the corridor’s colorful lodging stops with a very different neighborhood purpose. 07-26
Patio Motel (Gone)
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Devil Doll
The rows of bulbs on the Patio Motel sign made a lively display along Chicago’s Lincoln Avenue. Even in afternoon sunlight, the lettering and lights stood out. After dark, the marquee must have offered quite an invitation to pull in for the night. 07-23
Built around 1953, Patio joined the independent motor courts lining this busy route into Chicago. Its 31 drive-up units surrounded a parking courtyard, while the slogan “An Adventure in Living” gave the property an ambitious introduction. The bulb-covered sign supplied some roadside excitement of its own.
UPDATE: The Patio Motel and its cool sign are now just a memory. The sign slowly disappeared and the motel is now the North Park Inn. 09-17
UPDATE: The former Patio Motel survives as North Park Inn following renovation and rebranding. Its original sign is gone, taking away one of the property’s most distinctive features. The rooms continue under another name, but the old bulbs no longer announce them along Lincoln Avenue. 07-26
Apache Motel
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Devil Doll
Chicago's Lincoln Avenue is home to the Apache Motel, one of the few vintage motels still welcoming travelers along the old "Motel Row." The tall marquee is the real attention-getter here, especially the detailed geometric design at the top that gives the sign a little extra personality. It's easy to see why this one catches your eye as you drive by. Built in 1967, the Apache is one of the newer motels from Lincoln Avenue's roadside heyday.
Unlike many of its neighbors, the Apache has managed to survive decades of redevelopment along Lincoln Avenue. At one time, this stretch of road was lined with independently owned motels, each trying to outdo the next with eye-catching signs and plenty of neon. Today, only a handful remain, making survivors like this one even more fun to spot.
Apache Motel (Near right view)
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Devil Doll
The motel opened at the tail end of Chicago's motel-building boom, but it still captures the look and feel of that era. The clean lines of the sign and its decorative top give it a style that's a little different from many of the larger arrow-and-starburst signs that once lined the avenue. It's proof that a motel sign didn't have to be flashy to leave an impression.
The Apache is still family owned and continues to serve travelers much as it has for decades. While the motel has been updated over the years, the vintage marquee remains out front, offering a nice reminder of the days when a great sign was often all it took to fill a few rooms for the night. It's always nice to see one still around.
UPDATE: The Apache Motel is still open and continues to operate along Lincoln Avenue. Better yet, the vintage roadside marquee is still standing, making it one of the few surviving motel signs from Chicago's old Motel Row. 07-26
Seville Motel (Demolished)
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Jason Carlton
Here's a look at the Seville Motel in Chicago, where the roadside sign does a great job of telling passing motorists exactly what they're getting. The bold marquee advertises air conditioning, television, and switchboard service—modern conveniences when the motel opened in 1958. Signs like this didn't leave much to the imagination, and that's part of their charm.
The Seville was one of many independent motels that welcomed travelers arriving by car. Its clean mid-century design fit right in with the roadside architecture of the day, but the sign was what really caught your eye. Between the oversized lettering and the list of amenities, it probably sold plenty of rooms over the years.
UPDATE: The Seville Motel and its sign are now gone. The place is an empty lot. 09-17
UPDATE: The Seville Motel was destroyed by a devastating fire in 2011 and was demolished shortly afterward. Unfortunately, the motel's distinctive roadside sign was lost as well, leaving old photographs like this as one of the few reminders it was ever there. 07-26
Heart O Chicago Motel (Closed)
Lincoln Motel (Gone)
Apache Motel
Seville Motel (Demolished)
