Sunset Motel (Closed)
Athens, OH
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

The Sunset Motel in Athens, Ohio sports a huge, sharp boomerang-shaped arrow that stretches out over the parking lot. It's a bold piece of Googie design that gives the motel plenty of personality and makes it hard to miss from the road. You don't see many motel signs quite like this one.

The dramatic overhang wasn't just for looks. It naturally guided arriving guests toward the office while giving the entrance a futuristic feel that was popular during the 1950s and '60s. Even today, the sign has a way of grabbing your attention before you even notice the motel itself.

For more than 25 years, the motel was operated by the Bhakta family, who became well known in the Athens community after purchasing the property in the late 1990s. While the rooms were simple, the unforgettable marquee remained the motel's signature feature and one of the more distinctive roadside designs in southeastern Ohio.

UPDATE: The Sunset Motel has closed and is being converted into an emergency housing project. Fortunately, the striking boomerang marquee is still standing, so there's hope this unique piece of roadside architecture will remain part of the landscape. 07-26

Basic Inn (Gone)
Indianapolis, IN
Photo courtesy Emily Steele

Here's the Basic Inn in Indianapolis, proudly letting everyone know it's still in the motel business. It's a straightforward roadside sign with a simple message, but sometimes that's all you need to catch the attention of passing motorists. There's something refreshing about a motel that tells it like it is.

Located along East 38th Street, the Basic Inn was one of the many independent motels that once served travelers passing through Indianapolis. Like countless roadside stops across the country, it offered convenient drive-up rooms and a place to spend the night without a lot of fuss. The sign may not have been flashy, but it did exactly what it was built to do.

The name "Basic Inn" was fitting, too. It didn't promise luxury or fancy amenities—just a place to stay. In a way, that's part of its charm. Sometimes the simplest motel names are the ones that stick with you the longest.

UPDATE: The Basic Inn is gone, although the motel buildings remain. The property now operates under a different name, and the original roadside sign has disappeared. 07-26

Crest View Motel
Washington, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The Crest View Motel sign is a throwback to a time when motel owners put a little extra thought into attracting travelers. With its colorful design and unique styling, it's easy to imagine this sign catching the eye of motorists cruising along old U.S. Route 24. It even advertises "air conditioning" and "television," two amenities that were once enough to convince someone to pull in for the night.

The motel has been welcoming travelers since at least the late 1960s and still has the classic single-story motor court layout that became so popular during the highway travel boom. Just park outside your room, grab your suitcase, and you're all set. Sometimes the old ways really were the easiest.

One of the things that makes signs like this so much fun is how they capture a different era of roadside travel. Before every motel had the same list of expected amenities, owners proudly painted them right on the marquee. Today it might seem funny to advertise television, but years ago it was a genuine selling point. Signs like this didn't just tell you where to stay, they told you why.

UPDATE: The Crest View Motel is still open and welcoming guests. Not sure if the original roadside sign is still standing, but hopefully a little of its vintage personality remains. 07-26

Eastwood Motel (Demolished)
Columbia, MO
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

The Eastwood Motel in Columbia, Missouri features a towering roadside sign that was designed to catch the eye of travelers from a block away. With a sign that tall, it probably didn't matter which direction you were coming from—you knew a motel was just ahead.

Located along Business Loop 70, the Eastwood welcomed travelers for decades on what was once the main route through Columbia before Interstate 70 bypassed the city. Like many motels built during the highway travel boom, it offered convenient drive-up rooms and a highly visible sign that did most of the advertising.

The sign was easily the property's signature feature. Its impressive height helped it rise above the surrounding businesses, making it a familiar sight for generations of motorists. That's what made roadside signs so much fun—every motel tried to outdo the next one, and the Eastwood certainly held its own.

UPDATE: The Eastwood Motel was demolished in 2021, but fortunately the original "Eastwood" sign panel was saved and placed into storage by the Midwest Sign Company. Hopefully one day it will find its way back into the public eye. 07-26

Arrow Head Motel (Demolished)
Columbia, MO
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

The Arrow Head Motel in Columbia, Missouri sports a colorful arrowhead motif on its marquee, along with a reminder that guests could enjoy "Free Local Calls." That may not sound like much today, but there was a time when it was a pretty good selling point.

Built in 1938 along what later became Business Loop 70, the property began life as the Arrowhead Camp and Service Station before growing into one of Columbia's best-known tourist courts. Its collection of brick cabins surrounded a central courtyard, giving travelers a classic auto court experience from the early days of highway travel.

The real showpiece, though, was the sign. Designed by the Henry Dietz Sign Company, it featured a large arrowhead and an animated neon display of a young Native American sending smoke signals into the night. It was one of the most creative motel signs in Missouri and helped make the Arrow Head a familiar landmark for generations of travelers.

After a devastating fire in 2008, the motel closed and sat vacant for years. Even in its abandoned state, many hoped both the buildings and the remarkable sign could somehow be saved.

UPDATE: The Arrow Head Motel was demolished in 2022, ending the story of Columbia's last surviving tourist court. Unfortunately, the famous animated sign disappeared with it. 07-26

Cadet Motor Inn (Gone)
Coldwater, MI
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The Cadet Motor Inn in Coldwater, Michigan features a memorable sign with a large saluting cadet standing beside the motel's name. It's the kind of roadside sign that has plenty of personality and reminds you that motels once competed to be the one travelers remembered long after they checked out.

Located along U.S. Route 12 just west of Interstate 69, the Cadet Motor Inn has been welcoming guests since 1967. The sign quickly became the motel's trademark, thanks to its animated neon cadet whose arm repeatedly saluted passing motorists. It was one of those signs that made you look twice—and maybe even slow down a little.

The marquee was restored over the years to keep it looking its best, proving just how much pride the owners took in it. Unfortunately, maintaining animated neon isn't cheap, and signs like this have become increasingly difficult to preserve.

UPDATE: The Cadet Motor Inn is still open, but the famous animated sign was removed in 2020. Fortunately, the cadet figure was saved by a private collector, so at least part of this classic roadside landmark survives. 07-26

Double A Motel
Fremont, OH
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The Double A Motel in Fremont, Ohio still sports a huge starburst on top of its roadside sign. On a cold winter day like this, it looks like the perfect place to escape the snow for a warm night's stay. 01-01

Located along East State Street, the Double A has been serving travelers for decades with a classic single-story motor court layout. It's also a popular stop for anglers heading to nearby Lake Erie and the Sandusky River, with a fish cleaning station and storage area available during fishing season.

Of course, it's the sign that steals the show. The giant starburst perched on top is impossible to miss and gives the motel a distinctly Space Age look. During the 1950s and '60s, starbursts were everywhere—from coffee shops to bowling alleys—and they became one of the defining symbols of roadside architecture. Even today, it's hard not to smile when spotting one still standing.

UPDATE: The Double A Motel is still open, and the big starburst sign continues to welcome travelers along East State Street. It's always nice to see a classic roadside sign still doing the job it was built to do. 07-26