5 Star Motel (Rem.)
Greenup, IL
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

These old roadside signs are always a welcome sight while cruising the highway. 5 Star Motel in Greenup had the kind of marquee that was hard to miss, especially with its tall vertical design that greeted travelers along historic U.S. 40. Signs like this did a pretty good job of letting you know a room was just ahead. 03-06

Originally opened in 1944, the motel welcomed generations of motorists traveling the old National Road. It eventually became the last of Greenup's historic roadside motels still serving guests after Interstate 70 drew much of the highway traffic away.

Unfortunately, the classic sign didn't survive. The motel still operates today, but under the name Greenup Inn, and the original neon marquee has been replaced with a modern sign.

UPDATE: The former 5 Star Motel is still open as the Greenup Inn. Sadly, the vintage roadside sign is gone, bringing an end to another classic piece of U.S. 40 roadside Americana. 07-26

Old Orchard Motel (Closed)
Fremont, OH
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The Old Orchard Motel is just spellbinding in the wintertime. With snow covering the ground and flakes falling all around, the old neon sign looks like it belongs in the middle of a holiday postcard. It's not often you see a classic roadside motel photographed in the snow, and the winter setting gives this one a completely different feel. 01-01

Built in 1948, the motel welcomed travelers along West State Street for many years. Vintage brochures proudly advertised modern comforts like radiant heat and private shower baths, features that were worth bragging about when families were traveling the highways after World War II. The motel itself sits well back from the road, leaving the tall roadside sign to do most of the work attracting passing motorists.

The sign is the real star here. Even on a cold winter day, it's easy to imagine how inviting it must have looked when the neon was glowing against the snow. Sometimes all it took was a good sign to convince someone they'd found the right place to stop for the night.

UPDATE: The Old Orchard Motel has closed, but the vintage roadside sign is still standing out front. Hopefully it sticks around for years to come, even if it's no longer pointing travelers to a room for the night. 07-26

Mercury Motel (Demolished)
Dearborn, MI
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

At first glance, the Mercury Motel sign looks more like something you'd expect to find at a car dealership than a roadside motel. The tall design and distinctive "dripping" lettering give it a style all its own, making it one of the more unusual motel signs around. 04-01

Located along Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, the Mercury Motel opened around 1960 and welcomed travelers for decades. The property also included the Mercury Coffee Shop, a popular neighborhood restaurant known for its breakfasts and milkshakes. Together, they made a convenient stop for both overnight guests and locals looking for a bite to eat.

The sign is what really catches the eye. Standing on a busy corner, it had to compete with countless businesses along one of Detroit's busiest roads, and its unique design certainly helped. If you drove by once, chances are you'd remember it the next time.

UPDATE: The Mercury Motel and Coffee Shop closed in 2006, and the entire property was demolished two years later. Today, the corner is an open green space, and the unique roadside sign is gone. 07-26

Royal Motor Inn
Livonia, MI
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The Royal Motor Inn features a marquee that looks like a homemade streamline design, giving it a style all its own. It may not have been the flashiest sign on Plymouth Road, but it definitely stands out from the crowd. 04-01

Located along one of Livonia's busiest east-west roads, the Royal Motor Inn has been welcoming travelers for more than 50 years. Vintage postcards advertised all the comforts of the day, including carpeted rooms, televisions, in-room telephones, and 24-hour service. Like many motels from the era, guests could park just steps from their room, making it an easy stop after a long day on the road.

The sign is what makes this place memorable. Its simple streamline styling gives it a distinctive look, proving that a motel didn't need a giant neon spectacular to catch the eye of passing motorists. Sometimes a unique design was all it took.

UPDATE: The Royal Motor Inn is still open today. The old marquee is still standing, although it has been altered over the years and no longer has the same appearance it did when this photo was taken. 07-26

Eastwood Motel Kent, OH Photo courtesy Bob Landgraf Here's a great example of what a little restoration can do. The Eastwood Motel sign on Route 59 in Kent looks as good as new after being carefully refurbished, while still keeping the same mid-century style that made it stand out in the first place. The original sign cabinets were restored by Graphic Expressions Signs & More, Inc., complete with a fresh coat of paint in the original colors and updated sign faces that still capture the look of the 1950s. It's always nice to see a restoration that respects the original design instead of replacing it with something modern. The motel opened in 1956 as a new "ultra-modern" stop for motorists traveling through northeastern Ohio. Built on land that had once been part of a local golf driving range, it offered many of the amenities travelers were looking for at the time, including private baths, air conditioning, and AAA approval. More than anything, though, it's the restored marquee that continues to make the biggest impression. Expressions Signs & More, Inc. also had restoration discussions with the previous owner of the Coney Island Custard Shoppe smiley face sign before he sold out to a local ice cream chain that did away with the sign. 03-06 UPDATE: The Eastwood Motel is still open, and the beautifully restored roadside sign continues to welcome travelers along Route 59. It's great to see another vintage motel sign brought back to life instead of being lost. 07-26   Eastwood Motel marquee pre-restoration Kent, OH Photo courtesy Bob Landgraf Eastwood Motel marquee pre-restoration Kent, OH Photo courtesy Bob Landgraf

Flamingo Motel (Gone)
Fraser, MI
Photo courtesy Rick McOmber

How about this old marquee from the Flamingo Motel in Fraser, Michigan? It looks like the neon disappeared long before this photo was taken, but even without it, the sign still has plenty of character. You can almost picture how it must have looked when the tubing was glowing. 07-06

Located along Groesbeck Highway, the Flamingo Motel was one of many independent motels that once served motorists traveling through the Detroit suburbs. Even after the neon was gone, the old sign still managed to catch the eye. Sometimes the outline of a sign tells just as much of the story as the lights themselves.

It's always fun to imagine these old signs in their prime. A little fresh paint and working neon would have completely changed the look, and this one probably lit up the highway for many years before time finally caught up with it.

UPDATE: The Flamingo Motel is gone, and the property has been redeveloped as a Valvoline Instant Oil Change. Unfortunately, the old roadside marquee disappeared along with the motel. 07-26