Saranay Motel (Demolished)
Royal Oak, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Here's a look at the Saranay Motel in Royal Oak, where the roadside sign was every bit as memorable as the motel itself. With its stacked design and classic mid-century styling, it was hard to miss while driving along Woodward Avenue. Signs like this gave busy highways plenty of personality. 01-07

The Saranay opened in the late 1950s and welcomed generations of travelers cruising one of Michigan's best-known roads. Like many motels of the era, it proudly advertised modern comforts such as air conditioning, television, and tiled bathrooms—features that helped attract motorists looking for a comfortable night's stay.

For years, the motel and its sign remained a familiar sight along Woodward Avenue, especially during the annual Dream Cruise when thousands of classic cars filled the roadway. It's easy to see why the sign became a favorite among roadside enthusiasts.

UPDATE: The Saranay Motel has been demolished, and the vintage neon sign was removed during redevelopment of the property. An AutoZone now occupies the site, making old photographs like this one of the few reminders of this Woodward Avenue classic. 07-26

Twi-Lite Motel (Demolished)
Wisconsin Dells, WI
Photo courtesy Dan Schuster

Here's a look at the Twi-Lite Motel in Wisconsin Dells, where the vintage roadside marquee is the real attraction. The sign has all the fun styling of a classic 1960s motel, making it easy to imagine families spotting it from U.S. 12 and deciding to spend the night. It probably looked even better once the neon came on after sunset. 12-06

The Twi-Lite was built during the heyday of roadside tourism in Wisconsin Dells, when independently owned motels lined the highway competing for vacationers. Its Populuxe-style sign fit the era perfectly and gave the motel plenty of personality among the many lodging choices along the strip.

UPDATE: The Twi-Lite Motel has since been demolished, and the classic roadside sign is gone as well. Hopefully it found its way into the hands of a sign collector, but its current whereabouts aren't known. 07-26

Seville Motel (Replaced)
Royal Oak, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

The Seville Motel along Woodward Avenue in Royal Oak, Michigan, had already traded its original marquee for a plastic sign when this view was taken. Fortunately, the building retained its roadside character. The Pontiac Bonneville parked beneath the sign almost steals the show. 01-07

Royal Oak’s historic survey places the motel’s beginnings between 1951 and 1957. Its two-story layout served motorists along one of Michigan’s best-known automobile corridors, with Monty’s Grill nearby offering a convenient breakfast stop.

UPDATE: Seville remains standing and continues operating, primarily for extended stays. The original vintage marquee is gone, replaced by backlit signage. While neighboring motels have disappeared, this property continues the lodging tradition along Woodward, even without its earlier neon welcome. 07-26

Roadside Businesses
Royal Oak, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

This stretch of Woodward Avenue in Royal Oak, Michigan, offered a meal and a room within the same roadside lineup. Monty's Grill sits on the left, Seville Motel rises behind it, and Saranay’s marquee stands to the right. It’s a scene that once seemed perfectly ordinary along a busy highway. 01-07

Seville dates to the 1950s, as did neighboring Saranay. Monty’s small counter-and-table setup supplied breakfast and lunch, making the diner a natural companion to the motel rooms. Together, the businesses gave this block plenty of automobile-era character.

UPDATE: Monty’s continues serving customers, and Seville remains an extended-stay property. Saranay was demolished in 2019, its sign was removed in 2020, and an AutoZone replaced it. Both original motel marquees are now gone from this Woodward lineup. 07-26

Badger Motel (Rem.)
Iron Belt, WI
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

Here's a look at the Badger Motel in Iron Belt, where the friendly badger on the roadside sign is impossible to miss. It's the kind of fun character that gave small-town motels a personality all their own, making it easy for travelers to remember exactly where they spent the night. 03-06

The Badger Motel has been welcoming guests since 1940 and remains a convenient stop along Highway 77 for visitors exploring northern Wisconsin. Over the years, the motel has been updated, but it continues to serve travelers heading into the region for fishing, snowmobiling, ATV riding, and other outdoor adventures.

It's a shame the original sign didn't survive. The illustrated badger was the kind of roadside mascot that added a little extra charm and made the motel stand out from the rest.

UPDATE: The Badger Motel is still open and continues to welcome travelers. The vintage badger sign has been replaced with a modern panel sign, leaving old photos like this to preserve one of northern Wisconsin's more memorable roadside characters. 07-26

Arch Motel (Closed)
Archbold, OH
Photo courtesy Rick McOmber

The faded marquee at Arch Motel in Archbold, Ohio, still had enough character to catch your eye along State Route 66. Weathered paint gave it the look of a sign that had welcomed plenty of tired motorists. You couldn’t help wondering how it looked when everything was fresh. 07-06

The independent property contained 14 rooms and stood near Sauder Village, making it convenient for visitors exploring northwestern Ohio. Its modest motor-court setup offered a straightforward overnight stop. An exact opening date hasn’t been established.

UPDATE: Property listings identify 2023 as Arch Motel’s last year in business. The buildings have remained vacant, and the latest supplied account reports the roadside sign still standing. The future of both remains uncertain, with the old marquee waiting for whatever comes next. 07-26