Colonial Motel
Rockford, MI
Photo courtesy Rick McOmber

Here's a look at the Colonial Motel in Rockford, Michigan. The vintage roadside sign is the first thing to catch your eye, standing out front much like it has for decades. It's always nice to find an old motel that still has the sign it was built with. 04-08

The Colonial is a classic single-story motor court with rooms facing the parking area, a layout that became a familiar sight during the heyday of roadside travel. Over the years it has continued to welcome travelers while holding onto its independent character.

The old sign may not be the flashiest around, but it has exactly the kind of simple charm that makes these roadside motels worth seeking out. Sometimes that's all it takes to make a place memorable.

UPDATE: The Colonial Motel is still open and continues to welcome travelers along Northland Drive. Better yet, the vintage roadside sign is still standing, helping preserve another piece of Michigan's roadside history. 07-26

Continental Motel
Salem, IL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The Continental Motel in Salem has the kind of roadside marquee that's hard to drive past without taking a second look. Its bold mid-century styling and distinctive shape make it one of those signs that immediately catches your eye along U.S. Route 50. 07-08

Like many independent motels built during the highway travel boom, the Continental features a classic single-story, drive-up layout that made checking in quick and easy for weary motorists. While plenty of roadside motels have disappeared over the years, it's always encouraging to find one that's still welcoming guests.

The sign is the real star here. Even if the neon no longer lights up, it's still a great reminder of an era when motels competed for attention with creative roadside designs instead of giant billboards.

UPDATE: The Continental Motel is still open and continues to welcome travelers along U.S. Route 50. Better yet, the vintage roadside marquee is still standing and remains one of the property's best features. 07-26

Restwell Motel (Demolished)
Salem, IL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Here's the old sign for the Restwell Motel in Salem, Illinois. The script lettering gives the marquee a classic look that's easy to appreciate, reminding travelers of a time when nearly every town along U.S. Route 50 had a family-owned motel waiting at the edge of town. 07-08

The Restwell welcomed motorists for decades and was one of several independent motels serving travelers passing through southern Illinois. Like many roadside motels of its era, it offered a simple place to spend the night before continuing down the highway the next morning.

The sign is what really stands out in this photo. Sometimes that's all it takes to make a motel memorable, and this one certainly had plenty of character.

UPDATE: The Restwell Motel was demolished prior to 2018. The motel building site is now an empty lot and the sign is gone. 07-26

Lakewood Motel (Demolished)
Salem, IL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The Lakewood Motel in Salem had one of those classic Googie signs that seemed designed to grab your attention from a mile away. With its mix of geometric shapes and bold boomerang arrow pointing toward the driveway, it was a perfect example of the creative roadside styling that made mid-century motels so much fun to photograph. 07-08

Located along U.S. Route 50, the Lakewood welcomed travelers during the golden years of highway travel. The sign probably did most of the advertising, giving passing motorists a clear invitation to pull in for the night.

It's hard not to appreciate signs like this. The colorful shapes and sweeping arrow gave the motel a personality all its own and made it stand out from the crowd.

UPDATE: The Lakewood Motel has been demolished, and its distinctive Googie sign is gone as well. It's a shame another great roadside arrow has disappeared from America's highways. 07-26

Grand Two Lane Motel (Demolished)
Birmingham, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Here's a classic motel sign and a great roadside name to boot at the Grand Two Lane Motel in Birmingham, Michigan. The vintage marquee has all the right ingredients—a bold design, plenty of character, and a name that's hard to forget. It's the kind of sign that makes you want to pull over just to take a closer look. 08-08

The Grand Two Lane was one of the many independent motels that once lined Woodward Avenue, welcoming travelers long before national hotel chains became the norm. Like so many roadside motels of its era, it relied on a memorable sign to stand out from the competition, and this one certainly did the job.

UPDATE: The Grand Two Lane Motel has since been demolished, and the classic roadside sign is gone as well. Today the property has been redeveloped, making old photos like this one a reminder of another vanished piece of Woodward Avenue's roadside history. 07-26

Long Ships Motel
Sault Ste Marie, MI
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The Long Ships Motel in Sault Ste. Marie features a great old roadside marquee with thin neon tubing spelling out the motel's name. The blue sign, complete with a Viking ship graphic, fits right in with this Upper Peninsula town and is hard to miss, especially sitting across from the Soo Locks. It's the kind of sign that probably did most of the advertising back in the day. 09-08

The property dates back to around 1950, when it originally operated as the Sweeney Motel before taking on its current name. It still has the classic U-shaped motor court layout, with guest rooms surrounding a central parking area and an office tucked beneath a drive-through canopy. It's always nice to find an older roadside motel that still looks like a roadside motel.

The sign is the real attraction here. Between the Viking ship graphic and the delicate neon lettering, it has just enough personality to make travelers slow down for a second look.

UPDATE: The Long Ships Motel remains open and family owned. Fortunately, the vintage roadside sign is still standing out front, although it's not clear if all of the original neon still lights up after dark. 07-26

Lawson Motel (Gone)
Sault Ste Marie, MI
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Check out the Lawson Motel in Sault Ste. Marie. The roadside marquee does a great job of advertising the motel's amenities, reminding travelers that features like phones, television, and modern rooms were once worth putting front and center on the sign. It's a fun snapshot of how motels competed for business back in the day. 09-08

Located along Ashmun Street, the Lawson Motel welcomed travelers for many years before later becoming The Guest House Motel. Like so many independently owned roadside motels, it adapted with the times while continuing to serve visitors to Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

The sign is what really stands out here. Between the script lettering and the list of amenities below, it has the kind of classic roadside look that's becoming harder to find every year.

UPDATE: The property is no longer operating as a motel. After many years as The Guest House Motel, it closed in 2025 when the property was sold for housing redevelopment. The original Lawson Motel sign disappeared years earlier when the motel was renamed. 07-26

Skyline Motel
Sault Ste Marie, MI
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The Skyline Motel sits just off I-75 in Sault Ste. Marie, welcoming travelers with one of the area's better-looking roadside signs. The multi-tiered marquee, complete with its glowing "Vacancy" panel, has just the kind of classic look that's become increasingly rare. It's the sort of sign that's hard to drive past without noticing. 09-08

The Skyline is a traditional roadside motel that's been serving visitors to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for many years. While a number of older motels in the area have disappeared or found new uses, the Skyline continues to offer the kind of simple, independent lodging that has long been part of the road trip experience.

It's always nice to find a motel that has held onto its original sign. The marquee gives the property plenty of personality and is a reminder of when a little neon was often all it took to fill a few rooms for the night.

UPDATE: The Skyline Motel is still open and continues to welcome travelers just off I-75. Better yet, the vintage roadside sign is still standing and remains one of the nicer surviving motel marquees in Sault Ste. Marie. 07-26