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

Skyline Motel
Sault Ste Marie, MI
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The multi-tiered marquee at Skyline Motel makes this Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, stop worth noticing. Just off I-75, its glowing “Vacancy” panel offers the familiar welcome of an older roadside motel. It’s the kind of sign that makes you slow down even when you already have a room. 09-08

Skyline has served Upper Peninsula travelers for years, offering simple, independent lodging. While other older motels have disappeared or changed uses, the property has kept its roadside appearance, with the marquee supplying much of its character.

UPDATE: Skyline Motel remains open, and its vintage sign still stands. The combination keeps a little of the old highway lodging tradition going near the interstate. It’s good to see a motel holding onto the display that helped customers find it. 07-26

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

The script lettering at Restwell Motel gave travelers through Salem, Illinois, an inviting promise. Along U.S. 50, the sign had the familiar look of a family-owned motel waiting at the edge of town. After a long drive, “Restwell” probably sounded like a pretty good plan. 07-08

The motel welcomed motorists for decades, offering a simple overnight stop in southern Illinois. Its marquee gave the property a recognizable face, using distinctive lettering rather than an elaborate display to catch passing travelers’ attention.

UPDATE: Restwell Motel was demolished before 2018, and its sign has also been removed. The former motel property is now an empty lot. Another independent lodging stop has disappeared from the highway, taking its rooms and roadside welcome along with it. 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

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.

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

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

The Grand Two Lane Motel in Birmingham, Michigan, had a great roadside name and a marquee to match. The bold design made it worth pulling over for a closer look. Some motel names are easy to forget; this one certainly wasn’t among them. 08-08

Located along Woodward Avenue, Grand Two Lane was part of the corridor’s collection of independent motels. Each needed something to catch motorists’ attention, and a memorable name paired with a distinctive sign gave this property its own introduction.

UPDATE: Grand Two Lane Motel has been demolished, and the property has been redeveloped. Its classic sign is gone as well. The motel no longer welcomes travelers along Woodward Avenue, joining the other independent lodging stops that once gave the road so much character. 07-26

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

The Viking ship on the Long Ships Motel sign makes a fitting sight across from the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Thin neon lettering spells out the name against the blue marquee, giving the display a look worth stopping to admire. 09-08

The property dates to around 1950, when it operated as Sweeney Motel. Its U-shaped motor-court layout places rooms around a central parking area, with an office beneath a drive-through canopy. It still looks like the kind of place built for motorists to pull in and settle down for the night.

UPDATE: Long Ships Motel remains open and family owned. The vintage marquee still stands, although it’s unclear how much of the original neon lights after dark. The ship graphic and old motor-court arrangement continue giving the property plenty of roadside appeal. 07-26