Tangiers Motel (Gone)
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
The Tangiers Motel in Chicago, Illinois, had one of the most distinctive motel signs around. Its Moroccan-themed marquee featured a giant sword cutting through the lettering, giving the sign an exotic look that was impossible to miss. It was a great example of the themed roadside architecture that made highway travel so much fun.
Built in the early 1960s along Archer Avenue, the Tangiers welcomed travelers heading into Chicago and proudly advertised itself as the "last stop to the Loop." While the motel buildings are still standing today, they've been heavily remodeled and now operate as the Carlton Inn Midway.
UPDATE: The Tangiers Motel lives on as the Carlton Inn Midway, but its incredible Moroccan-themed sign is gone. Unfortunately, it's not known whether the famous sword marquee was saved or lost during the property's transformation. 07-26
Star Lite Motel (Gone) Harvey, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
Now this is a motel sign. The Star Lite Motel in Harvey, Illinois, featured one of the wildest examples of Googie design you'll find anywhere in the Midwest. With its mix of bold colors, geometric shapes, and playful lettering, it proved that eye-catching roadside architecture wasn't just a West Coast phenomenon.
The motel has disappeared over the years, and so has its incredible marquee. By 2014 the sign was confirmed gone, and today it's unknown whether it was saved by a collector or lost to the scrapyard.
UPDATE: The Star Lite Motel no longer operates, and its unforgettable Googie sign has been removed. Unfortunately, the ultimate fate of the marquee remains a mystery. 07-26
Ohio House Motel
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Jason Carlton
The Ohio House Motel is one of the last true roadside-style motels still standing near downtown Chicago. Opened in 1960, it has somehow survived decades of redevelopment, making it a rare reminder of the days when motorists could pull right up to their room in the middle of the city. The suspended roadside sign and distinctive mid-century architecture are enough to make any roadside fan smile.
Over the years, the Ohio House has narrowly escaped demolition as River North transformed around it. Today, it remains the last operating motor lodge of its kind in Chicago's downtown area, complete with its original parking layout. The former coffee shop space has also found new life as Schneider Deli, adding another reason to stop by.
UPDATE: The Ohio House Motel remains open and continues to preserve one of Chicago's best surviving pieces of roadside architecture. Thankfully, the classic sign is still standing, making it one of the city's true mid-century landmarks. 07-26
Tip Top Motel (Gone)
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
The Tip Top Motel was one of the classic roadside stops along Chicago's famous Lincoln Avenue Motel Row. Opened in 1959, it featured a great mid-century marquee that welcomed travelers making their way into the city on U.S. 41. With its bold sign and convenient location, it was exactly the kind of independent motel that helped define highway travel during the 1950s and 1960s. 11-05
Back then, Lincoln Avenue was lined with motels competing for the attention of passing motorists. Each one tried to outdo the next with bigger signs, brighter neon, and memorable names. The Tip Top fit right in, becoming one of the familiar sights along the corridor as families, salesmen, and vacationers made their way into Chicago.
The motel buildings have survived, but like many of the remaining properties on Lincoln Avenue, they've been updated to meet modern needs. Today the property operates as the River Park Motel & Suites, and while it's nice to see the buildings still serving travelers, the original Tip Top identity has disappeared along with its classic roadside marquee.
UPDATE: The Tip Top Motel and is sign is no longer. The motel is now called the River Park Motel and very little remains of its signage. 09-17
UPDATE: The former Tip Top Motel remains in business under the River Park Motel & Suites name. Unfortunately, the vintage sign is gone, making it another casualty of the gradual transformation of Chicago's once-famous Motel Row. 07-26
Tip Top Motel (Gone)
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Devil Doll
Star's Motel (Demolished)
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
The Stars Motel was one of the best-known landmarks along Chicago's famous Lincoln Avenue Motel Row. Opened in 1956, the motel welcomed travelers with a towering Googie-style sign that perfectly captured the optimism of postwar roadside America. Decorated with starburst accents and proudly advertising luxuries like air conditioning, switchboard service, and free television, it was exactly the kind of sign that made motorists glance twice as they drove by.
Although the motel itself was demolished in 2006, the giant sign refused to disappear. For nearly ten years it stood alone on the vacant lot, becoming an unlikely neighborhood landmark and a reminder of the dozens of independent motels that once lined Lincoln Avenue. It was a bittersweet sight—one last survivor from Chicago's roadside era, standing watch long after the motel had vanished.
That chapter finally came to an end in January 2016 when the sign was dismantled and removed. There were hopes it might be preserved, but its ultimate fate remains uncertain. Today, a daycare occupies the site where generations of travelers once checked in for the night.
Stars Motel (Demolished) Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Devil Doll
UPDATE: The Stars Motel on Lincoln Avenue is in the process of being demolished for new condo development. Thanks to the concern by the new developer over saving this sign, the sign was placed on eBay and sold for about a hundred dollars. The sign was purchased with plans to install it in a clothing store on Armitage Avenue in Chicago. Many thanks to Scott Schiller for update. 09-06
UPDATE: The Stars Motel sign still stands, however an empty lot remains where the motel once stood. The condo that was planned never happened. 09-17
UPDATE: The Star's Motel is long gone, and its famous roadside sign was removed in 2016 after standing alone for nearly a decade. It remains one of the most missed pieces of Chicago's Lincoln Avenue Motel Row. 07-26
Star Lite Motel (Gone)
Ohio House Motel
