Colonial Motel
Manistique, MI
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The Colonial Motel is another great roadside stop in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Sitting along U.S. 2 in Manistique, the motel has one of the nicest vintage signs around. The bright yellow marquee still lights up at night and looks every bit like it did when it welcomed travelers decades ago. 12-08

The motel has been here since 1952 and still has that classic mom-and-pop feel. While it's been updated over the years, it has managed to hang onto a lot of its original charm, from the knotty pine interiors to the colorful 1950s bathrooms. It's also directly across from Lake Michigan and just a short walk to the Manistique Boardwalk.

UPDATE: The Colonial Motel remains open seasonally, and fortunately the vintage roadside sign is still standing and lighting up U.S. 2 for another generation of travelers. 07-26

Sheryl Manor Motel
Huntington, IN
Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley

The Sheryl Manor Motel is one of those small roadside motels that's easy to miss if you're not looking for it. Located along old State Road 9 in Huntington, it has just a handful of rooms and still feels like the kind of mom-and-pop place that was common throughout the Midwest during the 1950s and 1960s. 03-09

When this photo was taken in 2009, it appeared the motel had closed, but thankfully that wasn't the end of the story. The property is still operating today, and the vintage roadside sign continues to greet travelers along Etna Avenue. The motel has also managed to hang onto much of its retro charm, making it a fun survivor from Indiana's roadside past.

UPDATE: Despite once appearing to be closed, the Sheryl Manor Motel remains open today. Even better, its classic roadside sign is still standing, making it one of the few remaining mom-and-pop motels along old State Road 9. 07-26

40 Winks Motel (Gone)
Columbus, OH
Postcard courtesy Michael Sekeres

The 40 Winks Motel promised travelers they could “Rest in the Best” along East Main Street in Columbus, Ohio. Its postcard advertised 75 “ultra-modern” rooms, each with air conditioning, a telephone, television, and private bath. A restaurant and Checker gas station offered round-the-clock service alongside the motel. 02-09

The property later became Motel One, but its fortunes declined as the years passed. Deterioration and persistent crime eventually led to a court-ordered closure, a far cry from the comfortable National Road stop advertised to vacationing families.

UPDATE: According to the back of the postcard, the 40 Winks Motel is Within the city limits of Columbus, Ohio. 100% fire proof construction. Restaurant and service station open 24 hours daily. Every room has the following: Air Conditioning, Telephone, T.V., Private Bath. 75 Ultra Modern Rooms. Phone: BE 1-3615, 3190 E. Main St. on U.S. 40 East, Columbus 13, Ohio. "REST IN THE BEST".Many thanks to Michael Sekeres for info. 02-09

UPDATE: The complex was demolished in 2014. A Family Dollar now occupies the site, and neither the motel nor its roadside sign survives. The old name made a pleasant promise, but travelers can no longer catch their forty winks here. 07-26

Haft Motel (Demolished)
Reynoldsburg, OH
Postcard courtesy Michael Sekeres

A room at Haft Motel in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, came with some unusual neighboring entertainment. Built in 1942 by wrestling and boxing promoter Al Haft, the U.S. 40 property included a restaurant and outdoor arena. Its postcard promised restful country nights, private garages, tiled baths, and Spring Air mattresses. 02-09

Haft’s Acre hosted wrestling and boxing, with performers including Buddy Rogers, Gorgeous George, and Mildred Burke. The restaurant offered another memorable attraction: turkey dinners featuring birds from the family farm. “We Raise ’Em and Serve ’Em” left little doubt about that arrangement.

UPDATE: Per the back of the postcard, the Haft Motel advertises Restful Nights - Sleep in the Country, 10 Mi. East of Columbus on U. S. Route 40. Modern Hotel Accommodations in the Quiet and Cleanliness of the Country at 6765 E. Main (Route 40), Reynoldsburg, Ohio. The motel features: "Comfort for Keeps on a Spring Air Mattress" "Steam Heat, Air Conditioned, Private Tiled Baths, Private Phones, Private Garage. Phone: Reynoldsburg 4-6372; Mineral Wells - Fine Food". Many thanks to Michael Sekeres for info. 02-09

UPDATE: The property closed following Al Haft’s death in 1976, and its buildings were later demolished. Wendy’s and other businesses now occupy the site. The motel, arena, and turkey dinners are gone, ending one of the National Road’s more unusual combinations. 07-26

Skyline Motel (Demolished)
Columbus, OH
Postcard courtesy Michael Sekeres

The script-and-block lettering at Skyline Motel gave East Main Street in Columbus, Ohio, another distinctive roadside welcome. Opened in 1950, the U-shaped motor court served travelers along U.S. 40. Its postcard advertised 35 units, complete with private baths, room phones, free television, and carports. 02-09

Beautyrest mattresses, radiant heat, carpeting, and air conditioning rounded out the sales pitch. The sign helped draw attention along a road lined with competing lodging stops, each hoping its rooms and conveniences would persuade motorists to turn in.

UPDATE: According to the postcard info, "East on U. S. Rt. #40. Phone: Belmont 5-8668, 3840 E. Main St., Columbus 13, Ohio. 35 Unit Motel; Private bath-showers and tubs. Carpeted floors, room phones and free television in each room. Fire proof-Sound proof. Beauty Rest mattresses, radiant heat. Air-Conditioned. Car Ports". Many thanks to Michael Sekeres for info. 02-09

UPDATE: Skyline Motel has been demolished, and its marquee is gone. A plasma donation center now occupies the redeveloped property. The old motor court no longer offers rooms along the National Road, taking another familiar sign out of the East Main Street lineup. 07-26

Kinney Motel (Gone)
Dublin, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The faded sign at Kinney’s Motel in Dublin, Indiana, had clearly seen better days. Along old U.S. 40, it appeared to retain traces of earlier neon and possibly another name beneath the paint. It was the kind of weathered display that made you stop and try to piece together its history. 03-09

The property later carried the R&R Motel name, although it no longer appeared open when documented. Like other small National Road lodging stops, it gradually lost the passing trade that once supported independent motor courts.

UPDATE: Kinney’s is no longer operating, and its old roadside sign has disappeared. The exact opening and closing dates remain unclear, as does the story behind its earlier lettering. Another modest overnight stop has slipped out of service along the National Road. 07-26

Plaza Motel
Bryan, OH
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The Plaza Motel has been welcoming travelers to Bryan since 1957 and is one of the few surviving mom-and-pop motels along U.S. 127. While the motel has grown over the years with a newer addition, the original horseshoe-shaped layout still gives it that classic roadside feel. 04-09

The real attraction, though, is the sign. The huge boomerang arrow is impossible to miss and does a great job of pointing travelers toward the motel, just like it has for decades. It's one of those great mid-century designs that reminds you how creative motel signs used to be before they all started looking the same.

UPDATE: The Plaza Motel remains open and continues serving travelers on the south side of Bryan. The iconic boomerang sign is still standing, making it one of northwest Ohio's surviving pieces of roadside Americana. 07-26