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.

For me, the sign is what makes this place special. It's always nice to see an old neon motel sign that's still doing the job it was built to do instead of becoming just another memory.

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 and info courtesy Michael Sekeres

The 40 Winks Motel was one of the larger roadside stops along East Main Street, part of the historic National Road through Columbus. Early on, it promoted itself as an "ultra-modern" motel with a restaurant next door and a Checker gas station alongside, making it an easy one-stop stopover for travelers crossing Ohio. Its slogan, "Rest in the Best," summed up exactly what roadside motels were selling during the golden age of the automobile.

The motel later became known as Motel One, but by then the property had fallen on hard times. As traffic shifted away from old U.S. 40 and the surrounding area changed, the motel declined and eventually became known more for crime than cross-country travelers. After years of deterioration, a judge ordered the property closed, and the entire complex was demolished in 2014.

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

Today, the motel, restaurant, and roadside sign are all gone, replaced by new development. It's hard to imagine that this was once a bustling stop for families heading across the country on the National Road.

UPDATE: The 40 Winks Motel is long gone, and the site is now occupied by a Family Dollar store. Unfortunately, nothing remains of the motel or its original roadside sign. 07-26

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

The Skyline Motel was one of the many independent motels that once lined U.S. Route 40 on the east side of Columbus. Opened in 1950, it was a classic U-shaped motor court with just 15 rooms, offering travelers the kind of comfortable overnight stop that helped define the golden age of roadside travel.

Its roadside sign was the real attraction, featuring an eye-catching mix of script and block lettering that stood out along busy East Main Street. Like so many motels on this stretch of the National Road, the Skyline depended on passing motorists long before the interstate changed the way people traveled.

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

The motel is gone today, and the property has been completely redeveloped. A plasma donation center now occupies the site, leaving old postcards as one of the few reminders that another mom-and-pop motel once welcomed travelers here.

UPDATE: The Skyline Motel has long since been demolished, and its distinctive roadside sign disappeared along with it. Today, the former motel site has been completely redeveloped. 07-26

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

The Kinney's Motel was one of those small mom-and-pop motels that travelers used to find all along old U.S. 40. By the time this photo was taken, the faded sign had definitely seen better days. It looks like it was once outlined in neon, and from the way it's painted, the sign may have even carried another motel name before becoming Kinney's. 03-09

At some point the motel became the R&R Motel, but it didn't appear to be open anymore. Like so many of the old independent motels along the National Road, it slowly faded away as travelers found newer places to stay along the interstate.

Today the motel is closed, and the old sign is gone. It's another reminder of the roadside treasures that once made a drive along old U.S. 40 so much fun.

UPDATE: The Kinney's Motel is gone, and the vintage roadside sign has disappeared as well. Another piece of the National Road has quietly slipped into history. 07-26

Plaza Motel
Bryan, OH
Photo and info 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