Maples Motel (Demolished)
Muncie, IN
Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley

The Maples Motel sat just off old State Road 67 on the south side of Muncie before the highway was realigned and bypassed the property. Like so many mom-and-pop motels, losing the steady stream of highway traffic made it tough to survive. When this photo was taken, it wasn't clear if the motel was still open, although the "NO" on the old vacancy sign remained lit. 04-09

Unlike most roadside motels, the Maples was built as a tourist court with individual cabins tucked back among the trees, giving it a different feel than the typical row of motel rooms. After closing, the property sat abandoned for years before becoming a target for vandalism and crime.

Eventually the county stepped in, and the motel was demolished as part of a redevelopment project. Today, the buildings and the old roadside sign are gone, leaving little evidence that travelers once stopped here along old State Road 67.

UPDATE: The Maples Motel has been demolished, and the property has been cleared for future redevelopment. Unfortunately, the vintage roadside sign disappeared along with the motel. 07-26

The Pines Motel
Douglas, MI
Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley

The Pines Motel is one of those great little mom-and-pop places that still captures the feel of a 1950s roadside motor lodge. Located in Douglas, just across the Kalamazoo River from Saugatuck, it's been welcoming travelers for decades and still has plenty of vintage charm. 12-08

The roadside sign isn't original to the motel, but it was designed to look like something you would have seen during the heyday of roadside travel. It fits the property perfectly and does a nice job of carrying on the mid-century feel. The motel itself dates back to around 1958 and has managed to hold onto much of its character, making it a fun stop for anyone who appreciates classic roadside Americana.

UPDATE: The Pines Motel remains open and continues to embrace its retro roots. Fortunately, the vintage-style roadside sign is still standing and welcoming travelers along Blue Star Highway. 07-26

South Bend Motel
South Bend, IN
Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley

The South Bend Motel is one of the last classic roadside motels still standing along old U.S. 31 on the south side of town. While it appears to cater mostly to weekly and monthly guests these days, the vintage sign out front is still hard to miss and remains one of the property's best features. 05-09

Located along historic Michigan Road, the motel has welcomed travelers for decades and still retains its original mid-century look. The neon no longer appears to light up, but the sign continues to stand as a reminder of when this stretch of highway was lined with independent mom-and-pop motels serving traffic heading through northern Indiana.

The motel is still in business today despite a serious fire in 2025 that damaged part of the property and temporarily displaced several residents. Fortunately, the buildings were repaired, and the motel continues to operate.

UPDATE: The South Bend Motel remains open today as an extended-stay motel. The classic roadside sign is still standing, although the neon no longer appears to be operational. 07-26

Maple Motel (Demolished)
Three Lakes, WI
Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser

The Maple Motel featured one of the more unusual motel signs in northern Wisconsin. Instead of standing out by the road, the large sign was mounted right on top of the building, making it easy to spot above the trees as travelers made their way through Three Lakes. It was a clever design that fit the Northwoods setting perfectly. 09-09

Like many small family-run motels in the area, the Maple catered to vacationers heading north for fishing, boating, and time on the lakes. Unfortunately, the motel is no longer around. The buildings have been demolished, and the distinctive rooftop sign disappeared along with them.

UPDATE: The Maple Motel has been demolished, and the rooftop sign is gone. Today, only old postcards and photographs remain to remember this classic Northwoods roadside stop. 07-26