Arbor Vitae Motel
Woodruff, WI Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser
The Arbor Vitae Motel is home to one of the best roadside signs in Wisconsin's Northwoods. The standout feature is the big boomerang arrow, which still points travelers toward the office just like it has for decades. It's a great example of the eye-catching roadside design that made these old motels so memorable. 09-09
Located along U.S. 51 near Minocqua, the motel has been welcoming vacationers for generations. Sitting on the shores of Little Muskie Lake, it's the kind of family-run place that fits perfectly with a Northwoods getaway, offering comfortable rooms and even complimentary rowboats for guests.
Best of all, the motel is still going strong, and the classic sign continues to greet travelers along the highway.
UPDATE: The Arbor Vitae Motel remains open today, and its distinctive boomerang-arrow sign is still standing along U.S. 51. 07-26
Fairwood Lake Motel (Demolished)
Three Lakes, WI Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser
The Fairwood Lake Motel was another classic Northwoods stop that featured a great vintage sign. When this photo was taken, the neon still appeared to be fully working, making the marquee a real standout along the highway. A closer look at the sign also suggests it was updated over the years, with what was likely the word "Cabins" painted over as the property evolved. 09-09
Like so many small family-run motels in northern Wisconsin, the Fairwood welcomed generations of vacationers heading north to fish, boat, and enjoy the lakes around Three Lakes. Unfortunately, the motel is no longer around, and the vintage sign has disappeared as well.
UPDATE: The Fairwood Lake Motel has been demolished, and its 1950s roadside sign was removed by 2024. Another piece of Northwoods roadside history has faded away. 07-26
Park Motel
Loves Park, IL Photos courtesy Kelly Sullivan
The Park Motel is the kind of place that brings back memories of family road trips. Built during the heyday of roadside travel, it still has the classic layout that once seemed to be everywhere, complete with a vintage sign that points guests toward the office and rooms. Even today, it's easy to imagine families pulling in after a long day on the road, checking in for the night before continuing on their journey. 09-10
Located along North 2nd Street in Loves Park, the motel has managed to outlast many of its contemporaries. While countless independent motels have disappeared over the years, the Park Motel continues to welcome travelers. The retro sign remains the highlight, with its classic design and directional arrow still doing exactly what it was built to do decades ago.
It's always nice to see another mom-and-pop motel survive the changing times. Places like this are becoming harder to find, making the Park Motel a neat reminder of the days when America's highways were lined with independently owned roadside lodging.
UPDATE: The Park Motel remains open today, and its classic roadside sign continues to welcome travelers along North 2nd Street. 07-26
Park Motel
Loves Park, IL Photos courtesy Kelly Sullivan
Pony Express Motel (Gone)
Saint Joseph, MO Photo and info courtesy Rod Holcomb
The Pony Express Motel was impossible to miss thanks to its enormous roadside sign. Towering above the highway, the colorful neon rider seemed to gallop across the top of the marquee, making it one of the most recognizable motel signs in St. Joseph. The sign was so large it practically dwarfed the cars parked beneath it. 10-10
Built in 1955, the motel welcomed travelers for more than 50 years before it was demolished in 2007. Fortunately, the story didn't end there. When the property was redeveloped, local preservationists stepped in to save the iconic sign. The Pony Express National Museum raised the money needed to restore it, and in 2008 the sign was moved to the museum grounds, where it was relit and continues to shine today.
While the motel itself is gone, the sign has become a roadside attraction all over again. It's a great example of what can happen when a community rallies together to preserve a piece of its roadside history.
UPDATE: The Pony Express Motel is long gone, but its restored neon sign now stands outside the Pony Express National Museum, where it continues to light up the night. 07-26
Rollin' Wheels Motel (Gone)
Chicago, IL Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Rollin' Wheels Motel was a classic Chicago roadside stop with a sign that captured the spirit of the postwar travel era. The marquee proudly advertised amenities like TV and air conditioning, reminding travelers of a time when those features were enough to convince motorists to pull in for the night. Its bright colors and retro styling made it a familiar sight along South Pulaski Road. 12-10
The motel opened by the early 1960s and became well known as a convenient stop for travelers and railroad crews working in the Chicago area. Over the years it served thousands of guests before the property was eventually redeveloped. In 2019, the motel was transformed into the Axis hotel, bringing an end to the Rollin' Wheels name and removing its distinctive roadside sign.
While the motel is gone, photos of its marquee are a reminder of an era when independent motels lined the highways and proudly advertised the comforts that made a long day on the road a little easier.
UPDATE: The Rollin' Wheels Motel has been replaced by the Axis hotel, and the vintage roadside sign is no longer standing. 07-26
Rainbow Motel
Chicago, IL Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Rainbow Motel is one of the more colorful roadside survivors in Chicago. Its marquee lives up to the name, featuring a bright neon rainbow stretching across the top of the sign that's hard to miss when driving down Archer Avenue. It's the kind of sign that immediately catches your attention and brings back memories of the city's classic motel era. 12-10
Located near Midway Airport, the Rainbow Motel has been welcoming guests for decades and remains one of the few independent roadside motels still operating in Chicago. Over the years it has become known for its themed rooms and playful atmosphere, but for roadside enthusiasts, the real attraction is still the vintage sign out front.
It's always nice to see a motel that has managed to hold onto both its identity and its original roadside character. The glowing rainbow remains one of the more distinctive motel signs still standing in the city.
UPDATE: The Rainbow Motel remains open today, and its colorful neon rainbow marquee continues to brighten Archer Avenue. 07-26
Arbor Vitae Motel
Fairwood Lake Motel (Demolished)
Park Motel
Pony Express Motel (Gone)
Rollin' Wheels Motel (Gone)
Rainbow Motel
