Holiday Motel (Demolished)
Centralia, IL Photo courtesy Kelly Sullivan
The Holiday Motel in Centralia, Illinois, featured one of those motel signs you couldn't miss. Its giant Googie-style boomerang, complete with reminders that the rooms had TV and air conditioning, was designed to catch the eye of travelers cruising through town. 07-11
The motel is gone today, but fortunately the sign wasn't lost with it. Instead of ending up in a scrapyard, the landmark marquee was rescued and relocated to Cook's Garage in Lubbock, Texas, where it continues to be enjoyed as part of an impressive collection of preserved roadside neon.
UPDATE: The Holiday Motel has been demolished, but its iconic boomerang sign lives on. It was relocated to Cook's Garage in Lubbock, Texas, where it has found a new home among other preserved pieces of roadside Americana. 07-26
Riverside Motel (Gone)
Beloit, WI Photo courtesy Kelly Sullivan
The Riverside Motel in Beloit, Wisconsin, proved that a motel sign didn't need wild shapes or a giant boomerang to grab your attention. Bright colors and bold neon did the job just fine, especially with the word "MODERN" proudly letting travelers know they were staying somewhere up to date. 07-11
The motel is gone today, and sadly the sign didn't survive either. After the property closed, the marquee was stored by the Beloit Historical Society, but vandals destroyed the neon tubing before it could be preserved. The damaged frame was eventually scrapped, bringing an unfortunate end to another piece of roadside history.
UPDATE: The Riverside Motel has long since closed, and its colorful neon sign is gone. Although there was hope it might be preserved, vandalism ultimately sealed its fate. 07-26
Pine-Glo Motel (Gone)
Eagle River, WI Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser
The Pine-Glo Motel in Eagle River, Wisconsin, featured a great mid-century marquee with distinctive lettering that welcomed travelers to the Northwoods. It was the kind of sign that fit right in with the classic motel era. 01-13
The motel dates back to at least the early 1960s and operated for decades before eventually closing. Unfortunately, the vintage roadside sign has also disappeared, leaving only old photos to remember what was once a familiar stop along the highway.
UPDATE: The Pine-Glo Motel is permanently closed, and its classic roadside marquee has been removed. Unfortunately, it's not known whether the sign was saved or lost after the motel shut down. 07-26
The Capri Motel (Demolished)
Joplin, MO Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Joplin, MO is home to one big huge motel sign. Yes, we are referring to The Capri Motel and its immense sign. The Capri opened for business in South Joplin in 1962 and survived the landmark EF5 tornado that hit Joplin in 2011.
I remember first seeing this sign in Jeff Brouw's book Highway. To this day, his neon photo calls me back to the road again and again.
Unfortunately, the Capri underwent demolition in late March 2013. after shutting its doors in October 2012. Word is the 30 foot tall sign has been purchased by a private collector. 05-13
The Capri Motel in Joplin, Missouri, was home to one of the biggest and most memorable motel signs in the Midwest. The towering 30-foot Googie-style marquee made an unforgettable impression on travelers and became one of the area's true roadside landmarks. The motel opened in 1962 and even survived the devastating EF5 tornado that struck Joplin in 2011. 05-13
I still remember the first time I saw the Capri in Jeff Brouws' book Highway. His photograph made the sign feel larger than life, and it's one of those images that still makes me want to get out on the road.
Sadly, the motel closed in October 2012 and was demolished in March 2013. Thankfully, the giant neon sign was saved before the wrecking crews arrived and sold to a private collector, although its current whereabouts remain unknown.
UPDATE: The Capri Motel is long gone, but its iconic 30-foot neon sign was preserved before demolition. Hopefully one day it will find its way back into public view. 07-26
Ambassador Motel
Saute Ste Marie, ON Canada Photo courtesy Alan Culley
The Ambassador Motel in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, has one of the best motel slogans you'll ever see. Its vintage marquee asks, "Do you really want to drive any further?" It's a classic roadside sales pitch that's probably convinced more than a few tired travelers to call it a night. 06-14
Located along Highway 17, the Ambassador is the first motel many visitors see as they enter the city from the northwest. While the rooms have been updated over the years, the retro sign remains out front, giving the property a welcoming bit of old-school roadside charm.
UPDATE: The Ambassador Motel remains open and continues to greet travelers with its memorable marquee. Thankfully, the classic sign is still standing and asking the same question it's been asking for decades. 07-26
The Diplomat Motel (Gone)
Saute Ste Marie, ON Canada Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Another Sault Ste. Marie motel with a name to match its sign. The Diplomat Motel had a formal-looking roadside marquee that felt just right for a place called the Diplomat. It wasn't flashy, but it had a polished look that made the motel stand out along Queen Street. 06-14
Opened in 1960, the Diplomat welcomed travelers for more than five decades before its motel days came to an end. The building later found a new use as apartments, which at least kept the structure around even after the old roadside identity disappeared.
UPDATE: The Diplomat Motel no longer operates as a motel and has been converted into apartments. The original roadside sign has been removed, ending the property's days as a classic Sault Ste. Marie motel stop. 07-26
Holiday Motel (Demolished)
Riverside Motel (Gone)
The Capri Motel (Demolished)
Ambassador Motel
The Diplomat Motel (Gone)
