Alpine Lodge
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Check out the Alpine Lodge with its dual weight-saving holes built right into the marquee. It's an unusual design that gives the sign a little extra personality and makes it stand out from the typical roadside motel signs of the day. Nice reminder of a bygone era.

The "Alpine" name was a popular choice for motels during the highway travel years, bringing to mind cozy mountain lodges even if the nearest mountain was hundreds of miles away. Whether intentional or not, the sign has a clean, distinctive look that's hard to forget. Sometimes it's the little design touches that make an otherwise simple motel sign worth pulling over to photograph.

UPDATE: Not sure if the Alpine Lodge or its unique roadside sign are still around today. Unfortunately, there isn't enough information available to confirm what became of either one. 07-26

Rustic Motel
Rockford, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The Rustic Motel certainly lived up to its name. Its unique marquee looks like it was built from old wood, giving it the appearance of a rustic cabin instead of the typical steel motel sign. It's a simple idea, but one that makes the motel easy to remember.

Built in the mid-1950s along U.S. Route 20, the Rustic Motel welcomed travelers heading through the Rockford area. It also featured an adjoining restaurant, making it a convenient stop for motorists looking for both a meal and a place to spend the night. The wood-themed sign fit the motel's name perfectly and gave the property a personality all its own.

UPDATE: The Rustic Motel is still open today, and its distinctive roadside sign remains standing along West State Street. While the sign has seen a few changes over the years, it's great to see this unique piece of roadside Americana still greeting travelers. 07-26

Powhatan Motel
Pocahontas, IL
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

The Powhatan Motel in Pocahontas, Illinois has a sign that's hard to miss. The giant arrowhead theme fits the motel's name perfectly, and it's a clever match for a town named Pocahontas. Sometimes a little creativity goes a long way, and this sign certainly stands out from the crowd.

The motel has been welcoming travelers for years from its location near Interstate 70. Alongside the motel is the Powhatan Restaurant, making it an easy stop for both a meal and a night's rest. The restaurant is also known around town as one of the places where country singer Gretchen Wilson worked before finding fame.

UPDATE: The Powhatan Motel is still open today, and its distinctive arrowhead sign continues to greet travelers. It's always nice to see a themed motel sign that's still standing and doing exactly what it was built to do. 07-26

Grand Thrifty Motel
IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Looking for a layover at an old motel that's also "thrifty?" Then the Grand Thrifty Motel certainly sounded like the place to stop. The name alone promised an affordable night's stay, and that's exactly the kind of message motel owners wanted passing motorists to remember.

Like countless independent motels that once lined America's highways, the Grand Thrifty Motel was aimed at travelers looking for a clean, inexpensive place to spend the night before getting back on the road. Sometimes a memorable name was just as important as a flashy sign, and this one probably caught more than a few drivers looking to stretch their travel budget.

UPDATE: Not sure if the Grand Thrifty Motel or its roadside sign are still around today. Unfortunately, there isn't enough information available to confirm what became of the property. 07-26

Ramada Inn (Rem.)
Effingham, IL
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

The Ramada Inn in Effingham has one of the biggest and most unique signs you'll find from this classic lodging chain. Towering above the roadside is the famous Ramada bugler, complete with his trumpet, making this a real standout among the chain's surviving vintage signs. It's hard to drive by without looking up.

The hotel opened in 1963 as Interstate 57 and Interstate 70 were transforming Effingham into one of the Midwest's busiest highway crossroads. While most Ramada Inns eventually replaced their original signs with modern corporate versions, this one escaped that fate. Local businesswoman Thelma Keller, who developed the hotel, worked to preserve the towering bugler, helping save one of the last great examples of Ramada's original roadside advertising.

It's always fun to find an old chain motel that still has its original personality. Instead of another ordinary corporate sign, travelers are greeted by one of the most recognizable motel mascots ever created.

UPDATE: The Ramada Inn is still open today as the Ramada by Wyndham Effingham. Unfortunately this iconic sign has been gone since 1976. 07-26

Sand's Motel (Rem.)
Ottawa, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Here's a good shot of a rather unique sign. The Sand's Motel marquee looks like it's about to electrocute itself. With its jagged neon lightning bolts zigzagging across the sign, it's one of those designs that's impossible to ignore. Whoever came up with it certainly wasn't afraid to try something different.

The motel sits along LaSalle Street in Ottawa and has been welcoming travelers since the 1950s. While plenty of motels relied on simple arrows or block lettering, the Sand's Motel took a much more playful approach. The bold lightning bolt design gives the sign an atomic-age look that's every bit as memorable today as it was when it was new.

UPDATE: The Sand's Motel is still open today. The sign was removed and replaced by a boring plastic sign back prior to 2016. 07-26