Motel
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Here's an old motel sign that's barely standing up to the test of time. All that's left is the empty frame, slowly rusting away somewhere along an Illinois highway. At one time it proudly advertised TV and pointed weary travelers toward the office. Now it's just a lonely reminder of a motel that's long since disappeared.

It's hard not to wonder what this place looked like in its prime. The missing panels, faded paint, and empty steel frame leave plenty to the imagination. Thousands of motorists probably passed this sign over the years without giving it a second thought, but today it's the only thing left that hints a motel once stood here.

Sometimes the forgotten signs tell a better story than the businesses themselves. Even stripped down to little more than a rusty skeleton, this one still catches your eye. It's the kind of roadside relic that's easy to drive past, but even easier to stop and photograph.

2 Acres Motel (Demolished)
Greenville, IL
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

The 2 Acres Motel in Greenville looked ready for just about anything. Its roadside sign proudly advertised electric radiant heat and free TV, making sure passing travelers knew they'd be comfortable no matter what Illinois weather had in store. Of course, until deregulation kicks in...

Located at the intersection of U.S. Route 40 and Illinois Route 127, the motel was a familiar stop for motorists traveling across southern Illinois. Along with an adjoining restaurant, it offered 20 rooms and the kind of convenient overnight accommodations that were once found at nearly every busy highway intersection. The sign did most of the talking, boldly promoting the motel's modern features to anyone driving by.

Like so many independent roadside motels, the 2 Acres Motel eventually disappeared as travel patterns changed and redevelopment took over. It's a shame, because it had one of those signs that was every bit as interesting as the motel itself.

UPDATE: The 2 Acres Motel and restaurant have both been demolished, and the old roadside sign is gone as well. The property has since been redeveloped with newer businesses, leaving little evidence that the motel was ever there. 07-26

Linn's Motel
Herrin, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Linn's Motel near Herrin has a sign that's hard to miss. Instead of putting the motel's name front and center, the marquee makes sure everyone knows it's a "Heated Motel Court." You don't see that every day, and it's probably exactly what travelers wanted to hear on a cold Illinois night.

Back when roadside motels were competing for business, owners did whatever they could to stand out. Air conditioning was the big selling point in the summer, while heated rooms were just as important during the winter months. Linn's Motel wasn't shy about advertising the feature, making it nearly as prominent as the motel's own name. It certainly made for an eye-catching sign.

Sometimes it's little details like this that make an old motel memorable. The unusual lettering and oversized "Heated Motel Court" slogan turn what could have been an ordinary sign into one that's worth pulling over to photograph.

UPDATE: Not sure if Linn's Motel or its sign are still around today. 07-26

Indian Trail Motel (Closed)
Wisconsin Dells, WI
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The Indian Trail Motel sign has that classic roadside look. It's simple, colorful, and topped off with a bright red arrow pointing travelers toward the office. Sometimes a sign doesn't need to be flashy to catch your attention, and this one does the job just fine.

Located in the heart of Wisconsin Dells, the motel has been welcoming visitors for decades. While the Dells is known for its waterparks and attractions today, independent motels like this helped build the town's reputation long before the big resorts arrived. The sign is a great example of the kind of roadside advertising that once lined highways across the country, inviting travelers to pull in for the night.

It's always nice to see a motel that has held onto its original character. Between the bold script lettering and the classic neon arrow, the Indian Trail Motel still looks every bit like a roadside motel should.

Soy City Motel
Decatur, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Here's the Soy City Motel in Decatur, Illinois. When this photo was taken, the roadside sign was still in great shape and did a fine job of grabbing the attention of passing motorists. The flashing vacancy panel underneath probably helped fill a few rooms over the years, too.

The motel takes its name from Decatur's long-standing nickname as the "Soybean Capital of the World." It's a fitting name for a hometown motel, and one that immediately lets you know where you are. While the motel itself is fairly simple, the sign gives it the kind of personality that made independent roadside motels so much fun to discover.

UPDATE: The Soy City Motel is still open today, but unfortunately the vintage roadside sign may be gone. It's a shame if it truly is, because it was one of the motel's best features and gave the property a lot of its roadside character. 07-26

Ranch Motel (Demolished)
Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy Jason Carlton

The Ranch Motel still beckons travelers with its big arrow and a marquee proudly advertising TV. Back when television was a luxury on the road, that was a feature worth putting in lights. Combined with the bold arrow, it made for the kind of sign that was hard to drive past without noticing.

Located along Stony Island Avenue on Chicago's South Side, the Ranch Motel was one of many independent motor courts that served travelers before the interstate era changed the way people moved through the city. The motel itself was fairly typical, but the sign gave it plenty of roadside personality. Sometimes all it took was a bright arrow and a few well-placed words to convince motorists to pull in for the night.

UPDATE: The Ranch Motel has long since been demolished, and the vintage sign disappeared along with it. The property has been redeveloped, leaving only old photographs to remember one more piece of Chicago's roadside history. 07-26

Mayflower Motel (Demolished)
Wisconsin Dells, WI
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

More treasures from Wisconsin... The Mayflower Motel features a colorful neon sign built around the famous Mayflower ship. It was a clever design and especially fitting around Thanksgiving, when the old sailing ship was on everyone's mind. It's the kind of sign that made a motel memorable long before you ever checked in.

Built in 1962, the Mayflower Motel welcomed generations of visitors to Wisconsin Dells during the area's tourism boom. Over the years it expanded into Mayflower I and Mayflower II, but the ship-themed sign remained the property's trademark. With all the colorful attractions along the Dells Parkway, it managed to stand out in a town already filled with eye-catching roadside signs.

UPDATE: Unfortunately, the Mayflower Motel is gone. After sitting vacant for years, the buildings were demolished between 2023 and early 2025, and the distinctive Mayflower sign disappeared along with them. Hopefully the old ship found a new home, but its fate isn't known. 07-26

Friendship Motel (Gone)
Friendship, WI
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Another Wisconsin treasure is the Friendship Motor Court. Instead of using a big flashing arrow to guide travelers, the shape of the marquee does the job all by itself. It's a clever design that points motorists right toward the office while giving the sign a look all its own.

Built in 1953, the motor court consisted of several individual lodging cottages grouped around a central office. It was the kind of family-run roadside stop that once welcomed travelers exploring central Wisconsin, and its unusual sign helped set it apart from the competition. Sometimes a simple design idea is all it takes to create a memorable roadside attraction.

UPDATE: The Friendship Motor Court no longer operates as a motel. The property has been converted to other uses, and unfortunately the distinctive roadside sign has disappeared. It's a shame, because it was one of those simple designs that was impossible to mistake for anything else. 07-26