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Vernelle's Motel
Newburg, MO
Photo courtesy Barry Wells

Here's one of the best-known motel signs along Missouri's stretch of Route 66. Vernelle's Motel features a tall pink-and-blue marquee that still stands watch over the old highway, complete with its Budget Rates panel below. It's the kind of sign that takes you right back to the days when every town along Route 66 was competing for the next traveler.

The property began life in 1938 as the Gasser Tourist Court before Fred and Vernelle Gasser purchased it in 1952 and renamed it after Vernelle. They expanded the business with additional motel rooms, a restaurant, and a Cities Service station, creating a busy roadside stop for Route 66 travelers. Highway improvements eventually took their toll, first with the widening of Route 66 and later when Interstate 44 diverted traffic away from the motel. Even so, Vernelle's remained a favorite with road enthusiasts for years, offering a stay that felt like stepping back in time.

The motel may be quiet today, but that colorful sign is still doing its job. It's easy to see why it has become one of the most photographed Route 66 signs in Missouri.

UPDATE: The motel is no longer operating as a traditional roadside motel, but the property found new life in 2024 when new owners began converting it into Vernelle's Route 66 RV Park & Campground. Better yet, the famous motel sign is still standing, with plans to restore it as work on the property continues. 07-26

See more of Vernelle's at Roadside Peek's Spotlight on the Vernelle's Motel.

Land of Lincoln Motel (Gone)
Granite City, IL
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

Here's another great Route 66 motel sign. Land of Lincoln Motel featured a distinctive diamond-shaped marquee with a neon outline of the state of Illinois right in the middle. It wasn't the biggest sign along the Mother Road, but it was certainly one of the more memorable. It's easy to see why it became a favorite with roadside photographers.

Built in the early 1960s along Chain of Rocks Road, the motel reflected the era with its mid-century office, gabled roof, and drive-up rooms. It welcomed travelers heading toward St. Louis and sat just down the road from the famous Chain of Rocks Motel, making this stretch of Route 66 a great place for anyone who appreciated vintage roadside architecture.

While the motel has changed names over the years, the old diamond sign remains the image most people remember. Signs like this gave Route 66 plenty of personality, and this one certainly helped the motel stand out.

UPDATE: The motel is still operating today as the Budget Motel, but the classic Land of Lincoln marquee is gone. Not sure exactly when it came down, but it's a shame one of Illinois' more distinctive Route 66 motel signs didn't survive. 07-26

Chain of Rocks Motel (Rem.)
Granite City, IL
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

Here's one of the great lost motel signs from Illinois' stretch of Route 66. The Chain of Rocks Motel featured a wild Googie-style marquee with soaring spires, colorful globes, and bright neon that was almost impossible to drive past without noticing. The sign probably brought in its share of weary travelers over the years.

The motel opened in 1957 and expanded several times as traffic along Route 66 continued to grow. Its low-slung layout remains a good example of the roadside motels that once lined the highway, but it was always the sign that stole the show. With its futuristic design and bold colors, it perfectly captured the optimism of the late 1950s and quickly became one of the most photographed motel signs in Illinois.

Unfortunately, the original marquee came down in early 2006 and was replaced with a standard plastic sign that lacks all the character of the original. Thankfully, the old sign hasn't been forgotten.

UPDATE: The motel is still operating today, but the original neon marquee is long gone. In 2023, the Illinois Route 66 Association dedicated a historical marker at the site, and in 2025 a full-size replica of the famous sign was installed at the Route 66 Legends Neon Park in Springfield. It's not quite the same as seeing the original along the highway, but it's the next best thing. 07-26

Ozark Court (Gone)
St Clair, MO
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Another Route 66 treasure, Ozark Court once welcomed travelers with one of the finest motel signs in Missouri. The Art Deco marquee featured a running deer, bright neon, and a bold yellow arrow that left little doubt where to turn. While traffic now speeds by on Interstate 44, it's easy to imagine this sign catching the eye of motorists cruising the old highway. Rumor had it the motel was no longer taking in travelers.

The motel was built as one of the classic stone tourist courts that lined Route 66, complete with individual cabins, a restaurant, and a souvenir shop. Although the buildings have fallen into disrepair over the years, the sign became a favorite among roadside fans thanks to its unique design. Fortunately, someone recognized its importance before it disappeared forever.

UPDATE: The motel has been abandoned for years, with only deteriorating buildings remaining on the property. Thankfully, the famous deer sign was removed in 2002 to save it from further decay. After spending years in a private collection, it was acquired by the Route 66 Association of Missouri in late 2024 and is now being restored with plans for public display. It's nice to know this Route 66 classic will have a second life. 07-26

Gardenway Motel (Demolished)
Villa Ridge, MO
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Here's a Route 66 motel whose sign was definitely beginning to show its age. Gardenway Motel greeted travelers with a weathered neon marquee that pointed the way to one of Missouri's longtime family-owned motels. It may have looked a little tired, but that old sign still had plenty of character.

The motel opened in 1945 at the western end of the Henry Shaw Gardenway, the beautifully landscaped stretch of Route 66 that inspired its name. Over the years it expanded into a 41-room motel and remained in the same family for nearly 70 years. Like many Route 66 motels, it quietly served generations of travelers long after the interstate had stolen away most of the traffic.

Fortunately, the old sign didn't meet the same fate as the buildings. It was removed before vandalism and the elements could take their toll, and even the large "GARDENWAY" rooftop letters were saved. It's always nice to see pieces of a classic roadside motel preserved for the future.

UPDATE: The motel closed in 2014 and sat vacant for several years before being demolished in 2023. The roadside sign was removed in 2019 for preservation, and the rooftop letters were salvaged in 2021 with plans for display at the Red Cedar Inn Museum. While the motel is gone, parts of it will live on. 07-26

Motel Sign... off the highway
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

Sometimes it's the simple signs that bring back the most memories. This old motel sign doesn't advertise fancy amenities or luxury accommodations—just a "$19.95 Special" and a place to spend the night. For plenty of road-weary travelers, that was all they needed to know.

Motels like this once lined highways all across America, each trying to catch the attention of the next passing car with a bargain rate and a vacancy sign. It wasn't unusual to see hand-lettered specials or prices hanging from the marquee, especially as independently owned motels competed with the growing number of national chains. The exact motel behind this sign isn't known, but scenes like this were once a familiar part of almost every road trip.

The $19.95 rate instantly dates the photo to another era. Today it seems almost unbelievable that a room could cost so little, but signs like this were once a welcome sight after a long day behind the wheel.