Sutton Motel (Gone)
Springfield, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Sutton Motel was one of those classic roadside motels that travelers counted on before the days of chain hotels at every freeway exit. Parked along Springfield's Main Street, its neon sign greeted motorists with flowing script, a bright arrow, and the promise of a room just ahead. Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Motels like this were once a familiar part of every road trip. You didn't need a reservation months in advance. If the vacancy sign was lit, you pulled in and called it home for the night. The Sutton fit that era perfectly, giving travelers an easy place to stop while exploring Eugene, Springfield, or heading east toward the McKenzie River.
The sign was the best part. It wasn't the biggest marquee around, but the combination of glowing script and neon arrow made it stand out just enough to catch your eye as you drove by.
UPDATE: The Sutton Motel later became the Regency Inn before the property was converted into apartments. The classic roadside neon sign has since been removed. 07-26
Crown Motel (Demolished)
Portland, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Crown Motel stands along North Interstate Avenue with one of Portland's most unforgettable motel signs. Rising high above the street, the giant crown and glowing neon sword made it impossible to miss, especially after dark. This 1959 motel is located at 5226 North Interstate Ave.
When this photo was taken, North Interstate still had the feel of an old highway strip. The neighborhood was rough around the edges, and photographing the motels along the street always attracted attention. I remember the first time I stopped here, people watched from the motel balconies while others rode by on bicycles to see what I was doing. I definitely did not know how welcome I was to the neighborhood.
The motel opened in 1959, back when Interstate Avenue was one of Portland's main routes into town. As newer freeways drew travelers away, the Crown became a reminder of the city's roadside motel era. Fortunately, its spectacular neon sign survived long enough to be photographed before the motel disappeared.
UPDATE: The Crown Motel was demolished in April 2008. The sign was saved and was to have been restored. Another of the old Interstate Avenue seedy motels is now just a memory. 04-17
UPDATE: The Crown Motel was demolished in 2008 and replaced with apartments. The landmark neon sign was removed before demolition and preserved for possible future restoration. 07-26
The Palms Motel
Portland, OR Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo
Here's a look at the fantastic neon of The Palms
Motel. Check out the colors on this huge marquee.
Towering above North Interstate Avenue, The Palms
Motel has one of the most spectacular neon signs in the Pacific Northwest. The colorful palm trees, giant blue monkey, and towering arrow make it almost impossible to drive past without taking a second look.
I still remember the first time I came across this sign. I couldn't believe how big it was. The blue monkey immediately caught my eye, and standing beneath the marquee you could hear that familiar buzz that only an old neon sign seems to make. I spent quite a while just looking up at it, taking in all the different colors and details. It was one of those signs that looked every bit as impressive in person as it did in photographs.
The motel opened in 1954, when Interstate Avenue was one of Portland's main routes for travelers entering the city. Back then, motels competed for attention with bigger and brighter signs, and The Palms certainly succeeded. The tropical design, colorful lettering, and soaring arrow turned an ordinary motel into one of Portland's best-known roadside landmarks.
The Palms Motel
Portland, OR Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo
The Palms has always been one of my favorite motel signs because there's so much to see. Every time you look at it, another detail seems to stand out. It's easy to imagine families spotting the giant marquee from blocks away and deciding this was the place to spend the night.
North Interstate has changed dramatically over the years, but The Palms remains one of the last great reminders of Portland's roadside motel era. Thankfully, the motel and its incredible sign are still welcoming travelers today.
UPDATE: The Palms Motel remains open, and its landmark neon sign continues to light up North Interstate Avenue. 07-26
Capitol Hill Motel
Portland, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Capitol Hill Motel is one of the last reminders of Portland's old motel era along Barbur Boulevard. Its classic neon sign still lights up the street, just as it did when this was one of the main highways into the city.
Years ago, Barbur Boulevard was lined with motels competing for travelers. Most have disappeared, but the Capitol Hill Motel still welcomes guests with one of the best surviving neon signs in southwest Portland.
Standing beneath the glowing marquee, it's easy to imagine what this highway looked like when neon stretched for blocks in every direction.
UPDATE: The Capitol Hill Motel remains open, and its vintage neon sign continues to shine along Barbur Boulevard. 07-26
Daffodil Motel
Milton, WA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Daffodil Motel is one of those places you can't miss after dark. The giant neon flowers rise above Pacific Highway, making this one of the most distinctive motel signs anywhere in the Northwest.
The motel has been welcoming travelers since the 1940s and still looks much like it did during the heyday of roadside travel. While so many old motel signs have disappeared over the years, the glowing daffodils continue to brighten the highway and can be spotted from blocks away.
I've always liked how different this sign is. Instead of arrows or stars, it celebrates the daffodil fields that once made this part of the Puyallup Valley famous. It's a simple idea, but one that's impossible to forget once you've seen it.
UPDATE: The Daffodil Motel is still open, and its landmark neon flower sign continues to welcome travelers along the old Pacific Highway. 07-26
La Hacienda Motel
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy John Spencer
The "new" La Hacienda Motel in Seattle has one of those signs that's almost more fun to find than the motel itself. The main neon marquee sits on the building along 1st Avenue South, but a second sign stands a couple of blocks away with a bright arrow pointing travelers in the right direction. It almost feels like a little roadside treasure hunt.
Back when Highway 99 carried much of the traffic through Seattle, signs like this had an important job to do. If a motel sat just off the main road, an advance sign could catch your attention before you drove right past the turn. Most of those directional signs disappeared years ago, which makes this one even more enjoyable to stumble across today.
The motel has been welcoming guests since the 1950s and has seen plenty of changes over the years. The rooms have been updated, but the vintage neon remains part of its personality. The combination of the building's corner marquee and the separate arrow sign gives La Hacienda something you don't see very often anymore.
La Hacienda Motel
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy John Spencer
The surrounding SoDo neighborhood has become a great place to hunt for old neon, and this is one of its highlights. It's easy to imagine travelers spotting that glowing arrow after dark, knowing there was a room waiting just a couple of blocks ahead. Sometimes the sign ends up being just as memorable as the destination.
UPDATE: La Hacienda Motel remains open, and both the motel marquee and the separate directional neon sign continue to light the way for passing motorists. 07-26
Sutton Motel (Gone)
The Palms Motel
Capitol Hill Motel
Daffodil Motel
