Seal's Motel (Gone)
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy Chris Richey
Anyone traveling Aurora Avenue years ago probably remembers the Seal's Motel. The playful neon seal balancing a spinning ball on its nose gave this old Highway 99 motel plenty of personality and made it one of the more memorable signs along the strip. See a day shot of this grand sign here.
The motel dated back to the postwar travel boom, serving motorists for decades as Seattle grew around it. Even as newer hotels appeared, the animated seal continued to catch the eye of passing drivers and became a favorite among local neon fans.
UPDATE: The Seal's Motel neon sign was removed and replaced by backlit plastic. Many thanks to Mike Fuller for update. 07-07
UPDATE: The original neon sign was removed in 2007, and the motel closed the following year. 07-26
Pine City Motel (Gone)
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy John Spencer
The neon at the Pine City Motel really came alive after dark. Reflections danced across the wet pavement while the tall rooftop sign glowed above the building, making it an easy landmark for anyone driving through this part of Seattle. It was the kind of scene that made you slow down for a second look.
The motel welcomed travelers for decades in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood, back when independent motels lined many of the city's main roads. Its rooftop marquee was the real attraction, towering above the surrounding buildings and advertising a night's stay long before you reached the front office.
Old rooftop motel signs like this have become a rare sight, which makes photographs like this even more enjoyable. The building may have been fairly simple, but once the neon came on, it was hard to drive past without noticing.
UPDATE: The motel has since been converted into housing, and the landmark rooftop neon sign has been removed. 07-26
Wagon Wheel Motel (Gone)
Bothell, WA Photo courtesy John Spencer
Here's another great old motel sign. The Wagon Wheel Motel lived up to its name with a neon wagon wheel glowing above the roadside, making it hard to miss for anyone traveling along Bothell Way. Sometimes a sign tells you everything you need to know before you even pull into the parking lot.
The motel welcomed travelers for many years and became a familiar landmark north of Seattle. While the buildings themselves were fairly modest, the neon wagon wheel gave the place plenty of character and made it stand out from the usual roadside motels.
It's easy to imagine the wheel lighting up at dusk as another day's travelers searched for a place to spend the night. Signs like this helped turn an ordinary motel into something people remembered long after the trip was over.
UPDATE: The motel closed in 2010, and the property has since been converted into apartments. The neon sign has been removed. 07-26
Court of Monte Cristo (Demolished)
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy John Spencer
The Court of Monte Cristo certainly knew how to get your attention. Sitting along old Highway 99, the motel featured a wonderful neon sign topped by a colorful figure of the Count of Monte Cristo. It was the kind of roadside advertising that made you curious enough to slow down for a better look.
The motel itself was a small roadside court that welcomed travelers for many years north of Seattle. While the buildings were modest, the sign gave the place a personality all its own. Between the glowing neon lettering and the character perched on top, it was hard to mistake this motel for any other along the highway.
Novelty motel signs like this were once a familiar part of road trips, each trying to outdo the next with a memorable design. The Court of Monte Cristo certainly succeeded, and it's easy to see why it became a favorite stop for photographers.
Court of Monte Cristo (Demolished)
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy John Spencer
UPDATE: The motel was demolished in 2010. 09-17
UPDATE: The motel was demolished in 2010, and the landmark neon sign was removed. 07-26
Everett Motel (Demolished)
Everett, WA Photo courtesy John Spencer
The Everett Motel may be gone, but its neon marquee still stands high above Broadway. With its distinctive arrow shape and glowing circles, it remains one of those old motel signs that's impossible to drive past without noticing.
For years the motel welcomed travelers along old Highway 99, back when this was one of the main routes through Everett. Like many roadside motels, business faded after Interstate 5 drew traffic away, but the sign continued to brighten the street long after the motel's best days were behind it.
Today the buildings are gone, leaving the marquee to remind passersby that this was once another stop on America's roadside.
UPDATE: The motel was demolished in 2015, but the landmark neon sign still stands on the property. 07-26
Knight's Inn (Gone)
Medford, OR Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The Knight's Inn was hard to miss with its tall neon letters glowing above Riverside Avenue. Topped by a knight's helmet, the sign welcomed travelers into Medford, while the restaurant next door made it easy to pull in for a meal before settling in for the night. 02-06
The motel opened during the roadside travel boom and became a familiar stop for visitors passing through southern Oregon. While the rooms were typical of the era, the bright neon sign gave the place its personality and made it stand out from the other motels along the strip.
It was one of those classic motel signs that looked even better after sunset, reminding travelers that there was still a vacancy just ahead.
UPDATE: The property now operates as the Rogue Valley Inn, and the original Knight's Inn neon sign has been removed. 07-26
Wagon Wheel Motel (Gone)
Court of Monte Cristo (Demolished)
Court of Monte Cristo (Demolished)
Everett Motel (Demolished)
Knight's Inn (Gone)
