New West Motel (Rem.)
Seattle, WA
Photo courtesy Chris Richey

The New West Motel had one of those signs that told you exactly what you needed to know. Rooms were waiting just off the highway, and cable TV was included. What more could a tired traveler ask for?

The neon arrow pointed the way from busy Pacific Highway South, where motels once competed for attention all along the road. The New West sign wasn't especially fancy, but it had plenty of old roadside character. Even the cable TV panel feels like a little time capsule from when that was still something worth advertising.

The motel itself sits close to the airport and has long offered a simple place to stop for the night. I can't say what the rooms were like inside, but the sign outside was certainly worth slowing down for.

UPDATE: The marquee for the New West Motel was replaced by backlit plastic a number of years ago. 04-17

UPDATE: The New West Motel is still open in SeaTac. The original neon roadside sign is also gone. 07-26

Villa del Mar Motel (Demolished)
Seattle, WA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Villa del Mar Motel had a marquee that looked like it had been greeting travelers along Aurora Avenue for years. It wasn't the biggest sign on Seattle's motel row, but it had a classic look that fit right in with the other roadside stops lining old Highway 99.

The marquee stood close to the motel office, making the entrance easy to spot as traffic rolled by. With its simple design and glowing vacancy panel, it did exactly what motel signs were supposed to do. It invited weary motorists to pull off the road and stay awhile.

Aurora Avenue was once filled with places like the Villa del Mar, each offering travelers a convenient stop before continuing into downtown Seattle or heading farther north. It's always interesting to imagine what this stretch of highway looked like when nearly every block had another motel sign competing for your attention.

UPDATE: The Villa Del Mar has been demolished. There is now a modern Staybridge Suites in its place. 04-17

UPDATE: The Villa del Mar Motel has been demolished, and the roadside marquee has been removed. 07-26

Ben Carol Motel (Demolished)
Tukwila, WA
Photo courtesy Mike

The Ben Carol Motel had the kind of marquee that looked like it had welcomed travelers for generations. Sitting along Pacific Highway South near the airport, the weathered sign had plenty of personality and gave the motel an unmistakable roadside presence. It wasn't perfect, but that was part of its charm.

Long before chain hotels took over the airport area, Highway 99 was lined with independent motels like this, each trying to catch the eye of passing motorists. The Ben Carol was one of the older stops on the strip, dating back to the mid-1940s, and even earned a recommendation from Duncan Hines during the heyday of American road travel.

It's easy to imagine families pulling in after a long day behind the wheel, attracted by the familiar marquee out front. The sign may have looked a little tired by the time this photo was taken, but it still did exactly what it was built to do.

UPDATE: The Ben Carol Motel is gone. In its place is a Knight Inn Motel, part of a chain. 04-17

UPDATE: The Ben Carol Motel has been demolished, and the retro roadside marquee is gone. The site is now occupied by a newer motel. 07-26

Almost Heaven Motel (Closed)
O'Brien, OR
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Almost Heaven Motel is one of those places with a name that's hard to forget. Sitting along the Redwood Highway just north of the California border, it looks like the kind of roadside stop where you could grab a bite to eat, spend the night, and be back on the road the next morning.

The motel's sign has plenty of character and lets you know you've arrived someplace a little different. Having a café on the property made it an even better stop for travelers making the winding drive between Oregon and California. Places like this were an important part of the journey, especially on roads where the next town might still be miles away.

The Redwood Highway has always been one of my favorite roads to explore. It's full of forests, small towns, and unexpected roadside stops, and the Almost Heaven Motel fits right in with that tradition.

UPDATE: The Motel has been closed for several years and the sign has been altered. 09-17

UPDATE: The property is still open, now operating as Nielsen's Almost Heaven Resort. The roadside café has closed, but a version of the familiar sign remains along the highway. 07-26

Shady Lane Motel (Demolished)
Yakima, WA
Photo courtesy Van

What's the best thing to do on a full stomach? A nap of course. If you're in Yakima, WA, spend the night at the Shady Lane Motel. Can't vouch for the lodging, but the marquee ain't bad.

Located along the old highway through Union Gap, the Shady Lane was one of countless independent motels that catered to travelers before the chain hotels took over. It may not have been the fanciest place in town, but its sign had plenty of character and helped make it a familiar landmark for people passing through the valley.

UPDATE: The motel is gone. There's a place called the Slow Burn on-site now. 04-17

UPDATE: The motel was demolished after closing, and the site is now home to The Slow Burn. Fortunately, the Shady Lane's classic roadside sign was saved and is now part of the Yakima Valley Museum's collection. 07-26