Golden Lion Motor Inn (Demolished)
Lakewood, WA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Golden Lion Motor Inn had a sign that looked right at home along old Highway 99. With its rustic styling and lion perched near the top, it wasn't the flashiest marquee on the strip, but it certainly had enough personality to catch your eye. 07-08
South Tacoma Way was once lined with independent motels, restaurants, and businesses serving travelers heading through the area. The Golden Lion fit that roadside tradition well. Its weathered sign looked like it had welcomed motorists for decades, and the lion gave the motel an identity that set it apart from the countless generic motel signs found along the highway.
Sometimes it's the simpler roadside signs that stay with you the longest. The Golden Lion didn't rely on elaborate animation or towering neon. It just had a distinctive look that made it easy to remember after you'd driven by.
UPDATE: The Golden Lion Motel was razed over in late February 2017. The 65 year old motel finally met its fate after years of building neglect and safety issues. The 30-unit motel was located at 1220 Puyallup Ave. According to recent reports, the site may be a new home of a car sales lot. 04-17
UPDATE: The Golden Lion Motor Inn was demolished in 2017, and the familiar roadside sign disappeared with it. 07-26
Marco Polo Motel (Demolished)
Albany, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
What first catches your eye is the colorful roadside marquee, complete with the kind of bold plastic panels that seemed to be everywhere during the 1970s. The Marco Polo Motel looked every bit like a classic mid-century stop along Highway 99E, and the sign gave it just enough personality to make you want to pull in. 12-08
Highway 99E through Albany was once lined with places like this, welcoming travelers exploring the Willamette Valley. The Marco Polo wasn't an elaborate resort, but it had all the ingredients of a classic roadside stop. A comfortable-looking motor court, a colorful marquee, and a location that made it easy to pull off the highway for the night.
I especially liked the sign's bold colors. They gave the motel a cheerful look that seemed right at home during the era when bright plastic panels and simple block lettering became a familiar part of the American roadside.
UPDATE: The Marco Polo Motel featured a great old marquee at its address 2410 Pacific Blvd. Unfortunately, the motel shut down and was demolished in 2009. 04-17
UPDATE: The Marco Polo Motel was demolished in late 2009, and the roadside marquee disappeared with it. 07-26
Oregon Motor Motel (Gone)
The Dalles, OR Photo courtesy Tony Craig
Standing at the entrance is a sign that proudly announces the Oregon Motor Motel, welcoming travelers to The Dalles just as it has for decades. It's a classic roadside marquee that lets you know you've found another old highway motel, and according to the motel's website, downtown was only a short walk away. 11-10
The motel sits just off one of the main routes through the Columbia River Gorge, making it a convenient stop for travelers exploring the area. While the buildings are simple, the roadside sign gives the property the kind of character that's becoming harder to find. It's one of those signs that feels like it has always been there.
The Dalles has long been a stopping point for people traveling across Oregon, and places like the Oregon Motor Motel helped make the journey a little easier. Sometimes all it took was a familiar sign and an empty room at the end of a long day on the road.
UPDATE: The Oregon Motor Motel closed in 2023 and has been converted into a transitional housing facility known as The Annex. 07-26
Bali-Hai Motel (Closed)
Yakima, WA Photo courtesy Tony Craig
It's hard to drive past a sign shaped like a tiki hut without taking a second look. The Bali-Hai Motel certainly knew how to stand out, with its tropical roofline, palm tree cutout, and a design that brought a little bit of the South Pacific to the middle of Yakima. From the way it looked, you'd almost expect the neon to come alive after dark. 11-10
Roadside motels often borrowed themes to make themselves memorable, and the Bali-Hai is a great example. Long before cookie-cutter chain hotels became the norm, a creative sign was often enough to convince travelers to pull in for the night. This one had plenty of personality without trying too hard.
I happened to be back in Yakima at the end of August 2025 and noticed what looked like construction around the motel. It turns out the property had recently been damaged by a major fire, which explained all the activity. Thankfully, the distinctive tiki hut sign was still standing.
UPDATE: The motel remains closed following the 2025 fire. The tropical-themed roadside sign still survives, although its original neon had been replaced years earlier. 07-26
Riverside Inn (Rem.)
Grants Pass
OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Standing out front was a sign topped with a bright star that was hard to miss. It gave the Riverside Inn a little extra personality and made it feel like one of those classic roadside stops that had been welcoming travelers for years. 11-20
The inn sits along the Rogue River, just a short distance from downtown Grants Pass. It's a pleasant setting, and the star perched above the sign seemed like a fitting touch for a place that catered to travelers exploring Southern Oregon. Sometimes it's a small detail like that which makes a motel or inn stand out from all the others.
When I photographed it, I had a feeling the sign's days might be numbered. It had that look of a survivor from another era, quietly hanging on while everything around it continued to change.
UPDATE: It turns out that suspicion was right. The original roadside sign with the star has since been removed, although the Riverside Inn continues to welcome guests along the Rogue River. 07-26
Golden Lion Motor Inn (Demolished)
Marco Polo Motel (Demolished)
Oregon Motor Motel (Gone)
Bali-Hai Motel (Closed)
Riverside Inn (Rem.)
