Vagabond Motel (Demolished)
Lakewood, WA
Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser

The Vagabond Motel certainly knew how to get your attention. Its tall "MOTEL" marquee reached high above South Tacoma Way, making sure weary travelers could spot it long before they reached the driveway. It was the kind of roadside sign that did exactly what it was designed to do. 11-08

Highway 99 was once filled with motels competing for passing motorists, and the Vagabond stood tall among them. The towering marquee gave the property a little extra personality and made it one of those places you couldn't help but notice, especially after dark when the lights came on.

I always liked signs that weren't afraid to think vertically. Sometimes simply spelling out "MOTEL" in big letters was enough to make a place memorable, and this one managed to do just that.

UPDATE: The Vagabond Motel was demolished recently. The site appears to now be the home of a Curbside Motors car lot. 04-17

The Legend Motel
Des Moines, WA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

With a name like The Legend Motel, the place ought to be... well... legendary. Whether it lives up to the name is up for debate, but it certainly has the kind of roadside presence that catches your eye as you travel Pacific Highway South. 07-08

The motel has the familiar look of countless independent roadside stops that once lined Highway 99, offering travelers a convenient place to spend the night before continuing on their way. Over the years the sign has advertised everything from free airport shuttles to vacancy, quietly adapting with the times while continuing to welcome passing motorists.

It's places like this that remind me how much character these old highway corridors still have. Every few miles there's another motel with its own name, its own sign, and its own story, even if it's one you've never heard before.

UPDATE: The Legend Motel remains open along Pacific Highway South. Its roadside sign still stands, continuing to greet travelers heading to and from Sea-Tac. 07-26

3 Bears Motel (Gone)
Seattle, WA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Three bears on a motel sign? That's a pretty good way to catch the attention of passing motorists. The 3 Bears Motelfeatured a papa bear, mama bear, and baby bear on its marquee, giving the place a friendly personality that was hard to forget. 07-08

Located just off old Highway 99 near Sea-Tac, the motel was one of many independent roadside stops that welcomed travelers through the area. The buildings were fairly typical, but the bear family made this one stand out from the crowd.

It's touches like this that made the old roadside so memorable. Every motel seemed to have its own way of inviting you to pull in, and the 3 Bears certainly had one of the more charming signs around.

UPDATE: The West View now occupies the motel where the 3 Bears used to sleep. The sign is gone. 04-17

UPDATE: The motel no longer operates under the 3 Bears name, and the familiar bear marquee has been removed. The former motel buildings still remain as a repurposed residential property. 07-26

Travel Inn (Demolished)
Tacoma, WA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

If this sign looks familiar, there's a good reason. The Travel Inn had all the hallmarks of the roadside motel chains that once dotted highways across the country, giving travelers a reassuring sight at the end of a long day on the road. When this photo was taken, the property was already fenced off, making me wonder how much longer it would be around. 07-08

Located along Tacoma's busy Hosmer Street motel district, the Travel Inn was one of many places that catered to motorists passing through the area. Like so many former chain motels, it eventually took on a life of its own, but it never completely lost that familiar roadside look.

UPDATE: This motel is gone. 04-17

UPDATE: The motel has since been demolished, and the site has been redeveloped as housing. Like the motel itself, the old roadside marquee is now gone. 07-26

Hillside Motel (Demolished)
Seattle, WA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Perched along Aurora Avenue, the Hillside Motel was one of the many independent motels that once gave Seattle's old Highway 99 plenty of roadside character. 07-08

The hillside setting made this one a little different from its neighbors, with the motel tucked into the slope above the highway. Like so many places along Aurora, it relied on a roadside sign to catch the attention of passing motorists looking for a room before continuing their journey.

Over the years, the original vintage marquee gave way to a more modern sign, and eventually even that disappeared. It's another reminder of how quickly these familiar roadside landmarks can change.

UPDATE: The motel is still open but the cool marquee is long gone. There is a colorful cardboard looking sign there now. 04-17

UPDATE: The Hillside Motel closed following a devastating 2020 fire. The buildings were demolished in 2024, and the site is now vacant. The original roadside sign had been removed years earlier. 07-26

Bay Motel (Gone)
Tacoma, WA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Bay Motel proudly advertised "quality comfort" right on its roadside marquee, letting passing motorists know exactly what they could expect. Whether it convinced anyone to pull in is hard to say, but the sign certainly did its job of catching your attention. 07-08

Located along busy Puyallup Avenue in Tacoma, the Bay Motel was one of those independent roadside stops that served travelers for years. The motel itself is fairly modest, but the vintage marquee gave it a little extra personality and made it stand out from the surrounding commercial landscape.

Today the motel is still there, although it operates under a different name. Unfortunately, the old marquee didn't make the transition, leaving only photos like this to remember a familiar piece of Tacoma's roadside past.

UPDATE: The former Bay Motel continues to operate today as the Tacoma Center Motel. Its classic "quality comfort" marquee has been removed and replaced with modern signage. 07-26