Chief Motel (Demolished)
Colorado Springs, CO
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

This animated "chief" once lit up the roadside at the Chief Motel in Colorado Springs. The flashing neon headdress created the illusion of movement and made the sign hard to miss for anyone traveling down South Nevada Avenue. Built in 1955, the Chief Motel was one of many roadside motor courts that catered to travelers during the heyday of the American road trip. While the motel itself was fairly typical of the era, the animated sign helped set the property apart and made it one of the more memorable neon landmarks in Colorado Springs. 10-07

UPDATE: I used to marvel at the Chief Motel sign after dark. The area always seemed busy, day or night, and there was something special about walking the roadside and watching the animated neon headdress flash above the traffic. The motel is now gone, but the sign was saved before demolition. Although it no longer stands along South Nevada Avenue, at least this classic piece of Colorado Springs neon avoided the scrap heap. 06-26

Rainbow Motel (Rem.)
WY
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Here's the Rainbow Motel in Thermopolis. The colorful marquee is shaped like a rainbow, which seems only fitting given the name. Makes you wonder what's waiting at the end of it. The Rainbow Motel opened in 1951 during the heyday of the American roadside motel. Its distinctive rainbow-shaped sign helped set it apart from the competition and made it a memorable stop for travelers heading through Thermopolis and on to nearby Hot Springs State Park.

UPDATE: The Rainbow Motel continues to operate in Thermopolis, and the property's rainbow-shaped marquee has disappeared and been replaced by a plain sign about two decades ago. It's always nice to look back on a classic roadside sign that once didd its job once upon a time. 06-26

Silver Saddle Motel
Manitou Springs, CO
Photo courtesy Mike & Terie Lepker

The Silver Saddle Motel in Manitou Springs was quite a sight after dark. Between the neon on the roof and the glowing roadside marquee, this place knew how to get the attention of tired travelers heading through town. Located along Manitou Avenue near the base of Pikes Peak, the Silver Saddle had the kind of roadside presence that made older motels so memorable. At least it did back in 1980, when this photo captured the motel still lighting up the night.

UPDATE: The Silver Saddle Motel continues to operate in Manitou Springs. While the property has seen updates over the years, the motel remains a recognizable piece of roadside lodging along Manitou Avenue. 06-26

Top Star Motel
Aurora, CO
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Top Star Motel sits along East Colfax Avenue with a giant star perched atop its roadside sign. When lit at night, the marquee does exactly what it was designed to do—catch the eye of passing travelers and light the way in. Built in 1957 as Bittner's Top Star Motel, the property is a classic example of the mom-and-pop motor inns that once lined America's highways. The large star atop the sign helped distinguish the motel from countless competitors along busy Colfax Avenue and remains its most recognizable feature. 07-07

UPDATE: The Top Star Motel continues to operate along East Colfax Avenue in Aurora. The vintage roadside sign remains standing and has received a fresh makeover over the years, helping preserve a small piece of the classic neon motel culture that once defined the corridor. 06-26

El Palomino Motel
Grand Junction, CO
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Here's some neon signage for El Palomino Motel, a place that proudly advertised clean rooms and free coffee. The star of the sign, however, was the neon palomino horse standing high above the marquee and greeting travelers along the roadside. Built in 1955, El Palomino Motel was one of many independent motor courts that flourished during the golden age of highway travel. Over the years, the sign featured a variety of eye-catching elements, but the palomino horse remained its most recognizable trademark and helped make the property stand out among the many motels lining the route through Grand Junction.

UPDATE: The motel continues to operate under the name Grand Junction Palomino Inn. While the original motel buildings remain in use, the classic neon horse sign has disappeared from the property, having been removed and sold to a private collector. Another memorable piece of roadside neon has left the landscape. 06-26

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