Trails End Motel
Lakewood, CO Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The sign at Trails End Motel was built to light up the roadside after dark. With its neon tubing and glowing "No Vacancy" panel, it helped travelers find a room along busy West Colfax Avenue for decades.
The motel opened in 1954 during the golden age of roadside motor courts. Like many properties of the era, it relied on a large neon sign to attract passing motorists, and the sign became one of the motel's most recognizable features. A redesign during the 1960s gave the property an updated look while preserving its roadside appeal. 07-07
UPDATE: Trails End Motel continues to operate along West Colfax Avenue in Lakewood. The property's classic neon sign remains standing and continues to serve as a reminder of the days when brightly lit motel signs competed for the attention of travelers cruising America's highways. 06-26
Lucky U Motel
Englewood, CO Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
What's not to like about the Lucky U Motel? The marquee even shows off a neon four-leaf clover. From the looks of things, the motel had at least partially been converted to apartments when this photo was taken. 07-07
Opened in 1951 along South Broadway, the Lucky U Motel relied on its luck-themed sign to stand out from the competition. The neon clover gave the property a bit of personality and helped make it one of the more memorable roadside signs in the area.
UPDATE: The Lucky U Motel continues to operate in Englewood, though the property has evolved over the years to include longer-term residential accommodations. The familiar four-leaf clover sign remains a recognizable landmark along South Broadway and a reminder of the era when independent motels lined the roadside. The neon has been stripped from this sign. 06-26
Rocky Mountain Motel (Rem.)
Lakewood, CO Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
This eye-catching sign is found at the Rocky Mountain Motel. The Rocky Mountains, along with a couple of neon trees, are proudly displayed on the marquee, giving the sign a distinctly Colorado flavor. 07-07
Located along West Colfax Avenue, the Rocky Mountain Motel used its mountain-themed sign to stand out from the many roadside lodging properties that once lined the corridor. The combination of mountain peaks and glowing neon trees made it one of the more memorable motel signs in the Denver area.
UPDATE: The Rocky Mountain Motel continues to operate along West Colfax Avenue, but the original sign is gone. The vintage marquee featuring the mountains and neon trees was removed and replaced with a modern plastic sign. It's a shame the original didn't survive, as the mountains and trees gave the property a sense of place that the replacement sign simply can't match. 06-26
Ranger Motel
Aurora, CO Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Ranger Motel lights up its sign as dusk falls over the Denver area. Like many motels along East Colfax Avenue, the neon marquee was designed to catch the eye of travelers looking for a place to spend the night. 07-07
Opened in 1947, the Ranger Motel is one of the older surviving roadside lodging properties along the corridor. The motel once advertised itself as "The Home of Western Hospitality," a fitting slogan for a property welcoming travelers arriving from the east.
UPDATE: The Ranger Motel continues to operate along East Colfax Avenue, and its vintage roadside sign remains standing out front. While many of the classic motels and neon signs that once lined the boulevard have disappeared, the Ranger's marquee continues to light up the roadside each evening, serving as a reminder of Colfax Avenue's rich motel history. 06-26
La Vista Motel
Denver, CO Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Not sure what happened to the "Asta," but the La Vista Motel features a marquee that still stands tall along East Colfax Avenue. Even missing a few letters, the sign managed to catch my attention. 07-07
Opened in 1956, the La Vista Motel was one of the many independent motor courts that once catered to travelers making their way through Denver. Its towering roadside sign helped the property stand out among the sea of motels that lined Colfax during the heyday of the American road trip.
UPDATE: The La Vista Motel has one of the better preservation stories along Colfax. The property was extensively restored and reopened as a boutique motor lodge, while the historic neon marquee was brought back to life and once again lights up the avenue. It's always nice to see a classic motel and sign not only survive, but get a second chance. 06-26
Manor House Motel (Demolished)
Aurora, CO Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Manor House Motel featured a marquee that stood out from the crowd thanks to its unusual shape and distinctive neon lettering. Yes, the gas station in the background really was advertising regular gas for $1.43 a gallon. 07-07
Located along East Colfax Avenue, the Manor House Motel was one of many independently owned roadside lodging properties that once catered to travelers passing through the Denver area. Its unique sign helped give the property an identity of its own among the long line of motels that once lined the corridor.
UPDATE: The Manor House Motel has since been demolished, sometime after 2012, and the property redeveloped. into a Starbucks. The distinctive neon marquee disappeared along with it, leaving only photographs to document a sign that was unlike anything else on Colfax. Looking back, that $1.43 gas price may be almost as hard to believe as the motel itself. 06-26
Shepherds Motel (Closed)
Denver, CO Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The little light ball on top of the sign glitters as the arrow points the way into the Shepherds Motel. It's a simple sign, but the glowing orb gives it just enough personality to make it stand out from the crowd. 07-07
Built in 1963, the Shepherds Motel was one of many independent lodging properties that served travelers visiting Denver during the heyday of roadside motels. Tucked just off Colfax Avenue, the motel relied on its illuminated sign and directional arrow to guide guests off the boulevard and into the property.
UPDATE: The Shepherds Motel continues to operate today, and remarkably, the original sign is still standing. The glittering light ball and arrow remain in place, continuing to welcome visitors much as they did when this photo was taken. It's always nice to find a classic motel sign that has managed to survive the decades relatively unchanged. 06-26
Manor House Motel (Demolished)
