Royal Host Motel (Gone)
Denver, CO
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

With a catchphrase that seemed straight out of Beauty and the Beast, the Royal Host Motel featured a crown-shaped marquee with the words "Be Our Guest" glowing in bright red neon. It was the kind of sign that couldn't help but make you smile. 07-07

Built in 1966 along East Colfax Avenue, the Royal Host Motel stood apart from many of its neighbors thanks to its distinctive crown-themed signage. The combination of the oversized crown and welcoming message gave the property a personality all its own and made it one of the more memorable motel signs along the strip.

UPDATE: The Royal Host Motel is no longer operating as a motel, though the building remains standing along Colfax Avenue. Sadly, the crown-shaped marquee and its glowing "Be Our Guest" message are no longer lighting up the roadside the location is a Days Inn. It's hard not to miss a sign with that much personality. 06-26

Big Bunny Motel
Denver, CO
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

This big bunny sits with his giant carrot atop the marquee at the appropriately named Big Bunny Motel. Signs like this are the reason I find myself wandering Colfax after dark with a camera in hand. You just don't see giant rabbits holding carrots on motel signs every day. 07-07

The motel opened in 1952 and quickly became one of the more memorable stops along West Colfax Avenue. For many years it operated as the Bugs Bunny Motel before a trademark dispute forced a name change. A closer look at the sign reveals a few clues to its past, as parts of the original lettering were modified rather than completely replaced.

UPDATE: The Big Bunny Motel continues to operate along West Colfax Avenue, and the giant rabbit is still keeping watch over the roadside. Thankfully, the bunny survived while so many other classic motel signs have disappeared over the years. Colfax wouldn't quite be the same without him. 06-26

Anchor Motel
Walsenburg, CO
Photo courtesy Larry Glass

The Anchor Motel features a huge neon outline of an anchor as its sign. An anchor may seem a little out of place in landlocked southern Colorado, but that's exactly what makes the sign so memorable. 11-07

Located along Main Street in Walsenburg, the Anchor Motel is the kind of roadside stop that catches your eye from a distance. The oversized anchor, outlined in neon and mounted high above the roadway, serves as a beacon for travelers passing through town.

UPDATE: The Anchor Motel continues to welcome travelers to Walsenburg, and the giant blue anchor remains standing out front. It's always fun to find a sign that makes absolutely no sense for its location, yet somehow works perfectly. The Anchor remains one of the more distinctive motel signs in southern Colorado. 06-26

Canyon Lodge
Panguitch, UT
Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner

Check out the neon sign at the Canyon Lodge Motel in Panguitch. The sign catches the eye of weary motorists heading to or from Bryce Canyon, especially after the sun goes down and the neon begins to glow. 01-09

Located along Main Street, the Canyon Lodge is one of those classic roadside motels that feels right at home in southern Utah. For decades, travelers exploring Bryce Canyon and the surrounding red rock country have passed by the motel's welcoming neon marquee while making their way through town.

UPDATE: The Canyon Lodge Motel continues to operate in Panguitch, and the vintage neon sign remains standing out front. It's always encouraging to find a classic mom-and-pop motel still doing what it was built to do — welcoming road trippers at the end of a long day on the highway. 06-26

Treasure Trail Motel (Demolished)
Kanab, UT
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Kanab is home to several great neon signs, including this gem at the Treasure Trail Motel. The colorful marquee helped welcome travelers arriving in town and was one of the more memorable motel signs along Highway 89. 06-09

For years, the Treasure Trail Motel served visitors exploring southern Utah's remarkable scenery. Situated in the heart of "Little Hollywood," the motel was part of the roadside landscape that greeted tourists heading to Bryce Canyon, Zion, and the Grand Canyon.

UPDATE: The Treasure Trail Motel is gone, and a modern hotel now occupies the site. Unfortunately, the motel's neon sign disappeared along with the property sometime after 2014. That's a shame, as Kanab has long been one of the best small towns in the West for vintage neon, and the Treasure Trail sign was certainly part of that story. 06-26