Hub City Inn (Closed)
Wendell, ID
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

This rooftop MOTEL sign at the Hub City Inn is a fine example of a sight that beckons to you as you travel the road, no matter what state, city, or town.

Unlike the towering pole signs found along many highways, these signs become part of the building itself. Simple as it may be, the giant lettering leaves little doubt what awaits inside. You don't need a fancy name or elaborate design to get your point across. Sometimes a rooftop sign and a vacancy light were all a weary traveler needed to see after a long day on the road. The sign may have been simple, but it did exactly what it was designed to do. 09-06

UPDATE: The building remains standing today as the Hub City Inn, the same name it operated under when this photo was taken. Unfortunately, the rooftop motel sign disappeared sometime before 2016. While the lodging property survives, and is temporarily closed, its most recognizable roadside features has faded into history. 06-26

Hi Lander Motel
Mountain Home, ID
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Check out the marquee for the Hi Lander Motel in Mountain Home, ID. I've never been quite sure if the name comes from the surrounding landscape or if it has something to do with the Scottish highlander standing on the sign.

Either way, it's a sign that is hard to forget. The highlander gives the marquee a lot more personality than most motel signs, and it's one of those roadside details that makes you slow down for a second look. I can only imagine how many travelers over the years remembered the sign long after they forgot the motel itself.

Signs like this are a reminder of a time when independent motels tried to give themselves an identity. Instead of looking like every other place down the road, they came up with a character, a theme, or something memorable to help stand out. 09-06

UPDATE: The Hi Lander Motel is still around, and thankfully so is the sign. The Scottish highlander continues to greet travelers passing through Mountain Home, making this one of those surviving roadside gems that still has plenty of character. In fact seeing this gem again made me forget to drive further down the street earlier this year. 06-26

Holiday Motel
Twin Falls, ID
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

This old roadside motel sign is for the Holiday Motel in Twin Falls, Idaho.

The Holiday Motel features the kind of sign that once seemed to be found in nearly every town across the West. While the name may be common, the sign's styling and bold roadside presence helped give the property its own identity. It's a reminder of a time when independent motels relied on eye-catching signs rather than national brands to attract travelers.

One detail that stood out on this sign were the decorative neon balls that once adorned the pole structure. Small touches like that helped transform an ordinary motel sign into something a little more memorable. 09-06

UPDATE: The Holiday Motel remains in operation today. While some of the original decorative elements have disappeared over the years, the vintage roadside marquee still stands along Addison Avenue, continuing to greet travelers passing through Twin Falls. 06-26

Grandview Motel
Boise, ID
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The Grandview Motel still features a bright, eye-catching sign as it stands along the roadside in Boise, Idaho.

The sign is a good reminder of a time when motel owners put a little extra effort into making their properties stand out. A traveler may have forgotten the room number by morning, but a colorful sign like this had a much better chance of being remembered down the road.

I also get a kick out of some of the amenities these old motels advertised. Steam heat, radios, kitchenettes, and quality mattresses were once considered major selling points. Today they read more like a snapshot of what travelers expected from a motel decades ago. 09-06

UPDATE: The Grandview Motel is still around and continues to welcome travelers passing through Boise. Better yet, the vintage roadside sign survives as well, helping preserve a small piece of Idaho's roadside history. 06-26

The Cottage Motel in McCammon, ID still appeared to be offering lodging when this photo was taken. The motel marquee stood weather beaten and worn as it loyally stood watch over the property. The sign had clearly seen better days, but that was part of the appeal. It had survived years of Idaho weather and still managed to do its job. Sometimes the worn signs are more interesting than the shiny new ones. The Cottage Motel wasn't flashy, but it had the kind of character that made it worth pulling over for a photo. 09-06 UPDATE: The Cottage Motel is gone. The motel buildings were demolished and the old sign has since disappeared as well. Today a Family Dollar occupies the site where the motel once stood. 06-26   Cottage Motel Sign (Demolished) McCammond, ID Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn Cottage Motel (Demolished) McCammond, ID Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Lampliter Motel (Gone)
Burley, ID
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The Lampliter Motel is located right near this mill in Burley, Idaho. Check out the fine marquee with the old lamp perched on top.

The lamp on top leaves little doubt where the motel got its name. It's a simple touch, but one that gave the sign a little more personality than the average roadside marquee.

The mill next door also adds to the scene. Between the industrial backdrop and the vintage motel sign, it felt like a snapshot from another era of roadside travel. 09-06

UPDATE: Well enough of the scene accolades. The Lampliter Motel appears to have closed around 2024. The old Lampliter sign marquee and its distinctive lamp topper has been removed. Like so many independent motels of the past, the business has faded away, Like so many independent motels of the past, the business has faded away. Today, only the asphalt remains where travelers once pulled in for the night.. 06-26