Carriage Inn
Cross City, FL
Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack

Cross City, Florida is located west of Gainesville along US Highway 19. It is a small town nestled between the Wannee River and the Gulf of Mexico. The Carriage Inn is one of only 3 motels in town. It offers a place to rest and fill up on their home cooked buffet. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.

The tall roadside sign makes Carriage Inn Motel easy to spot as you pass through Cross City. Along this busy stretch where several highways come together, it's the kind of independently owned motel that has been welcoming travelers for generations.

Opened in 1965, the Carriage Inn has managed to keep much of its mid-century roadside character, from its classic two-story layout to the familiar pylon sign out front. The restaurant beside the motel has long been another reason for motorists to pull over, offering a hearty meal before getting back on the road.

UPDATE: The Carriage Inn remains open today, and its vintage roadside sign continues greeting travelers along U.S. 19. 07-26

Westgate Motel
Perry, FL
Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack

The Westgate Motel comes alive at night with several smaller signs surrounding its center piece. Not only can you grab some shut eye in one of their 21 rooms but you can purchase mobile home supplies as well. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.

The towering neon sign is what makes Westgate Motel stand out along U.S. 19. With its glowing script letters and stacked panels advertising all the modern comforts of the day, it's the kind of roadside sign that reminds you of family vacations before the Interstate bypassed small-town America. 09-08

Opened in 1954, the Westgate has been welcoming travelers for generations. The motel, campground, and mobile home park still serve motorists heading through Florida's Big Bend, while the classic sign continues to do exactly what it was designed to do more than 70 years ago: catch your eye from the highway.

UPDATE: The Westgate Motel remains open today, and its outstanding mid-century roadside sign continues greeting travelers in Perry. 07-26

Arrow Motel
Orlando, FL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Which way to the Arrow Motel? Just follow the giant arrow. Rising above Orange Blossom Trail, the oversized sign has been pointing travelers in the right direction for decades, making it one of Orlando's most recognizable roadside landmarks.

The motel began life in the early 1950s as the La Crosse Motel before becoming the Circle Arrow Motel. Long before Interstate 4 carried most of the traffic, motorists heading toward attractions like Gatorland would pass beneath this towering sign on their way into town. While the motel has changed over the years, the giant arrow still does a fine job of catching your eye from the road.

UPDATE: The Arrow Motel remains open today, but its original neon has been replaced with what looks to be LED. 07-26

Parliament House Motel (Demolished)
Orlando, FL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The towering, colorful sign made Parliament House impossible to miss along Orange Blossom Trail. By day it looked like another classic roadside motel, but after dark the place came alive with bright lights, music, and plenty of activity. 01-04

When it opened in 1962, Parliament House was one of Orlando's premier motor inns. A little over a decade later it found a new identity as an entertainment complex and gay resort, growing into one of the city's best-known nightlife destinations. For decades, the landmark welcomed visitors from around the world while its giant roadside sign stood watch over Orange Blossom Trail.

After decades as one of Orlando's most recognizable landmarks, changing times, financial struggles, and the challenges of the pandemic finally brought the curtain down in 2020. The property was demolished the following year, ending the run of a roadside icon.

UPDATE: Parliament House closed in 2020 and was demolished in 2021. The famous roadside sign was removed when the property came down. 07-26

The Blue Lagoon (Gone)
Florida Keys, FL
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

The Blue Lagoon was one of those places that looked ready to welcome you after a long drive down U.S. 1. The bright neon sign stood out along the highway, promising a place to stop before heading into Key West. It was hard to miss, especially after dark. 01-05

The motel opened in 1958 as a waterfront stop on the Gulf side of the island. Like many Florida Keys motels of the era, it was built for travelers arriving by car and looking for a room with an easy view of the water. The low buildings and colorful neon fit right in with the laid-back feel of the Keys.

Hurricane Wilma swept through in 2005, badly damaging the property and destroying the original roadside sign. The motel was later renovated and reopened as the Ibis Bay Beach Resort, giving the old buildings a fresh retro look while leaving the Blue Lagoon name behind.

UPDATE: The resort continues to operate as Ibis Bay Beach Resort, but the original Blue Lagoon neon sign is gone. 07-26

Sunset Inn Mote (Rem.)
Florida Keys, FL
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

Sunset Inn Motel has one of those signs that makes you wonder what it looked like years earlier. The outer edges still glow with neon, but the middle section had already been modernized with backlit plastic by the time this photo was taken. Even so, it still had plenty of roadside appeal, and the rates probably looked pretty inviting after a long drive through the Keys. 01-05

The motel has been welcoming travelers along the Overseas Highway since the mid-century motel boom. It's the kind of place built for motorists exploring the Keys one island at a time, with a simple layout and an easygoing atmosphere that fit the surroundings.

UPDATE: The Sunset Inn is still open, but the old hybrid neon sign has been replaced with a modern one. 07-26