Luckey's Motel (Gone)
Dania, FL
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

Here's a neon shot of the Luckey's Motel in Dania, FL. Check out the way all of the letters are lit on this sign. 04-06

Luckey's Motel really came alive after dark. Every letter on the tall neon sign is lit, giving it a bright, colorful look that's hard to miss from the road. It's the kind of sign that probably convinced more than a few tired travelers to pull in for the night. There wasn't much mystery about where to stay once those neon letters came into view.

Luckey's was one of the many family-owned motels that lined U.S. 1 through Dania during the great American road trip years. The rooms were simple, the parking was right outside the door, and the sign did most of the advertising. Even after many motels began replacing neon with plastic panels, this one still put on a colorful show that fit right in with old Florida.

UPDATE: The motel has since closed, and the roadside sign has been removed. 07-26

South Pacific Motel (Closed)
Miami, FL
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

That tall neon sign looks right at home along Biscayne Boulevard. With its tropical styling and colorful glow, it was the kind of sign that made you think vacation before you even read the name. The South Florida setting couldn't have been a better match. South Pacific Motel certainly lived up to its name, looking every bit like a place where a road trip through Florida ought to end for the evening. 04-06

The motel opened during Miami's roadside heyday in the early 1950s, when Biscayne Boulevard was lined with colorful independent motels competing for the attention of passing motorists. The South Pacific fit right in, offering a tropical atmosphere and a sign that was every bit as inviting as the name. It's easy to imagine the neon flickering to life each evening as another stream of travelers rolled into town.

UPDATE: The motel no longer welcomes overnight guests, but the buildings have been restored for new uses. The familiar roadside sign still stands, although it now reads "WOTEL" instead of "MOTEL." 07-26

Lancaster Apartments
Miami Beach, FL
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

At first glance, this looks more like the sign for an old roadside motel than an apartment building. The flowing neon script, along with the smaller "and efficiencies" panel underneath, gives Lancaster Apartments plenty of mid-century charm. It also raises a good question. Just what were "efficiencies," anyway? 04-06

Back in the 1950s, an efficiency was what most people would call a studio apartment today. By advertising both apartments and efficiencies, the building could appeal to longer-term residents as well as seasonal visitors looking for a smaller place to stay. That combination wasn't unusual in South Florida, where many apartment buildings blurred the line between permanent housing and vacation accommodations.

More than seventy years later, the building is still serving its original purpose. Best of all, that classic neon sign continues to welcome people just as it did when Miami Beach was filled with new construction and glowing neon.

UPDATE: Lancaster Apartments remains open as a residential building, and the vintage neon sign still survives. 07-26

Diplomat Motel (Closed)
Ellisville, FL
Photo courtesy Greg West

Some motel signs seem almost too good to be sitting beside the highway, and this is one of them. Topped with a bright crown and outlined in neon, the Diplomat Motel sign grabbed your attention long before you reached it. It's the kind of landmark that made you glance in the rearview mirror after driving past, just to get one more look. 08-06

Built in 1969, the Diplomat welcomed motorists at the busy junction of I-75 and U.S. 441, where generations of travelers began their trips into Florida. The motel itself was fairly typical of the era, but the sign was anything but. The stacked lettering, colorful neon, and royal crown gave the little roadside stop a touch of class that helped it stand out from the competition.

UPDATE: The motel, which had closed by 2012, remains vacant. Not sure if the classic neon sign is still standing. 07-26

Travelers Inn (Gone)
Ellisville, FL
Photo courtesy Greg West

There's a lot going on with this motel sign. Bright neon lettering, a border of flashing bulbs, and a simple design all come together to make Travelers Inn stand out after dark. It wasn't the biggest sign along the highway, but it certainly had its own personality. 08-06

Built in 1966, the motel welcomed travelers just off the I-75 interchange, making it a convenient stop for motorists heading north or south through Florida. The sign was a little different from most, combining glowing neon with a border of incandescent bulbs that must have looked especially nice once evening rolled around. It's the kind of detail that's easy to overlook today, but it gave the place a little extra character.

The motel served highway travelers for many years before the property was eventually cleared for redevelopment. Today it's hard to imagine that a family-run roadside motel once occupied the same corner.

UPDATE: The motel and its distinctive neon sign have both been removed. A Burger King now occupies the site. 07-26