Tahitian Inn (Rem.)
Tampa, FL Photo courtesy Georg Balandran
Tiki architecture and neon always seemed to go hand in hand, and the Tahitian Inn had plenty of both. The tall roadside sign featured Polynesian-style lettering topped with three arrowheads, making it look like something straight out of a South Seas adventure. It was the kind of sign that made you curious long before you reached the driveway.
The property began life in 1953 as the Tahiti Motor Court, a small roadside stop that quickly grew as Florida tourism took off. Before long it had become the Tahitian Inn, expanding into one of Tampa's best-known independent motels. The tropical theme carried through the property, giving travelers a little taste of the islands without ever leaving Florida.
For decades, the sign was one of the familiar sights along Dale Mabry Highway. Whether you were checking in for the night or simply driving by, those Polynesian letters and bold arrowheads were hard to forget. It's another reminder of a time when motel signs had personalities all their own instead of looking like every other hotel logo.
UPDATE: Unfortunately it appears that the Tahitian Inn sign has been replaced though the hotel lives on. 05-13
UPDATE: The Tahitian Inn continues to welcome guests, but the original Polynesian neon sign has been replaced with a modern one. 07-26
Grant Motel (Demolished)
St. Petersburg, FL Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
Most likely the Grant Motel was built to allure Florida tourists
who were visiting Sunken Gardens, which is just a hop, skip and a jump
down the road. It is one of the oldest attractions in Florida opened in
1935. The park, recently taken over by the state, is set 15-feet below
street level and is filled with hundreds of tropical plants and some scattered
birds and animals. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.
The Grant Motel was one of many family-run motels that once lined 4th Street North, welcoming travelers into St. Petersburg. Its classic neon sign and simple mid-century layout fit right in with the roadside landscape that flourished before the interstate took over. You could find a room, take a swim, and be back on the road the next morning. Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack.
Built in the 1950s, the Grant offered motel rooms as well as efficiency apartments for guests staying a little longer. It also had an interesting neighbor. Right next door stood the Floral Motel, built with a nearly identical design, making the two properties look almost like twins along the highway.
UPDATE: The Grant Motel has been demolished, and the site has been redeveloped. Its classic neon sign is gone as well. 07-26
Cadillac Motel
Fanning Springs, FL Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
The Cadillac Motel is located on North US 19 in Fanning Springs,
Florida. It is locally owned by a couple and is within walking distance
of the famous Swanee River. "The Swanee River (Old Folks at Home)"
is the official state song of Florida. There is a memorial to its author,
Stephen C. Foster, in White Springs even though he never actually visited
the state. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.
This motel looks like the kind of place that's been welcoming road trippers for generations. The flowing script on the roadside sign has just the right amount of 1950s flair, making it a perfect match for a classic highway motel. It's the sort of sign that makes you wonder how many family vacations and fishing trips began with a stop here.
Built during the 1950s along busy U.S. 19, the motel has long served travelers heading through north Florida or visiting nearby Fanning Springs. Unlike many of its contemporaries, it has managed to keep both its original purpose and its vintage roadside character. The neon sign is still the first thing that catches your eye, just as it has for decades.
UPDATE: The Cadillac Motel continues to welcome guests, and its classic roadside sign still survives. 07-26
Sun Plaza Motel
Ocala, FL Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
The Sun Plaza is located on SR 40 in Ocala, Florida. The 47 room
hotel has been family owned and operated for 40 years. It has many of
the little amenities that you just don't find in the chain hotels anymore;
a large children's playground, picnic area, and even shuffleboard courts.
The place is well kept up and with its neon marquee, the Sun just seems
to light up the roadside. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.
The Sun Plaza Motel has one of those signs that was made to get your attention. The tall marquee, complete with its sweeping arrow, practically points travelers toward the office before they have a chance to drive by. Sitting across from Silver Springs, it welcomed generations of families headed for a ride on the famous glass-bottom boats.
Built in 1950, the motel became one of the familiar roadside stops along State Road 40. Like many Florida tourist courts of the era, it was built for motorists, with convenient parking and a colorful sign that did most of the advertising. The sweeping arrow and smiling sun made it one of the more memorable motel signs in the area.
The motel has changed over the years, but the landmark sign remains. The original smiling sun in the center has been replaced, yet the classic marquee still catches the eye of travelers passing by.
UPDATE: The Sun Plaza Motel is still open, and its vintage roadside sign continues to welcome visitors with a slightly updated look. 07-26
Sandman Motel
St. Petersburg, FL Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
One look at the sign and you knew exactly where you were. The Sandman Motel featured one of Florida's most memorable neon marquees, with the Sandman's long nightcap cleverly curling into the first letter of the name. It was a fun, imaginative design that stood out from the sea of ordinary motel signs lining U.S. 19, and one that was almost impossible to forget after seeing it once. Even if you weren't looking for a room, it was worth slowing down just to admire the sign.
Sandman Marquee (close-up)
St. Petersburg, FL Photo courtesy Georg Balandran
The motel opened in 1957 during St. Petersburg's roadside tourism boom, welcoming families and vacationers headed for the Gulf beaches. While plenty of motels relied on simple lettering, the Sandman chose a sign with a little personality. It fit the carefree spirit of the era and became a familiar landmark for generations of motorists traveling through town. Over the years, the motel was converted into long-term apartments, but the sign remained right where it had always been, reminding people of the days when independent motels lined the highway.
For many roadside fans, the sign eventually became even more famous than the motel itself. It was one of those classic pieces of neon that seemed destined to last forever, making its disappearance all the more surprising.
UPDATE: The Sandman Motel sign has been replace by a plain version. 05-13
UPDATE: The former motel buildings still stand as apartments, but after sustaining severe hurricane damage, the beloved Sandman sign was removed in 2025. 07-26
E&L Motel (Gone)
Seffner, FL Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
The E & L Motel sits on Highway 92 in Seffner, FL. Before
I-4 was built, which leads travelers from both FL coasts into the heart
of Disney country, 92 was a west to east route through central FL. Today
the motel cabins seem to have been converted to low rent housing, but
the sign remains the same. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.
Back when U.S. 92 was one of the main routes across central Florida, little motels like the E&L Motel were a familiar sight. Its neon sign stood out along the highway, letting passing motorists know there was a room waiting just ahead. It was the kind of place that catered to travelers looking for a simple night's rest before getting back on the road.
The motel was built during the great roadside travel era, with a single-story layout and parking right outside the rooms. Like many independent motels, it changed with the times while continuing to serve highway travelers. Somewhere along the way the old E&L name disappeared, and so did the vintage neon sign that had welcomed guests for years.
UPDATE: The motel remains open today as the Suites Motel, but the original E&L neon sign has been replaced with a modern one. 07-26
Tahitian Inn (Rem.)
Grant Motel (Demolished)
Cadillac Motel
Sun Plaza Motel
Sandman Motel
Sandman Marquee (close-up)
E&L Motel (Gone)
