Luna Sea Motel (Gone)
Cocoa Beach, FL
Photo courtesy Carter Nixon

The Luna Sea Motel had one of those signs that almost made you forget to look at the building. Its scenic design and tropical colors suited Cocoa Beach, giving motorists a little preview of a beach vacation before they reached the driveway. The name supplied another bit of fun—say it quickly and you’ll hear the joke. 02-09

The property began as part of the Imperial 400 motel chain before becoming the independently operated Luna Sea. Located across from the Atlantic Ocean, it offered a pool and efficiency rooms for visitors staying more than a night or two. The change from a chain identity to a locally distinctive name gave the motel a personality that its colorful roadside sign carried especially well.

UPDATE: The Luna Sea name has disappeared, and the property was converted into an Econo Lodge. The scenic marquee was removed during the transition. The lodging survived under another identity, but the sign that made this particular stop worth a second look is gone. 07-26

Lucky Boy Motel
Hollywood, FL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The Lucky Boy Motel certainly covered its bases when it came to good fortune. Its roadside sign combined a horseshoe and wishbone, giving travelers two lucky symbols to remember. Even with the neon missing, the unusual design had enough character to distinguish this Hollywood motel from an ordinary name on a rectangular panel. 02-09

Dating to the early 1950s, the motel belonged to the generation of independent accommodations that served Federal Highway travelers before the interstate became the usual route. The sign’s playful imagery was a practical way to make a small business recognizable. You might forget a motel’s name after driving several hundred miles, but a horseshoe and wishbone made a useful reminder.

UPDATE: The Lucky Boy Motel continues to operate, and its vintage sign remains beside Federal Highway. The neon no longer provides its original nighttime display, but the surviving structure still carries the distinctive design. Good to see this little piece of Hollywood’s roadside history hanging on. 07-26

Luckey's Motel (Gone)
Dania Beach, FL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The Luckey's Motel appeared to be a very nice mom & pop type of location. Luckey's is located in the Florida town of Dania Beach. Check out the lucky green marquee which appears to be in great shape. Many thanks to Alan Culley for info. 02-09

Luckey’s belonged to the older lodging landscape along U.S. 1, where individual properties depended on recognizable signs to attract passing travelers. A memorable name and illuminated lettering could do much of the advertising. This view captures the motel during the years when its own identity still stood out along a highway increasingly filled with newer businesses and standardized signs.

UPDATE: Luckey’s Motel has closed, and the vintage roadside sign has been removed. The green marquee pictured here survives in photographs, recalling a time when a modest independent motel could make its presence known with a little imagination and plenty of glowing lettering. 07-26