Capri Motel (Demolished) Jacksonville, FL Photo courtesy Georg Balandran
The Capri Motel had one of those signs that stuck with you long after you drove past. There was something about the design that brought to mind magic shows and fortune tellers, giving it a personality all its own. Whatever the inspiration, it certainly stood out along Jacksonville's busy North Main Street.
Built during the 1950s motel boom, the Capri welcomed generations of travelers entering the city on U.S. 17. Like many independent motor lodges of the era, it paired comfortable roadside lodging with an adjoining restaurant, making it an easy place to stop for both the night and a good meal. The distinctive sign did exactly what it was meant to do, catching the eye of passing motorists and inviting them to pull in.
Today, both the motel and its memorable roadside sign are gone, another reminder of how quickly the classic highway landscape can change.
UPDATE: The Capri Motel has been demolished, and the site has been redeveloped. Its vintage roadside sign has also disappeared. 07-26
Across the street from the Family Inn are two beauties -
the Allamanda (see below), which you will notice has some Florida wildlife
that wanted to be in the picture, and the Sunset Terrace Motel. Along
with the retro sign, the Sunset seems to have much of its original lawn
furniture out front. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.
The Sunset Terrace Motel was one of the many colorful stops that once lined Sarasota's North Trail. Its roadside sign welcomed motorists with the promise of modern rooms and efficiency apartments, making it an inviting stop for families exploring Florida by car. Like so many motels along U.S. 41, it was built to catch your eye before you reached the next block.
Opened in 1949, the Sunset Terrace arrived just as postwar automobile travel was beginning to transform Florida. It featured a classic courtyard layout, and over the years even added a swimming pool out front to tempt passing travelers. The motel was also a short drive from Sarasota's beaches and attractions, making it a convenient place to spend a few nights while exploring the Gulf Coast.
For years, the roadside sign remained standing even after the motel itself had disappeared, serving as one of the last reminders of the property. Eventually that, too, was removed, bringing another chapter of Sarasota's roadside motel era to a close.
UPDATE: The Sunset Terrace Motel has been demolished, and its roadside sign is gone as well. 07-26
Arvilla Motel
Treasure Island, FL Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
The Arvilla Motel has a great design jog in it that also serves
as its name plate. There are a great number of motels on this strip. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.
It's getting harder to find little beach motels like this along Florida's Gulf Coast. Tucked just off the sand with its tropical landscaping and laid-back atmosphere, The Arvilla looks like it belongs to another era, when a family vacation didn't require a high-rise hotel or a giant resort. You could almost imagine checking in, putting away the car keys, and not needing them again until it was time to head home.
Opened in 1952, the Arvilla became one of the many independently owned motels that helped define Treasure Island's beachfront character. While countless neighboring motels have disappeared beneath newer development, this one has managed to survive, continuing to offer visitors a taste of Old Florida that grows a little rarer every year.
UPDATE: The Arvilla remains open and continues to welcome beachgoers. The status of its original vintage roadside sign could not be confirmed. 07-26
Prestler's Motel
Lakeland, FL Photo courtesy Georg Balandran
There was a time when New Tampa Highway was lined with independent motels, each trying to catch the attention of travelers heading into Lakeland. Prestler's Motel fit right in, with a classic roadside sign that looked ready to welcome another carload of vacationers. Judging by this photo, the marquee was still looking pretty sharp.
Prestler's has been around since at least the early 1950s, making it one of the longtime survivors from Lakeland's roadside heyday. It offered the familiar comforts motorists expected in those days, comfortable rooms, a swimming pool, and plenty of parking just outside the door. Like so many family-run motels, it earned its reputation one traveler at a time rather than through a national chain.
Prestler's Motel
Lakeland, FL Photo courtesy Alan Culley
UPDATE: The Prestler's Motel is located along US 92 west
of town. Many thanks to Robert
Droz for update. 03-05
UPDATE: (Right) The Prestler's Motel in Lakeland, FL looks like a monthly-weekly rent type of location. The sign still stands and looks nice. Many thanks to Alan Culley for update. 02-09
The property has changed with the times, adding long-term accommodations while continuing to welcome overnight guests. Whether the original sign still survives is uncertain, but it's nice to know the motel itself is still carrying on more than seventy years after it first opened its doors.
UPDATE: Prestler's Motel remains open under new ownership, although the status of its original roadside sign could not be confirmed. 07-26
Siesta Motel (Demolished) St. Petersburg, FL Photo courtesy Georg Balandran
A diving figure soaring through the air is a pretty good way to get someone's attention. The Siesta Motel had one of those wonderfully creative signs, with a swimmer appearing to dive right into the marquee below. It was the sort of playful roadside advertising that made driving U.S. 19 through St. Petersburg so much fun. There always seemed to be another memorable motel sign waiting around the next corner.
Like many Florida motels of its day, the Siesta was built during the great roadside travel boom, when swimming pools were one of the biggest selling points. The diving figure made perfect sense, promising travelers a refreshing break after a long day on the highway. It was a clever sign that gave the motel an identity all its own and helped it stand out among the many independent lodgings that once lined 34th Street North.
Sadly, both the motel and its famous diving sign have disappeared. Today it's one more reminder of the colorful roadside landscape that has largely faded from Florida's highways.
UPDATE: The Siesta Motel has been demolished, and its distinctive diving sign is gone. 07-26
Sebring has always been a fun place to explore if you like old motel signs. Along U.S. 27, the Winter-Set Motel once added its own bit of roadside character to the parade of neon and colorful marquees that greeted travelers heading through central Florida. Together with places like Clayton's Motor Inn, it made this stretch of highway worth slowing down for.
The Winter-Set was one of those classic mom-and-pop motels built during Florida's great road trip era. Nothing fancy, just a comfortable place to spend the night with your car parked right outside the room. The sign out front did exactly what it was supposed to do, catching the eye of passing motorists looking for a place to call it a day.
The motel is still there today, although it now operates as the Travel Inn of Sebring. Unfortunately, the old Winter-Set sign has disappeared, leaving one less piece of vintage roadside charm along U.S. 27.
UPDATE: The former Winter-Set Motel continues operating as the Travel Inn of Sebring, but the original roadside sign is gone. 07-26
Capri Motel (Demolished)
Sunset Terrace Motel (Demolished)
Arvilla Motel
Prestler's Motel
Siesta Motel (Demolished)
Winter-Set Motel (Gone)
