Hawaiian Inn
Daytona Beach, FL Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
Check out the sweeping entrance canopy at Hawaiian Inn in Daytona Beach. That dramatic roofline brought a little South Pacific theater to A1A, while the colorful roadside marquee reinforced the tropical theme. Even without stepping inside, motorists could tell this wasn’t intended to be an ordinary beach hotel.
Opened in 1965, the resort arrived during the popularity of Polynesian-inspired restaurants, lounges, and vacation properties. Tropical décor, carved tikis, and Hawaiian entertainment helped carry the theme beyond the entrance. The architecture was an important part of the invitation, promising visitors an island escape while they were already vacationing beside the Atlantic.
UPDATE: The Hawaiian Inn remains open following extensive storm repairs, but its vintage roadside marquee has been removed. Hurricanes Ian and Nicole were among the storms that battered this stretch of coastline. Fortunately, the distinctive entrance canopy survives, preserving the architectural feature that still makes the property recognizable from the road. 07-26
Sunset Motel (Rem.)
Lakeland, FL Photo courtesy Georg Balandran
That giant red boomerang arrow is hard to ignore. The Sunset Motel in Lakeland had the right combination of bold colors, unusual shapes, and neon to catch a passing motorist’s attention. Paired with the sunburst marquee, the arrow gave the property a roadside identity that was much more memorable than an ordinary motel name on a pole.
Located along U.S. 92 west of town, the Sunset served the older highway corridor before Interstate 4 changed travel across central Florida. Independent motels depended on drivers noticing them in time to turn into the entrance. This sign certainly took that assignment seriously, with an oversized arrow doing everything it could to point out the stop.
By February 2009, the property appeared to be catering to weekly and monthly occupants, reflecting a familiar change among older highway motels. Fortunately, the shift hadn’t cost it the distinctive marquee. The sunburst and red arrow were still together, preserving a bit of the Sunset’s earlier identity even as its role along the highway evolved.
Sunset Motel
Lakeland, FL Photo courtesy Alan Culley
UPDATE: The
Sunset Motel is located along US 92 west of town. Many thanks to Robert
Droz for update. 03-05
UPDATE: (Left) The Sunset Motel still sports its familiar sunburst marquee sign and red boomerang arrow. The motel looked like a monthly-weekly type of location. Many thanks to Alan Culley for update. 02-09
UPDATE: The Sunset Motel property remains standing, and its boomerang-arrow sign continues to survive along U.S. 92. Good to see this imaginative display still marking the old highway, where its shape and color remain worth a second look even without knowing whether the neon lights after dark. 07-26
Seaward Motel (Demolished)
Florida Keys, FL Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
The Seaward Motel added a splash of color to the Overseas Highway in Marathon. Even beneath an overcast sky, its bright marquee stood out against the surroundings. It wasn’t the largest motel in the Keys, but the sign gave passing motorists something to notice while traveling between the islands.
Located across from the Marathon airport, the Seaward served visitors looking for straightforward accommodations in the middle Keys. Its position made it a convenient base for exploring Marathon or breaking up the drive toward Key West. Like many smaller properties along the Overseas Highway, the motel depended on its roadside identity to distinguish it from the next overnight stop.
UPDATE: Hurricane Irma caused extensive damage to the property in 2017, and the Seaward Motel was subsequently demolished. The site became Seaward Landing, an affordable housing community. The colorful marquee disappeared with the motel, leaving photographs to recall its place along the Overseas Highway. 07-26
Desert Inn (Gone)
Daytona Beach, FL Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
The Desert Inn looked as though it had borrowed a little scenery from the Las Vegas Strip. Its towering marquee and Middle Eastern-inspired styling made an unusual combination beside Daytona Beach’s Atlantic shoreline. Among the oceanfront accommodations along Atlantic Avenue, this was a property that knew how to announce itself.
Built in the 1950s and expanded during the following decade, the Desert Inn grew into a substantial beach resort. Convention facilities, lounges, and an indoor swimming pool offered more than a basic overnight stay. The elaborate roadside display carried that sense of ambition outside, giving the property an identity that was quite different from the simpler motor courts nearby.
UPDATE: The Desert Inn closed in 2013, and an extensive reconstruction transformed the property into the Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach, which opened in 2018. The original marquee was removed during the change. The oceanfront lodging site survives, but the Desert Inn’s distinctive roadside identity is gone. 07-26
La Mark Charles Motel (Gone)
Pinellas Park, FL Photo courtesy Georg Balandran
The tall sign at La Mark Charles Motel made sure U.S. 19 motorists knew another overnight stop was just ahead. Its promise of a free continental breakfast supplied an extra invitation. A recognizable marquee and something to eat before getting back on the highway made a practical combination for traveling families.
Dating to the 1950s motel boom, the La Mark Charles became a familiar part of Pinellas Park’s roadside landscape. Independent properties like this served vacationers exploring the Gulf Coast before larger chain hotels became the usual choice. The sign helped give the motel an identity of its own along a busy commercial corridor where businesses competed for attention.
UPDATE: The La Mark Charles Motel closed in 2012 and was demolished afterward. Its roadside sign was removed as well, and a Wawa convenience store and gas station now occupies the property. The corner still serves motorists, although the invitation to spend the night has disappeared. 07-26
Silver Princess Motel
Ocala, FL Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Silver Princess Motel has one of those signs that looks perfectly at home beside an older highway. Flowing script lettering and neon give the display its personality, and its well-kept appearance suggests someone appreciated what was standing out front. It’s a welcome sight when so many independent motels have traded distinctive signs for ordinary plastic panels.
Built in 1955, the motel has served travelers along Ocala’s combined U.S. 27, 301, and 441 corridor for decades. It was once affiliated with the Superior Motels referral network, and its sign carried the recognizable green shamrock associated with that organization. Such emblems helped motorists identify participating accommodations before online reviews and booking sites became part of planning a trip.
UPDATE: The Silver Princess Motel remains open along South Pine Avenue, and its vintage roadside sign continues to survive. The Superior shamrock is gone, but the familiar script lettering retains the property’s individual character. Good to see this longtime motor lodge still welcoming travelers beneath a classic sign. 07-26
Hawaiian Inn
Sunset Motel (Rem.)
Seaward Motel (Demolished)
Desert Inn (Gone)
La Mark Charles Motel (Gone)
Silver Princess Motel
