Florida Motel (Demolished)
Gainesville, FL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Florida Motel had one of the most recognizable motel signs in the state. With the outline of Florida perched on top of the marquee, it was impossible to mistake where you were. Add in the colorful neon and stacked amenity panels, and it became a familiar landmark for generations of travelers heading through Gainesville.

A few years before the motel came down, there was a chance to spend some time talking with the owner while standing beneath that giant sign. He mentioned the property would eventually be sold and predicted that many of the old motels lining the highway would disappear as developers moved in. It seemed hard to imagine at the time, but that's exactly what happened.

Built in the 1950s along busy U.S. 441, the motel welcomed visitors for decades before closing in 2018. While the buildings were demolished to make way for a new hotel, the story didn't end there. Local preservationists stepped in just in time to save the iconic state-shaped sign, which was carefully removed before demolition and placed into storage for future public display.

UPDATE: The Florida Motel closed and was demolished in 2018. 07-26

Holiday Motel (Rem.)
Ocala, FL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Holiday Motel in Ocala features a fine-looking marquee just off the roadside. It's the kind of sign that's easy to overlook if you're in a hurry, but worth slowing down for. The stacked design and simple styling are a reminder of when every motel along the highway tried to stand out from the next.

Built during Florida's postwar travel boom, the Holiday Motel has been welcoming motorists along busy U.S. 27, 301, and 441 for decades. While many of Ocala's independent motels have disappeared over the years, this one is still hanging on. The rooms have been updated to keep up with modern travelers, but the classic roadside layout and vintage sign continue to give the place plenty of old Florida character.

Sometimes it's the simpler signs that leave the biggest impression. The Holiday Motel's marquee doesn't rely on flashy animation or oversized arrows. It simply does what a good roadside sign has always done: let passing travelers know there's still a place to pull in for the night.

UPDATE: The Holiday Motel remains open. The general framework of the old marquee still stands, however the neon lettering and topper of the sign as well as the little characters on this sign are gone now. 07-26

Comfort Motel (Demolished)
Ocala, FL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Comfort Motel and its tall roadside sign were hard to miss along South Pine Avenue in Ocala. Even on an overcast day, the marquee stood above the highway as a reminder of the days when this stretch of road was lined with independently owned motels competing for travelers.

Originally opened in 1951 as the Cavalier Motel, the property was later renamed the Comfort Motel and continued serving motorists for decades. Like many of Florida's older roadside motels, however, the years eventually caught up with it. By 2019 the buildings had fallen into serious disrepair, and city inspectors condemned the property after discovering numerous structural and safety hazards.

The motel was later demolished, and its tall roadside sign disappeared along with it. Today the site is vacant, but photos like this preserve a piece of Ocala's classic motel row from a time when every sign along the highway had its own personality.

UPDATE: Opened in 1951 as the Cavalier Motel, the property later became the Comfort Motel. Word is it was condemned due to safety violations and closed in 2019 before being demolished. The roadside sign is gone. 07-26

Flamingo Motel
Ocala, FL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Flamingo Motel looks like it's seen better days, but that's part of its charm. The vintage sign out front, complete with its flamingo perched on top, has been greeting travelers along Silver Springs Boulevard since the 1950s. Even after all these years, it's still one of those signs that catches your eye as you drive by.

Back when nearby Silver Springs was one of Florida's biggest tourist attractions, this stretch of road was lined with independent motels competing for passing motorists. The Flamingo was right at home among them, offering a place to spend the night before heading off to see the famous glass-bottom boats or continue farther south.

While time has left its mark on the motel, it's still in business today and remains one of the few survivors from Ocala's classic roadside era. The buildings have weathered the decades, and the old flamingo sign continues to stand watch over the boulevard, serving as a colorful reminder of the days when every motel tried to have a little personality.

UPDATE: The Flamingo Motel remains open, and its distinctive flamingo sign still stands along East Silver Springs Boulevard. 07-26

Lincoln Beach Motel (Gone)
Daytona Beach, FL
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

The Lincoln Beach Motel looked good from every angle. This side view really shows off the clean lines and sharp roofline that gave so many Daytona Beach motels their unmistakable mid-century style. You don't always need a flashy sign to appreciate good roadside architecture.

Built in the late 1950s, the Lincoln Beach welcomed vacationers for decades along Atlantic Avenue. The motel has since been renovated and renamed the Sunrise Inn on the Beach, but the original roadside marquee that once greeted passing motorists has disappeared.

This photo captures a time when Daytona Beach's oceanfront was lined with independent motels, each with its own personality. While the sign is gone, the building still hints at the era when the drive down A1A was as memorable as the beach itself.

UPDATE: The former Lincoln Beach Motel survives today as the Sunrise Inn on the Beach, and its original roadside sign lettering in its cool font is gone. 07-26

Rio Beach Motel (Demolished)
Daytona Beach, FL
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

The Rio Beach Motel certainly knew how to brighten up Daytona Beach. Between the colorful buildings and the matching roadside marquee, it looked right at home along the oceanfront during Florida's beach vacation heyday.

Built in the 1950s, the Rio Beach welcomed visitors for decades with oceanfront rooms, efficiency units, a swimming pool, and plenty of Old Florida charm. It was the kind of family-owned motel that made Daytona Beach a favorite destination long before the era of high-rise hotels and national chains.

Like many of the independent motels that once lined Atlantic Avenue, the Rio Beach eventually disappeared as redevelopment transformed the shoreline. Today the motel and its colorful marquee are gone, making photos like this a reminder of when Daytona's oceanfront was filled with unique places that each had their own personality.

UPDATE: The Rio Beach Motel has been demolished, and the original roadside sign is gone. 07-26