Paradise Inn (Rem.)
Kissimmee, FL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The twin rockets rising above the Paradise Inn certainly make this one hard to miss. Whether they're meant to be rockets or old aircraft fuel tanks, they give the marquee a fun Space Age look that fits right in along U.S. 192. It's one of those signs that has motorists doing a double take as they drive by. 05-05

When this stretch of highway was packed with vacationers heading for the area's attractions, roadside motels competed for attention with bigger and bolder signs. The Paradise Inn found its own way by pointing skyward. Over the years the motel has changed from a tourist stop to primarily serving long-term residents, but the unusual twin rockets have continued watching over the highway.

Movie fans may recognize the Paradise Inn from The Florida Project, which captured life at several of the weekly motels along U.S. 192 and introduced this familiar roadside landmark to a much wider audience.

UPDATE: The Paradise Inn remains open. The sign was replaced in 2016. 07-26

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

The tropical colors and flashing red arrow made the Sands Motel easy to spot along U.S. 441. If you were looking for a place to stay near the University of Florida, all you had to do was follow the sign. It was bright, simple, and did exactly what a good motel marquee was supposed to do. 05-05

The Sands was one of the many roadside motels that once welcomed football fans, families, and travelers passing through Gainesville. It wasn't a fancy place, but it offered the comforts motorists expected in the day, including air-conditioned rooms, color TV, and even a courtesy car for guests needing a ride around town. For years, the colorful marquee stood watch over one of Gainesville's busiest roads.

UPDATE: The Sands Motel has been demolished, and the familiar roadside sign has been removed. Student housing now occupies the site. 07-26

Monte Carlo Motel (Rem.)
Kissimmee, FL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Roll the dice on a good room at the Monte Carlo Motel. Along busy Highway 192, it's the old roadside sign that catches the eye first. The plastic panels have seen better days, but that rusty metal arrow still points the way like it has for decades. It looks like something left over from an earlier era of Florida tourism. 05-05

The motel is one of the many older motor courts that still line this stretch of U.S. 192. While the rooms have been updated over the years, the sign remains the real attraction. It may not have the flashy neon you'd expect from a place named Monte Carlo, but that weathered arrow gives it plenty of personality.

UPDATE: The motel is still open along Highway 192. The familiar roadside sign was replaced. 07-26

Continental Motel
Kissimmee, FL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Check out this sign for the Continental Motel. Between the glowing "Vacancy" panel, the promise of "Efficiencies," and the little swimming pool pictured on the sign, it had just about everything a family passing through Highway 192 could hope for. It is the kind of roadside sign that tried to tell the whole story before you even pulled into the parking lot. 05-05

Back when Florida's tourist strip was lined with independent motels, efficiency rooms were a big selling point for families looking to save a little money on vacation. The Continental fit right in with the other mom-and-pop places that once filled this stretch of the highway. Today the old motel is still there, but the vintage sign has long since been replaced with a modern one.

UPDATE: The original Continental Motel sign has been removed, although the motel building continues operating today under a different name. 07-26

Stardust Motel
Miami Beach, FL
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

The Stardust Motel certainly lives up to its name. Stars are scattered across the front of the building, and the script lettering looks like it came straight out of the Space Age. Even among the colorful buildings of Miami Beach, this one has no trouble standing out. It is easy to imagine families pulling up here when futuristic designs and flashy motel names were all the rage. 04-06

The Stardust opened during the heyday of Florida's roadside motel boom, serving both vacationers and longer-term apartment residents. Unlike many places from that era, it still wears its mid-century personality well. The playful stars, bold lettering, and vintage styling make it feel like a small piece of the 1960s that never quite disappeared.

UPDATE: The Stardust continues welcoming guests in South Beach, and its retro lettering and star-filled facade remain part of the streetscape. 07-26

Detroit Resort Motel (Closed)
Pasco County, FL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The Detroit Resort Motel and this old neon sign is located in Pasco County, FL. Despite the name containing the word "resort" the place looked a bit seedy. Many thanks to Alan Culley for info. 01-09

For a long time the motel stood abandoned, making it a favorite subject for roadside photographers exploring old Florida. Fortunately, the buildings weren't torn down. The property found a new purpose, with the former motel office becoming a neighborhood deli while the familiar roadside sign continues greeting motorists passing by.

UPDATE: The motel no longer operates and the restored buildings and vintage sign was altered. 07-26

Village Motel
Tampa, FL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Check out this brightly painted sign for the Village Motel in Tampa. The bright green and red colors really stand out along busy Hillsborough Avenue, making it hard to miss. It looks like one of those signs that has been catching the eye of passing motorists for a long, long time. 01-09

The Village Motel has been around since the days when this stretch of U.S. 92 was lined with family-owned motor courts. Originally known as Wynn's Village Courts, it still has much of that old Florida roadside feel. The vintage sign and collection of little cottages are a nice reminder of what roadside travel used to look like before the national chains took over.

UPDATE: The Village Motel is still open, and the colorful roadside sign continues welcoming travelers along U.S. 92. 07-26