Wigwam Village
Cave City, KY Photos courtesy Wiley Brewer
The Wigwam Village in Cave City, KY
features a fantastic neon marquee out front. Not to mention the rarity
of seeing a motel with rosoms in the shape of a tee pee.
11-70 Motor Courts (Closed)
Knoxville, TN Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans
At first glance, it looks like you could still pull in and rent a room at the 11-70 Motor Court. The old highway shield sign is still standing, the cabin numbers are still in place, and the property has that familiar roadside look that makes you think it's been welcoming travelers forever.
Built around 1935, the motor court took its name from U.S. Routes 11 and 70, the two highways that once carried a steady stream of vacationers and commercial traffic right past the front door. The individual cabins were designed with attached garages, a popular feature back when protecting your car overnight was part of the sales pitch.
These days the motor court is no longer open to travelers, but the property has been carefully maintained as a private residence. From the road, it's easy to see why people still mistake it for an operating motel. It remains one of the few surviving reminders of the days before Interstate 40 changed the way America traveled.
UPDATE: The motor court is closed, but the distinctive highway shield sign and cabins still survive along Kingston Pike. 08-26
White Horse Motel (Closed)
Biscoe, NC Photo courtesy Tony Craig
You don't see many motel signs topped with a giant white horse. That's exactly what makes the White Horse Motel such a memorable roadside stop. Standing high above U.S. 15-501, the oversized horse and unusual metal framework are the kind of things that make you tap the brakes for a second look. The sign looks surprisingly clean, almost as if it's still waiting for the next guest to arrive.
The motel dates back to the 1930s, when highways like this were filled with independent motor courts competing for travelers. The White Horse found a simple way to stand out. Instead of relying on flashy neon alone, it put a full-size horse high in the air where nobody could miss it. That wasn't enough to overcome changing travel patterns, though, and the motel closed in 1973 as traffic shifted away from the old highway.
Most of the buildings have disappeared over the years, but the famous horse is still standing watch beside the highway, making it one of North Carolina's more unusual roadside survivors.
UPDATE: The motel has been gone for decades, but the towering White Horse sign still greets motorists along the old highway. 08-26
There was a time when Kingston Pike was lined with tourist courts, each trying to tempt passing motorists with a bright sign and a promise of a good night's rest. The Biltmore Tourist Court fit right in, its tall neon sign standing beside the highway and pointing travelers toward the office. It's the kind of sign that probably caught the attention of thousands of families heading through Knoxville.
The Biltmore opened in the late 1940s as travel along U.S. 11 and 70 continued to grow. It sat alongside several other independent motor courts, giving this stretch of road a look that has almost completely disappeared today. Like many roadside motels, the Biltmore eventually lost business as newer accommodations opened and Interstate travel bypassed the old highway.
Even after the motel closed, the story wasn't quite over. The cabins remained standing for years, finding a second life as storage units while the old neon sign continued greeting motorists who remembered when this was still a busy overnight stop.
UPDATE: The Biltmore Tourist Court dates back to 1949 on US70/11 in Knoxville TN. It has been closed for many years and the units are being used for storage now, however the old sign still remains. Many thanks to Doug Harveyfor info. 03-06
That chapter finally came to an end in 2011. The familiar roadside sign was removed in March, and the rest of the motor court was demolished later that year.
UPDATE: Nothing remains of the Biltmore Tourist Court today, and the old neon sign has long since disappeared from Kingston Pike. 08-26
Robins Motel (Gone)
Warner Robins, GA Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
The Robins Motel is on a strip that follows some railroad tracks
in Warner Robins, Georgia. Several shacks lined the tracks such as bars
and convenience stores before there were chains. Directly across the street
was Robin's Air Force base - a huge facility which seemed on high alert.
Six sheriffs cars were parked out front and a constant stream of cars
were entering the base. A large bomber was circling overhead. It was a
very apocalyptic scene given recent events. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.
Back then, this stretch of First Street had a very different look. Small motels, neighborhood bars, and roadside businesses hugged the tracks, giving the area plenty of local character before chain hotels and modern development took over.
The Robins Motel eventually disappeared as the corridor changed. The old buildings were demolished, First Street was widened and renamed North Armed Forces Boulevard, and the roadside scene captured in this photo faded into history.
UPDATE: The motel is gone, and the old trackside strip has been completely redeveloped. 08-26
The Peach Blossom Motel sits on Business 85 through Spartanburg
in upstate SC. The neon writing seems almost overshadowed by what looks
like a boat mast of light bulbs off one side. Right next door is the motel
itself complete with a lit up flower. Peaches are big in this section
of the state. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.
Located near Interstate 85 and Highway 9, the motel welcomed generations of travelers with comfortable rooms, a swimming pool, and an on-site restaurant. It was the kind of independent motel that gave every highway stop a little personality. The motel has since closed, and the colorful signs that once brightened this corner of Spartanburg are gone as well.
UPDATE: The Peach Blossom Motel is no longer standing, and its distinctive roadside signs have disappeared. 08-26
11-70 Motor Courts (Closed)
White Horse Motel (Closed)
Biltmore Tourist Court (Gone)
Biltmore Tourist Court
Robins Motel (Gone)
Peach Blossom Motel (Gone)
