Mac's Indian Village
Cherokee, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Check out Mac's Indian Village in Cherokee, NC.
Mac's has featured fake teepees at its location since 1934. These days, the teepees are down to just four. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 04-08
UPDATE: Mac's Indian Village is open for business. My husband and I have been running it for over a year now. It had been closed for a while. Eight months ago we took the Qualla Motel across the street. We are remodeling some of the tee pees and people come from all over to stay here and have been for many years. They've been there around the early 1900's. Many thanks to Phyllis, owner of Mac's Indian Village, for update. 05-08
Cool Valley Motel (Gone)
Cherokee, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The Cool Valley Motel had one of those signs that was almost impossible to drive past without noticing. The colorful paint, sweeping neon script, and bold arrow gave it plenty of personality, making it a perfect fit for a highway leading into Cherokee. 03-08
For years the motel welcomed travelers exploring the Smokies before it eventually closed and slipped into disrepair. The abandoned buildings became a familiar sight until a fire in 2020 left them badly damaged. Not long afterward, the motel was demolished.
UPDATE: The buildings are gone today. 08-26
El Camino Motel (Closed)
Cherokee, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
It's easy to imagine this sign glowing at the end of a long day on the road. The El Camino Motel still has its sweeping neon script, a bright "POOL" panel, and the old vacancy sign waiting below. Even after all these years, it's the kind of marquee that makes you wonder if there might still be a room available. 03-08
For decades, independent motels like the El Camino welcomed families exploring Cherokee and the Great Smoky Mountains. You could pull in, park right outside your door, unpack for the night, and be back on the highway the next morning. The promise of a swimming pool was a pretty good selling point after spending the day driving through the Carolina mountains, and the sign made sure every passing motorist knew it.
El Camino Motel (Closed)
Cherokee, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Today the scene is much quieter. The motel closed in the late 2010s, the pool has been drained, and the guest rooms sit empty. Yet the old marquee refuses to be overlooked. The faded colors, aging neon, and weathered metal still have plenty of charm, reminding travelers of a time when Cherokee was lined with family-owned motels, each trying to outdo the next with a bigger sign or brighter lights.
Unlike many vintage motels that have disappeared altogether, the El Camino is still standing. It may no longer welcome overnight guests, but its classic roadside sign continues to catch the eye of anyone passing through town.
UPDATE: The motel remains closed and vacant, while the vintage El Camino sign still stands along the roadside. 08-26
Chief Motel (Gone)
Cherokee, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The faded sign at the Chief Motel looks like it spent decades soaking up the Carolina sunshine. The colors may have been washed out a bit by the time this photo was taken, but the old chief profile and classic marquee still had enough personality to catch the eye of travelers heading through Cherokee. 03-08
For years, the Chief Motel welcomed vacationers exploring the Great Smoky Mountains, offering an old-fashioned motor court just across the highway from what would eventually become Harrah's Cherokee Casino. It was one of those dependable independent motels that seemed to have been part of the roadside forever, serving generations of visitors and becoming the longest continually operating independent motel on the Cherokee Reservation.
Like many family-owned motels, time eventually caught up with it. The rooms closed, the sign came down, and plans were made to clear the property for casino expansion. Today, only photos like this preserve the look of a motel that was once a familiar stop along U.S. Highway 19.
UPDATE: The Chief Motel has closed, its vintage sign has been removed, and the property is slated for redevelopment. 08-26
Princess Motel
Cherokee, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The Princess Motel was missing its office, leaving the motel rooms that appear to have been built around trees and an overgrown swimming pool. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 03-08
Back in the 1950s and 1960s, this was a popular stop for families visiting Cherokee and the Great Smoky Mountains. The motel even had a swimming pool, and the guest rooms were built around the mature trees on the property, giving the place a character all its own. By the time this photo was taken, though, nature was beginning to reclaim what was left.
Princess Motel
Cherokee, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Not long after, the famous roadside sign disappeared, and the remaining buildings were demolished. Today there's little to suggest a motel ever stood here, except for old photos like this one.
UPDATE: The Princess Motel and its roadside sign are both gone. The property has been cleared. 08-26
El Camino Motel (Closed)
El Camino Motel (Closed)
Chief Motel (Gone)
Princess Motel
Princess Motel
