Candlelight Motel
Ozark, AL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Need a room for the night? The Candle Light Motel has been trying to answer that question for decades with one memorable roadside sign. Topped by a glowing candle complete with a bright neon flame, it's the kind of marquee that stands out long before you can read the motel's name. 01-09

Built along busy U.S. 231, the Candle Light welcomed generations of travelers passing through southeastern Alabama. The sign did exactly what a good motel sign was supposed to do, giving motorists something colorful to look for after a long day behind the wheel. Despite first impressions, the candle isn't just painted. It really does light up with neon.

The motel has remained in business while many of its independent neighbors have disappeared. The rooms have been updated over the years, but the classic candle sign continues to welcome travelers just as it has for decades.

UPDATE: The Candle Light Motel remains open, and its distinctive neon candle still lights the way along U.S. 231. 08-26

Georgian Motor Court (Closed)
Cordele, GA
Photo courtesy Kate Durall

Before Interstate 75 carried most Florida-bound traffic around Cordele, U.S. 41 was lined with independent motels hoping to catch the next vacationing family. The Georgian Motor Court did its part with a colorful neon sign and a glowing "Vacancy" panel that must have been hard to miss after dark. 11-08

The motor court offered the comforts travelers expected during the golden age of road trips, including air-conditioned rooms and modern furnishings. For decades it welcomed motorists heading south before closing its doors in 1982 as traffic along the old highway steadily declined.

The motel no longer rents rooms, but the property has never completely disappeared. The buildings remain behind the gate, and the vintage roadside sign still stands along U.S. 41, quietly reminding passersby of when this was one of the main roads to Florida.

UPDATE: The Georgian Motor Court remains closed, but its classic neon sign may still survive beside the old highway. 08-26

Pine Lake Motel (Gone)
Pike Road, AL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

This marquee is located outside of the Pine Lake Motel. The motel features the colors and shapes of the mid-century era. Check out the way the arrow boomerangs over and the motel letters are in almost a kidney shape. 01-09

Located just south of Montgomery on U.S. 82 and U.S. 231, the Pine Lake welcomed travelers during the golden age of road trips with comfortable rooms and a restaurant next door. Like many independent motels, its sign was built to do more than advertise. It was meant to catch the eye of motorists long before they reached the driveway.

Unlike so many vintage roadside motels, the Pine Lake is still open today. Whether the neon is glowing or not, the distinctive marquee remains one of the best reminders of the era when a creative sign could be just as important as the room waiting behind it.

UPDATE: The Pine Lake Motel closed sometime prior to 2018 and the sign disappeared. The location converted out to be a Relax Inn. 08-26

Lee Motel (Demolished)
Pell City, AL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The Lee Motel located in Pell City, AL still has an old faded out sign with some character. The sign looks like all of the neon has been stripped away for some time. The Lee Motel was abandoned when this photo was taken. Many thanks to Alan Culley for info. 01-09

Built in 1940, the Lee Motel welcomed travelers for decades as they passed through Pell City on their way to nearby Lake Logan Martin and, later, the Talladega area. Like so many independent motor courts, it was once advertised as a clean, modern place to spend the night, but time eventually caught up with it.

The motel closed after state officials ordered it vacated in 2015, and the property sat abandoned for years. The empty rooms and faded sign became a familiar sight until the buildings were finally demolished in 2023.

UPDATE: The Lee Motel has been demolished, and its weathered roadside sign is gone as well. 08-26

Norris Dam Motel (Gone)
Lake City, TN
Photo courtesy Kevin Powers

This marquee is from the Norris Dam Motel in Lake City, Tennessee. The old 3-level mountainside motel is apparently now being used as a private residence. Many thanks to Kevin Powers for info. 11-09

Perched on the hillside overlooking the road, the Norris Dam Motel had the kind of layout that made it stand out from the usual roadside motor court. The old marquee welcomed travelers heading toward Norris Lake, while the three-level motel climbed the hillside behind it.

For years, vacationers came here for boating, fishing, and a quiet stay near Norris Dam. The motel even had its own restaurant, making it an easy stop for families exploring East Tennessee. Its hillside setting gave it a different look from the long rows of flat roadside motels found along most highways.

UPDATE: The former motel survives as a private residence, but the vintage roadside sign is gone. 08-26

Polk Motel (Gone)
Columbia, TN
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The Polk Motel made sure travelers knew exactly what it had to offer. The roadside sign proudly advertised "50 Beautiful Units," while the glowing neon vacancy letters let passing motorists know there was still a room waiting at the end of the day. It's the kind of sign that did its job long before GPS and online reservations. 11-10

Built in 1947, the motel became a familiar stop along U.S. 31 when this was the main route between Columbia and Nashville. For decades, road trippers, vacationing families, and business travelers all pulled into the Polk before Interstate 65 changed the flow of traffic.

After serving travelers for 67 years, the motel closed in 2014. The buildings stood empty for a few more years before being demolished in 2017, ending one of Columbia's best-known roadside landmarks.

UPDATE: The motel is gone today, but parts of its famous roadside sign have been preserved, keeping a small piece of the Polk's highway history alive. 08-26