Holiday Terrace Motel
Etowah, TN
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

Just up the road from the Etowah Motel is another survivor from the great days of highway travel. The towering marquee at the Holiday Terrace Motel still stands along U.S. 411, making it hard to drive through Etowah without giving it a second look. Big motel signs like this were built to catch the attention of passing motorists, and this one still has plenty of roadside appeal.

The Holiday Terrace opened in 1957 and welcomed travelers looking for a comfortable night's rest while exploring eastern Tennessee. Sitting right beside the old Etowah Motel, the two properties must have made this stretch of highway a busy overnight stop during the peak years of family road trips. While many motels from that era have disappeared, the Holiday Terrace continues serving travelers and remains one of the few places where the classic roadside experience is still easy to imagine.

UPDATE: The Holiday Terrace Motel remains open, and its large vintage roadside marquee still stands along U.S. 411. 08-26

Catalina Motel (Gone)
Lexington, KY
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

Take a look at the towering sign for the Catalina Motel in Lexington. Perched on top was one of the most eye-catching roadside features of its day, a spinning Roto-Sphere that turned above the highway and was almost impossible for passing motorists to ignore. It was the kind of sign that made you curious enough to pull off the road and see what was waiting below.

The motel stood along Lexington's busy U.S. 25 Bypass during the great years of automobile travel, welcoming families with comfortable rooms, a swimming pool, and all the conveniences expected from a mid-century highway stop. Even if you never stayed the night, the sign alone was enough to leave an impression.

UPDATE: The Catalina Motel has closed, and its famous roadside sign was removed in 2019. 08-26

Thunderbird Inn
Savannah, GA
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

As you enter Savannah from I-95, you'll be greeted by the Thunderbird Motel. The Thunderbird Motel is conveniently located about a block from the Greyhound Bus Station. Many thanks to Paul Bauke for info.

The Thunderbird opened in 1964 and quickly became a favorite stop for travelers heading into Savannah. Over the years it even welcomed the Jackson 5 during their early touring days. While many motels from this era have disappeared or lost their personality, the Thunderbird has embraced its retro roots, greeting guests with Moon Pies, RC Cola, fresh popcorn, and a healthy dose of nostalgia.

UPDATE: The Thunderbird Inn remains one of Savannah's best-preserved vintage motels, and its restored neon marquee continues lighting the way for travelers. 08-26

Breaux's Motel (Gone)
Boutte, LA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

Cruising along U.S. 90, the old sign at Breaux's Motel still catches your eye. Even with the neon long gone, it's easy to imagine how impressive the marquee must have looked when its tubing was glowing and welcoming travelers off the highway. Today the weathered sign tells more of the story than the motel itself, standing as a reminder of the days when independent motels lined this busy route across southern Louisiana.

Back when U.S. 90 was the main road across this part of the state, places like Breaux's were an important stop for vacationers, truck drivers, and anyone looking for a place to call it a night. The motel had the familiar low-slung look of a classic roadside court, and its sign was built to grab your attention from a distance. Over the years the colorful neon disappeared and the marquee was simplified, but the old framework never lost its unmistakable mid-century look.

It's the kind of roadside survivor that makes you wonder how many families, fishermen, and road trippers once turned into the driveway after a long day behind the wheel. Even without the glowing neon, the sign is still worth slowing down to see.

UPDATE: Breaux's Motel has closed, and the old roadside sign was removed from U.S. 90 sometime before 2016. 08-26

Heartbreak Hotel (Demolished)
Memphis, TN
Photo courtesy Bob Jagendorf

If you're an Elvis fan, this was one motel that was hard to resist. Sitting right next to Graceland, the Heartbreak Hotelwelcomed visitors with a heart-shaped roadside sign and an unmistakable Elvis theme that let you know exactly where you were. It was a fun stop that embraced the King's legacy from the moment you pulled into the parking lot.

The hotel opened in 1999, transforming an older motel into an Elvis-themed destination complete with specialty suites inspired by his life and music. For nearly two decades it gave fans one more reason to linger around Graceland before calling it a night. Even though it wasn't a true mid-century motel, it had enough roadside personality to earn a place along Elvis Presley Boulevard.

UPDATE: The Heartbreak Hotel closed in October 2016 and was demolished to make way for the expanded Graceland resort complex. The familiar heart-shaped roadside sign is gone. 08-26

Loveless Motel (Gone)
Nashville, TN
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

If you're headed toward the Natchez Trace Parkway, it's hard to miss the famous sign at the Loveless Motel and Cafe. The glowing blue marquee inviting travelers to "Stay a Little While" has become just as recognizable as the restaurant itself, welcoming hungry motorists for generations along Highway 100.

Lon and Annie Loveless opened the cafe in 1951, serving fried chicken, biscuits, and preserves from the front porch of their home. As word spread, they added a small motel so travelers could spend the night before getting back on the road. The motel is no longer in business, but the former guest rooms have found a new life as shops while the restaurant continues serving the meals that made it famous. The sign is still every bit as eye-catching today, especially after dark when the blue neon comes to life.

UPDATE: The Loveless Cafe remains a Nashville landmark, and its motel sign still welcomes travelers along Highway 100. 08-26

Coston Motel (Gone)
AR
Photo courtesy Stewart Isbell

Need a place to spend the night in Malvern? The Coston Motel once greeted travelers with a colorful roadside marquee proudly advertising "Air Conditioned," a feature that was a big selling point when America's motor courts were springing up along the highways. It's the kind of sign that probably caught plenty of eyes on a hot Arkansas afternoon.

The motel was operating by the early 1950s and promoted itself as "A Home Away From Home" for motorists passing through town. While the familiar brick motel still stands today, the old Coston name has disappeared, and the property now operates as the Relax Inn. The vintage neon marquee that once welcomed generations of travelers has also given way to a modern sign.

UPDATE: The motel remains open today as the Relax Inn, but the classic Coston Motel sign is gone. 08-26

Motel
AR
Photo courtesy Stewart Isbell

Sometimes the simplest signs are the ones that catch your eye. This old Motel sign, mounted right on the side of the building somewhere in Arkansas, didn't need a flashy name or fancy artwork to let travelers know there was a place to spend the night just ahead. It was a straightforward invitation from the days when the next vacancy was often just down the road.

There's not much known about this little motel today, but that's part of what makes the photo interesting. Thousands of small, family-run motor courts once dotted Arkansas highways, and many have disappeared without leaving much behind. This weathered sign is a nice reminder of those quieter roadside stops that rarely made the postcards but were every bit as much a part of the American road trip.