Beverly Motel (Rem.)
Mobile, AL
Photo courtesy Phil Proctor

Cruising Government Boulevard, it was hard to miss the Beverly Motel. Perched high above the marquee was a giant neon diving lady, one of those unforgettable roadside signs that seemed to promise a cool swimming pool and a comfortable night's stay. It was the kind of sign that made you look twice, day or night. 04-06

The Beverly Motel has been welcoming travelers since the 1940s along busy U.S. 90, remaining a familiar landmark for generations of Mobile motorists. The diving lady became one of the city's best-known motel signs and helped the Beverly stand out among the many motor courts that once lined the highway. Even if you never stayed there, chances are you remembered the sign.

UPDATE: The Beverly Motel remains open, but its famous neon diving lady was removed from the marquee in 2022. 08-26

Skylit Motel (Gone)
Winchester, KY
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

Here's another old highway stop that's easy to imagine in its better days. The Skylit Motel once welcomed travelers along U.S. 60 on the west side of Winchester, its roadside sign inviting motorists to pull in for the night before continuing down the road. 10-05

The motel offered 28 rooms and proudly advertised comforts like automatic heat, tile baths, and Simmons furniture, amenities that helped set a motor court apart during the peak years of roadside travel. It was also a AAA-recommended stop, giving travelers one more reason to turn into the driveway after a long day behind the wheel.

UPDATE: The motel has been converted into apartments, and the vintage roadside sign is gone. 08-26

Wind Mill Motel (Gone)
Nicholasville, KY
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

Traveling U.S. 27 just south of Lexington, the Wind Mill Motel and Restaurant was hard to miss. Its weathered roadside marquee had clearly been updated over the years, with a newer rectangular panel sitting above the older faded sign below. Even so, the motel still looked like one of those classic highway stops that had been welcoming travelers for generations. 10-05

The Wind Mill opened during the late 1930s or early 1940s and offered more than just a place to spend the night. Along with the motel, travelers found a restaurant, a service station, and eventually even the county's first public swimming pool. It was the kind of roadside stop where you could fill the tank, grab a meal, spend the night, and be back on the highway the next morning.

UPDATE: The motel closed years ago, the roadside marquee was removed, and the property is now part of the Windmill Mobile Home Park. 08-26

Laurel Lodge Motel (Gone)
London, KY
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

Here's another old highway stop that would have been hard to miss along U.S. 25. The Laurel Lodge Motel greeted travelers with a classic roadside marquee, inviting motorists to pull off the road before tackling another stretch of Kentucky highway. Perched on a quiet hilltop north of London, it looked like a peaceful place to spend the night. 10-05

The Laurel Lodge offered more than just motel rooms. Travelers could stop for a meal in the restaurant before settling into rooms featuring the comforts of the day, including tile baths, automatic heat, and Simmons Beautyrest mattresses. Before Interstate 75 redirected much of the traffic, places like this were a familiar sight for families making their way through southeastern Kentucky.

UPDATE: The Laurel Lodge Motel has long since closed. 08-26

Sunset Motel
Lexington, KY
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

Driving north of Lexington on U.S. 25, the Sunset Motel still has the look of a classic roadside motor court. The rooftop lettering is what really catches your eye, a feature that's become increasingly rare as old motels disappear or are remodeled beyond recognition. It's the kind of place that takes you back to the days when pulling right up to your room was part of the adventure. 10-05

The Sunset has welcomed travelers for decades and remains one of the few vintage motor courts still operating in the area. Its low-slung layout and roadside setting have changed very little over the years, giving motorists a glimpse of what highway travel looked like before the chain hotels took over. If you're hungry, the old motel restaurant has found a new life as the well-known Red State BBQ, making this another worthwhile stop along the road.

UPDATE: The Sunset Motel remains open, and both its classic rooftop lettering and roadside marquee continue to greet travelers on U.S. 25. 08-26

The Kimball Moore Motel (Gone)
Lexington, KY
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

Another faded roadside survivor waits in Lexington. The weathered marquee for The Kimball Moore Motel has seen much better days, but even with its rust and peeling paint, it's still the kind of sign that makes you slow down for a second look. You can't help but imagine how impressive it must have been when everything was fresh, bright, and welcoming travelers off the highway. 10-05

The Kimball Moore Motel was one of many independent motor courts that lined Lexington's busy roads during the great years of automobile travel. Places like this offered a comfortable night's rest before the interstates changed the way people crossed Kentucky. Today the old marquee says more about the motel's history than words ever could.

UPDATE: The Kimball Moore Motel has long since closed, and the vintage roadside sign is gone. 08-26