Carolyn Court (Closed)
Selma, NC
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

Hidden behind the bushes along old U.S. 301, the faded sign for Carolyn Court almost looks like it's trying to disappear. Rust has replaced the bright neon that once outlined the marquee, but enough remains to remind passing motorists that this was once a busy stop on one of the South's most traveled highways. 03-06

Back in the 1950s, Carolyn Court welcomed families heading north and south along U.S. 301, offering brick cottages, a restaurant, and a playground for the kids. It was even recommended by AAA and Duncan Hines, making it a popular overnight stop before Interstate 95 changed the way people traveled. Today the motel itself has nearly vanished beneath the trees, leaving the weathered sign to tell the story of a once-busy roadside stop.

UPDATE: The motel is long gone, but the rusted roadside marquee still stands hidden in the brush along old U.S. 301. 08-26

Pine Crest Motel (Gone)
Waycross, GA
Photo courtesy Andy Morales

Traveling through Waycross, the Pine Crest Motel once welcomed motorists with a classic roadside marquee that was hard to miss along busy Memorial Drive. It looked like the kind of place where families would pull in after a long day on the highway, with a swimming pool waiting to cool everyone off before another day on the road. 06-06

The Pine Crest was operating by the 1950s, during the years when U.S. 1 and U.S. 23 carried a steady stream of Florida-bound travelers through south Georgia. Like so many independent motor courts, it offered a comfortable place to spend the night before continuing the journey. Today only photographs like this remind us that another classic roadside stop once stood here.

UPDATE: The Pine Crest Motel has been demolished, and the vintage roadside sign is gone. A Holiday Inn Express now occupies the site. 08-26

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

"Where are there 50 beautiful units?" The roadside sign at the James Polk Motel had the answer waiting for passing motorists along U.S. 31 in Columbia. With its colorful neon and bold advertising, it was exactly the kind of marquee that made road-weary travelers think about calling it a day. 06-06

The motel opened in 1947 and was named for President James K. Polk, whose roots were in nearby Columbia. For decades it welcomed travelers heading through Middle Tennessee before Interstate 65 changed the flow of traffic. Its slogan proudly promoted "50 beautiful units," promising a comfortable stop for families making their way down the highway.

UPDATE: The James Polk Motel closed in 2014 and was demolished in 2019. The familiar roadside marquee is no longer part of the old motel site. 08-26

Anchor Motel (Rem.)
Birmingham, AL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Driving through Birmingham, the pointed marquee at the Anchor Motel is hard to overlook. It's a simple design, but that sharp, downward-pointing sign has plenty of mid-century character and still does exactly what it was built to do, catch the eye of passing motorists looking for a place to spend the night. 06-06

The Anchor is one of those classic roadside motels that has managed to outlast many of its neighbors. Its low-slung layout and vintage sign are reminders of the days when independent motor courts lined Birmingham's highways, each trying to lure travelers with a vacancy and a good night's rest. It may not be flashy, but it's another surviving piece of the city's roadside history.

UPDATE: The Anchor Motel remains open, and its distinctive roadside marquee still stands along First Avenue North, though the sign was modified. 08-26

Town Terrace Motel
Tifton, GA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

One of the most eye-catching motel signs in Tifton belongs to the Town Terrace Motel. The colorful marquee has been turning heads for decades, and it's easy to see why. It has just the right amount of mid-century style to make you slow down for a second look, even if you weren't planning to stop. 06-06

The property began life in the 1940s as Van Gundy's Motor Court, serving travelers along busy U.S. 41 during the great years of highway travel. Along with the motel, guests could grab a bite at the coffee shop, which even featured live radio broadcasts during its heyday. More recently, the pink motel found a second life as a filming location for the 2022 movie The Tiger Rising, proving it still knows how to steal the spotlight.

The motel no longer serves the vacation crowd the way it once did, with many of the units now used for extended stays and apartments. Even so, the vintage sign remains out front, reminding motorists that this is one of south Georgia's classic roadside survivors.

UPDATE: The Town Terrace Motel continues operating, and its distinctive roadside marquee still greets travelers in Tifton. 08-26

Waverly Motel (Gone)
Chattanooga, TN
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Here's a closer look at the weathered marquee for the Waverly Motel. The rows of bulbs circling the sign appear to have gone dark long ago, but it's still easy to picture how the marquee must have looked when every light was glowing and beckoning travelers off the road. 06-06

The Waverly stood just off Ringgold Road in East Ridge, just outside Chattanooga, serving motorists during the busy years of highway travel. It was one of many independent motels that lined the area before chain hotels became the norm. By its final years, though, the property had fallen into serious disrepair and was eventually closed following repeated code violations.

UPDATE: The Waverly Motel has been demolished, the vintage roadside sign is gone, and a self-storage facility now occupies the site. 08-26