Georgian Motor Court (Closed)
Codele, GA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Those bold orange, yellow, and brown panels are about as 1970s as it gets. Even with the rust and faded paint, the old roadside marquee still stands out along Highway 41 in Cordele, making it easy to imagine a time when signs like this welcomed travelers into just about every town. If you're headed toward the World's Largest Peanut, it's worth slowing down for a look at the Georgian Motor Court. 06-06

The motel was built around 1950, just as America's love affair with the automobile was really taking off. Back then it offered the comforts travelers expected on a long road trip, including air conditioning, electric heat, and modern furnishings. Like so many independently owned motor courts, it was designed for motorists cruising the old highways long before the interstates changed the way people traveled.

Today the rooms sit empty, but the sign still does most of the talking. Its oversized lettering and unmistakable color scheme have survived decades of Georgia sunshine, making it one of those roadside relics that's hard to pass without wondering what the place looked like on a busy summer evening with every room filled.

UPDATE: The Georgian Motor Court closed in 1982 after Interstate 75 diverted much of the traffic away from old U.S. 41. The motel remains abandoned, and the colorful roadside sign may now be gone. 08-26

Hickerson Motel Court (Demolished)
Nashville, TN
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Blink and you might miss it. Tucked back from Nolensville Pike, the old roadside marquee for the Hickerson Motel Court was still standing when this photo was taken, quietly advertising a motor court from another era. The surrounding neighborhood had grown up around it over the years, but the sign was a reminder of when this stretch of road catered to travelers instead of commuters. 06-06

The motel dates back to the early 1950s and was among the first motor courts built in Nashville's Woodbine neighborhood. Opening in 1953 with just 16 units, it welcomed motorists during the heyday of highway travel, when small family-run motels lined the roads leading into town. The simple marquee wasn't flashy, but it had the kind of look that fit the roadside perfectly.

By 2006 the area around the motel felt a little rough around the edges, yet the old sign still managed to catch your eye. Places like this were once a common sight along America's highways, giving weary travelers a place to spend the night before getting back on the road the next morning.

UPDATE: The Hickerson Motel Court has since been demolished, and the familiar roadside marquee is gone. The property has been redeveloped for commercial use. 08-26

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

There's a good chance this sign has worn more than one name over the years. By the time this photo was taken, the old marquee along Cummings Highway was advertising the Budget Motel, but its shape and proportions hinted at an earlier chapter. Fortunately, the vintage sign was still standing, giving passing motorists one more reminder of Chattanooga's classic roadside days. 06-06

The motel originally opened in 1951 as Frick's Motel, serving travelers heading toward Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls, and Rock City. Back then, Cummings Highway was lined with family-owned motor courts competing for the attention of vacationers. While the name eventually changed to Budget Motel, the old roadside sign frame remained, updated with newer plastic panels but still carrying the look of a mid-century motor court.

Even with the newer lettering, it wasn't hard to imagine what the place looked like during its busiest years, when every glowing motel sign along the highway promised a clean room just ahead. It's the kind of roadside survivor that made this stretch of road worth exploring with a camera.

UPDATE: The Budget Motel was condemned and permanently closed in 2021 because of serious building safety issues. The old roadside marquee has since been removed. 08-26

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

Take a close look at this old motel sign and you can almost read its history. The center panel looks much newer than the rest, while the empty outlines above it hint at letters that once glowed in neon. Even after a facelift, the Northside Motelsign still had plenty of vintage character for anyone cruising along Cherokee Boulevard. 06-06

The motel first welcomed travelers around 1950, when this stretch of road was a busy route into Chattanooga. Built as one of the many family-owned motor courts of the era, it offered a convenient stop before the interstate changed the way people traveled. The stone buildings and roadside marquee gave the property a look that fit perfectly with the postwar highway years.

UPDATE: The motel has long since been converted into apartments, and the vintage marquee has been removed or heavily altered. The property remains standing, though redevelopment plans continue to put its future in doubt. 08-26

Key Motel (Rem.)
Nashville, TN
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

You don't have to wonder what this place was called. The giant key out front tells the whole story. Standing along Dickerson Pike, the oversized marquee for the Key Motel was one of those signs that practically begged for a second look. It's simple, memorable, and exactly the kind of roadside advertising that made America's highways so much fun to explore. 06-06

The motel opened in 1956, back when Dickerson Pike was one of Nashville's busiest routes for travelers heading into town. Its slogan, "Your Key For Comfort," fit perfectly with the giant key-shaped sign that welcomed guests from the highway. During the motel's busiest years, this stretch of road was lined with independently owned motor courts, and the Key Motel became a familiar stop for travelers, including country music performers passing through Nashville.

Long after many neighboring motels disappeared, the old key continued pointing the way. Even with faded paint and plenty of age, it remained one of the most recognizable motel signs in the city. Sometimes a sign doesn't need flashing neon or animated features to be unforgettable. A giant key does the job just fine.

UPDATE: The motel was completely restored and reopened in 2019 as The Dive Motel & Swim Club. The famous key-shaped marquee still stands, restored with updated lettering while keeping its vintage roadside look. 08-26

Riverside Truck and Motel
Newport, TN
Photo courtesy Doug Harvey

All that remains of the old Riverside Truck Stop and Motel outside of Newport, TN is the old sign The site is now a whitewater rafting outfitter. Many thanks to Doug Harvey for info. 08-06

Sometimes the sign is all that's left. Along old U.S. 25/70 outside Newport, the weathered marquee for the Riverside Truck Stop and Motel still stands beside the road, even though the truck stop, restaurant, and motel have all disappeared. It's the kind of sight that makes you wonder how many travelers once stopped here before continuing through the mountains. 08-06

Before Interstate 40 diverted much of the traffic, this was a busy stop for truckers and vacationers heading between Knoxville and Asheville. Today the buildings are gone, but the old sign still catches your eye, standing as a reminder of when this stretch of highway was lined with roadside businesses.

UPDATE: The property now operates as a whitewater rafting outfitter along the French Broad River. The vintage roadside sign still survives. 08-26