Mac's Indian Village | Robert E Lee Motel | Wigwam Village

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

Orange, yellow, and brown panels gave Georgian Motor Court a roadside sign that stood out even through rust and faded paint. Along U.S. 41 in Cordele, its oversized lettering preserved the identity of an older lodging property long after the rooms stopped welcoming travelers. 06-06

Dating to around 1950, the motor court advertised air conditioning, electric heat, and modern furnishings. Those conveniences helped independent properties compete for motorists following the highway through south Georgia. The later sign treatment supplied another layer of history, reflecting changing advertising styles during the property's working years.

UPDATE: Georgian Motor Court closed in 1982. Later documentation records the abandoned buildings and roadside sign surviving, although their condition has continued to decline. The property remains a reminder of U.S. 41's earlier role as a major travel corridor before Interstate 75 drew traffic elsewhere. 11-26

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

The Budget Motel sign along Cummings Highway showed how an older marquee could survive a change of name. Newer panels filled a frame whose proportions still suggested its neon-era beginnings, giving this Chattanooga property a recognizable roadside presence. 06-06

Previously known as Frick's Motel, the property served travelers near the approach to Lookout Mountain and its attractions. Cummings Highway supported numerous independent motor courts catering to that traffic. The surviving sign originally used neon and bulbs, with later alterations changing its appearance while retaining the older structure.

UPDATE: Budget Motel has closed, and the roadside sign had disappeared by 2024. Its removal ended the display's long service under successive names. The old frame had preserved a connection to Chattanooga's earlier tourist accommodations even after replacement panels concealed much of its original advertising. 11-26

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

Set back from Nolensville Pike, the old Hickerson Motel Court marquee preserved a small piece of Nashville's highway lodging history. Its straightforward lettering suited a modest motor court, marking a property built for travelers arriving by automobile. 06-06

Built in 1953, the motel began with sixteen units in the Woodbine area. Nolensville Pike carried motorists into Nashville before interstate exits became the focus of overnight accommodations. The compact property and roadside sign reflected a practical arrangement: convenient parking, a room nearby, and an entrance recognizable from the road.

UPDATE: Hickerson Motel Court has been demolished, and its familiar marquee is gone. Commercial redevelopment has replaced the old lodging use. The sign once helped distinguish this small property from neighboring businesses, leaving a recognizable record of the motor-court era along Nolensville Pike. 11-26

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

Look closely at the Northside Motel sign and its alterations begin to show. A newer center panel contrasted with the older framework and empty neon outlines, preserving traces of earlier lettering along Chattanooga's Cherokee Boulevard. 06-06

The stone buildings and roadside layout recalled the years when this corridor, formerly U.S. 27, carried travelers through the city's north side. The marquee survived beyond the motel's original use and was still documented in 2011. Its mixture of old and replacement parts made it an interesting example of advertising adapted rather than immediately discarded.

UPDATE: The former motel has been converted to apartments, ending its overnight lodging role. The vintage sign has been removed or substantially altered, while the buildings have found another residential use. The property represents one way an older motor court could survive after its original business ended. 11-26

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

The giant key at Key Motel made its name recognizable before motorists reached the entrance. Standing along Dickerson Pike, the oversized sign paired perfectly with the slogan “Your Key for Comfort,” giving this Nashville motor court an identity all its own. 06-06

Built in 1956, the property served an important highway approach to the city. Decades later, Lyon Porter and Jersey Banks renovated the motel with individually decorated rooms, a bar, and a swim club. The old key-shaped framework stayed, receiving new lettering rather than being replaced with an unrelated sign.

UPDATE: The property reopened on August 5, 2019, as The Dive Motel & Swim Club. Its twenty-three rooms include playful retro details such as disco balls and party switches. The key still marks the entrance, preserving the original roadside idea through a substantial change in style and ownership. 11-26

Riverside Truck and Motel
Newport, TN
Photo courtesy Doug Harvey

The old Riverside Truck Stop and Motel sign outlasted the business beside it. Standing along U.S. 25/70 outside Newport, the weathered display recalled a stop where motorists could find food, fuel, and overnight accommodations before continuing through the mountains. 08-06

The highway carried traffic between the Knoxville and Asheville areas before Interstate 40 changed the route for many travelers. Truck stops and small motels supplied practical services along the way. At Riverside, the lingering sign became the most visible reminder of that earlier use after the original facilities disappeared.

UPDATE: The property found another travel-related purpose as a whitewater rafting outfitter. The old roadside sign has survived the change, connecting today's outdoor recreation business with the former truck stop and motel. It remains a recognizable remnant of the highway's earlier working landscape. 11-26