Tropicana Motel (Closed)
Yuma, AZ Photo courtesy Bill Herzog
Here is the neon-lit marquee for the Tropicana Motel along South Fourth Avenue in Yuma. The towering sign, complete with a glowing palm tree, once looked far more impressive than the little roadside motel behind it. This was the sort of sign that could catch the attention of a tired traveler long before the motel rooms came into view.
The Tropicana opened in 1958, when Fourth Avenue was Yuma’s busy motel strip and the main route through town. Like its tropical name suggested, the sign offered a little island atmosphere in the middle of the Arizona desert. The neon palm tree, bright lettering, and tall roadside frame were especially hard to miss after dark.
Old advertisements promised color television, kitchenettes, low rates, and a courtyard swimming pool. Those may seem like ordinary motel features now, but they were strong selling points during the motel’s early years. After a long summer drive across the desert, the swimming pool probably did not require much advertising.
Tropicana Motel
Yuma, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Tropicana eventually closed, but its distinctive roadside sign was not completely lost. The original framework and palm-tree shape still stand, although the neon tubing was removed and the colorful sign face was repainted. It remains recognizable, but the nighttime sparkle seen in these old photographs is gone.
UPDATE: The Tropicana Motel remains closed. Its altered marquee still stands beside the road, serving as a faded reminder of the days when neon motor courts filled Yuma’s old highway strip. 08-26
Gateway Motel (Gone)
Williams, AZ Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner
Check out the Gateway Motel and its neon as it illuminates the way for travelers passing through Williams, AZ on Route 66. 01-07
Here is the brightly lit marquee for the Gateway Motel along Route 66 in Williams. The double-boomerang sign, glowing neon, and big arrow made quite a welcome for travelers entering town. There was certainly no missing this one after dark. 01-07
The Gateway opened in 1936, when Williams was already promoting itself as the gateway to the Grand Canyon. Its wild roadside sign was added sometime during the 1950s or 1960s, bringing a little Space Age style to this old western railroad town.
The motel closed around 2010 and the property was converted into a small commercial plaza. Part of the old motel office later became JD’s Espresso and Internet Cafe. Fortunately, the sign was not thrown away during the conversion. Its original framework survived, although the lettering was changed from “Gateway Motel” to “Gateway Plaza.”
UPDATE: The old Gateway sign has now been removed from the former motel property and relocated to the Route 66 Museum and Gift Shop at 811 W. Route 66. The double-boomerang frame survives, but it is uncertain whether its neon will shine again. 08-26
EL Rancho Motel
Williams, AZ Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner
Check out the full neon lettering on the sign for the El Rancho Motel at the east end of Williams. The big cursive name and glowing red “MOTEL” letters make a fine introduction to the old Route 66 downtown strip. 01-09
The El Rancho opened late in 1953 as a small 18-unit motor court. Early advertisements proudly promised tubs and showers in every room, while nightly rates around 1959 ranged from $8 to $10. That probably left travelers with a little spending money for dinner and a souvenir down the road.
The motel expanded over the years, adding a few more rooms and a swimming pool in 1964. The old roadside sign was also changed slightly as different owners updated its colors and amenity panels. Fortunately, the original shape and large neon script were preserved.
UPDATE: The El Rancho Motel remains open still welcoming travelers heading through Williams or on toward the Grand Canyon. Its vintage marquee has been restored and continues lighting the eastern end of town. 08-26
Downtowner Motel
Williams, AZ Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner
Follow the arrow to the Downtowner Motel in Williams. The big red arrow, outlined with rows of little light bulbs, once flashed toward the motel entrance and made a fun sight along the downtown Route 66 strip. 01-09
The Downtowner dates back to the 1950s, when it was operated by Everett and Mrs. Coffee. Its single-story motor court offered the convenient park-by-your-door arrangement that was so popular with Mother Road travelers.
The motel has since been remodeled and joined the Rodeway Inn chain, but its old roadside personality was not completely erased. The original sign frame and bulb-lined arrow were refurbished, with Rodeway Inn lettering added alongside the Downtowner name.
UPDATE: The property remains open as the Rodeway Inn & Suites Williams Downtowner. Its vintage arrow sign survives, although it is uncertain whether all those little bulbs still perform their original chasing sequence. 08-26
Grand Canyon Motel (Rem.)
Fredonia, AZ Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Here is the old roadside marquee for the Grand Canyon Motel in Fredonia. With its mountain scene, pine trees, and promises of kitchenettes, the sign gives the place the feel of a rustic base camp somewhere out on the edge of the wilderness. 06-09
The property dates back to the 1920s, when its first simple cabins were built for hunters and other visitors exploring northern Arizona. The cabins were later remodeled and expanded into a small motor court, with kitchenettes added for travelers planning a longer stay.
Fredonia sits near the Arizona-Utah border at the junction of U.S. 89A and Highway 389. It makes a handy stopping point between the Grand Canyon’s North Rim and Zion National Park. The Grand Canyon is about 89 miles away and Zion is roughly 48 miles to the northwest, so the motel’s name is not just wishful thinking.
UPDATE: The Grand Canyon Motel remains open and is also advertised as Grand Canyon Cabin. The sign disappeared around 2019. 08-26
Wayward Winds Lodge (Closed)
Tucson, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Here is the old marquee for the Wayward Winds Motel along Tucson’s Miracle Mile. The saguaro-shaped sign once featured neon script, but the glowing letters had been replaced with plain painted lettering by the time of this photo. 11-09
The 39-unit motel opened in 1958. In 2009, the Gospel Rescue Mission purchased the property and converted it into transitional housing for women and children.
UPDATE: The Wayward Winds Motel is no longer a motel as it's being converted into a women's shelter. Many thanks to Richard Moeur for update. 11-09
UPDATE: The sign received a welcome restoration in 2013, when its Wayward Winds neon was brought back to life and Gospel Rescue Mission lettering was added. The former motel and its restored sign remain at 707 W. Miracle Mile. 08-26
Flamingo Motel (Rem.)
Tucson, AZ
Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Here is the big roadside sign for the Flamingo Hotel on Stone Avenue in Tucson. The 1962 marquee had plenty of sweeping neon script and looked especially sharp once the sun went down. 06-23
The Flamingo Motor Hotel actually opened in early 1955 as part of a small regional Flamingo chain. It was one of Tucson’s larger new hotels at the time, offering television, telephones, air conditioning, and a big courtyard swimming pool.
Local stories sometimes credit Del Webb with building the motel, perhaps because his company constructed the famous Flamingo in Las Vegas. That connection to this particular Tucson property, however, has not been confirmed in available historical records.
The motel became the Quality Inn Flamingo Downtown in 2011. That business is now listed as permanently closed, but the buildings were not demolished.
UPDATE: The former Flamingo complex \now operates as the Red Roof Inn Tucson Downtown-University. The wonderful 1962 Flamingo marquee has been removed and replaced with corporate signage. 08-26
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