Circle K Motel (Closed)
Phoenix, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Circle K Motel welcomed travelers along West Van Buren Street with a tall roadside marquee. By the time of this view, its paint had weathered through plenty of Phoenix summers. It was still easy to picture how the sign might have looked when the neon was working and the rooms were busy. 11-20
The single-story motor court offered convenient parking near downtown and the Arizona State Capitol. Its name might bring convenience stores to mind today, but the motel had its own identity along the old highway strip. Apparently, a room for the night did not come with a gasoline pump.
UPDATE: The Circle K no longer accepts conventional overnight guests, with the surviving room blocks shifting to residential uses. Its faded marquee remains along Van Buren, marking another former motor court that found a different job. The sign has lost much of its glow, but not all of its roadside character. 11-26
Pyramid Inn (Gone)
Phoenix, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Pyramid Inn made its name easy to remember with a glowing pyramid above its roadside sign. The tall display called to motorists along East Van Buren Street, adding another exotic theme to Phoenix’s busy motel row. No trip to Egypt required. 11-20
Postcards advertised refrigerated air, color television, room telephones, and a swimming pool surrounded by desert landscaping. That covered most of the essentials after a long Arizona drive. Like its neighbors, the Pyramid relied on an eye-catching marquee to turn passing highway traffic into overnight guests.
UPDATE: The Pyramid Inn closed, and its former property became associated with family housing and assistance services near the UMOM campus. The motel buildings found another purpose, but the pyramid-topped sign was removed. Its whereabouts remain unknown, leaving this stretch of Van Buren with one less unusual roadside landmark. 11-26
Sandman Motel (Closed)
Phoenix, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Check out the little fellow tossing sand from above the Sandman Motel sign along West Van Buren Street. Wearing his nightcap, he offered a pretty clear suggestion to tired motorists. This view, taken around 2000, captures one of the more playful characters on Phoenix’s old motel strip. 11-20
The Sandman opened during the 1950s, with a marquee designed by prolific Phoenix sign artist Glen Guyett. Postcards promoted air conditioning, a heated pool, and a free coffee bar. A good night’s sleep followed by coffee sounded like a sensible combination, especially after the sign had spent the evening encouraging everyone to get sleepy.
UPDATE: The former motel shifted toward apartments and extended stays, retaining its low room blocks. Its distinctive sign and sand-tossing mascot also survived, although the original neon’s working condition is uncertain. Thankfully, this little roadside character managed to stay on duty after the overnight lodging business changed. 11-26
Relax Inn
Phoenix, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Relax Inn at 2922 East Van Buren Street is another survivor from Phoenix’s old roadside motel strip. Its oddly shaped marquee rises from the edge of the property with a combination of angles and curves that is difficult to describe but easy to remember. 11-20
The sign was interesting enough to bring the camera out, although photographing old motels along Van Buren could sometimes become an adventure of its own. This parking lot brings back the memory of being yelled at for taking pictures of the marquee.
That happened fairly often in the early RoadsidePeek days. Long before everyone carried a camera in a phone, someone standing near a motel with an actual camera could attract plenty of suspicion. Sometimes an explanation led to a friendly conversation. Other times, it was best to get the photograph and keep moving.
Relax Inn
Phoenix, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Relax Inn follows the familiar Van Buren motor-court plan, with single-story rooms and parking directly outside the doors. Its location near Sky Harbor Airport helped the property continue attracting budget travelers after most cross-country highway traffic moved to the freeways.
UPDATE: The Relax Inn remains open as an independent economy motel. Its unusual roadside marquee also survives along East Van Buren Street, still attracting cameras and perhaps the occasional suspicious look from the parking lot. 08-26
Super 7 Motel (Gone)
Phoenix, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Super 7 Motel had a sharp A-frame lobby that stood out along East Van Buren Street in Phoenix. Among so many low, flat-roofed motor courts, that pointed entrance gave passing travelers something different to notice. Apparently, the roof could handle some of the advertising. 11-20
Built during the 1960s as a Hyatt Lodge, the property belonged to the chain’s distinctive roadside-lodging era before becoming the independent Super 7. The later name probably caused a few double takes from motorists looking for a Super 8. One number short, but still offering somewhere to spend the night.
UPDATE: The Super 7 closed and was demolished along with its roadside sign. The A-frame entrance and motel rooms disappeared from Van Buren, leaving another gap in the old lodging strip. A name change could keep the property going for a while, but it could not save this one from the bulldozers. 11-26
Sky Harbor Inn (Closed)
Phoenix, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Sky Harbor Inn stands along East Van Buren Street, carrying a name that leaves little doubt about its nearby attraction. An inexpensive room close to the airport made a useful offer, especially after a long drive or a late arrival in Phoenix. 11-20
Its two-story room blocks and exterior walkways recall Van Buren’s busy motel years. Highway travelers once followed the street past a procession of neon signs, swimming pools, and promises of refrigerated air. The Sky Harbor’s interior parking area kept vehicles close while its tall sign introduced the property from the road.
UPDATE: The former Sky Harbor Inn has shifted away from conventional overnight lodging toward residential accommodations. Its motel buildings and roadside pole sign survive, although the condition of the original lighting remains uncertain. Another old Van Buren property has found a different job without losing its entire roadside appearance. 11-26
Sun Villa Motel (Demolished)
Phoenix, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Another empty lot. That is the best way to describe the spot where the Sun Villa Motel once stood along East Van Buren Street. Its eye-catching marquee featured a bright neon sunburst designed to capture the attention of passing motorists. 11-20
The property began during the 1940s as the Silver Dollar Court and later became the Sun Villa Court and Motel. Old postcards advertised 24 rooms and furnished kitchenette apartments. The motel closed and was demolished in 2012. Fortunately, preservationist Michael Levine rescued its enormous sunburst sign before the property was cleared.
UPDATE: The former Sun Villa site remains a vacant commercial lot. Its neon marquee survives in storage with the Mesa Preservation Foundation, awaiting possible restoration or display. 08-26
Circle K Motel (Closed)
Pyramid Inn (Gone)
Sandman Motel (Closed)
Super 7 Motel (Gone)
Sky Harbor Inn (Closed)
Sun Villa Motel (Demolished)
