Tombstone Motel
Tombstone, AZ Photo and info courtesy Bob Jagendorf
Here’s the Tombstone Motel along Fremont Street, where the freestanding sign welcomes travelers to the “Town Too Tough to Die.” The low buildings and parking near the doors offer a familiar roadside setup. Pull in, unload the car, and start looking for the Old West.
Fremont Street carries historic US 80 through town, placing the motel along a highway that welcomed motorists long before the interstate era. Allen Street is only a short walk away, with the O.K. Corral, old saloons, and souvenir shops nearby. Finding another parking space need not become part of the adventure.
UPDATE: The Tombstone Motel remains open, retaining its motor-court arrangement and roadside sign. Modern room amenities have joined the accommodations, but the location still lets guests explore much of historic Tombstone on foot. A convenient place to leave the automobile while checking out the stagecoaches. 11-26
Here are more photos of the Tombstone Motel.
The Tombstone Motel from the street
Tombstone, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Sign on the wall
Tombstone, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Tombstone Motel from the street
Tombstone, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Tombstone Motel office area
Tombstone, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Larian Motel
Tombstone, AZ Photo courtesy Larry Glass
The Larian Motel marquee looks like a throwback to another decade, although the little “Free Wi-Fi” panel gives the game away. This Tombstone motor court has kept up with travelers without losing its familiar roadside introduction along Fremont Street. 04-09
Built in 1957, the motel reportedly combined original owners Larry and Lillian’s names to create “Larian.” It also picked up some properly Tombstone-style ghost lore. Guests have described misplaced belongings, unexplained activity, and a tall white-haired apparition associated with Room 4. Apparently, a few visitors may have neglected to check out.
UPDATE: The Larian remains open, offering ground-floor rooms close to Tombstone’s historic attractions. Its vintage marquee survives alongside Western-themed updates to the property. Whether the room comes with an unexpected visitor is another matter, but at least the sign promises something easier to explain: free Wi-Fi. 11-26
Americana Motor Hotel (Rem.)
Nogales, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Americana Motor Hotel welcomed border travelers with its tall sign along Grand Avenue in Nogales. More than 25 years after those early RoadsidePeek visits, the property is still here. The name on the marquee has taken a few detours along the way. 06-23
Opened by the Capin family around 1971, the Americana featured architectural and decorative influences drawn from Mesoamerican cultures. Its restaurant and event rooms made it a gathering place for weddings, quinceañeras, and local celebrations. Around Nogales, “La Americana” meant considerably more than somewhere to spend the night.
UPDATE: After operating under the Quality Hotel Americana name, the property returned to its independent Americana identity. The hotel, dining facilities, and event spaces remain in business, while the roadside sign has been updated again. Thankfully, the familiar name has found its way back onto the display. 11-26
Buckeye Motor Hotel
Buckeye, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Surrounded by the growth and development spreading across the West Valley, the Buckeye Motor Hotel still holds its ground along old Highway 85. Here are a couple of angles showing its low roadside buildings and tall motel sign, which has been redone a bit over the years. 06-23
The hotel is a classic postwar motor court with 22 single-story rooms arranged around an open parking area. Motorists could pull off the highway, park near their room, and settle in before continuing toward Phoenix, Gila Bend, or the Mexican border.
Buckeye Motor Hotel
Buckeye, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Some of the rooms were equipped with kitchenettes, including refrigerators and stove cooktops. Those features could make a small independent motel especially attractive to families, workers, and travelers planning more than a one-night stop.
Vintage postcards show the Buckeye Motor Hotel during a greener time, surrounded by lawns, palm trees, and desert landscaping. The sign was already a big part of its roadside identity, calling to passing motorists along Monroe Avenue.
UPDATE: The Buckeye Motor Hotel remains open despite the rapid development surrounding this once-small farming community. Its original pole sign structure also survives, although the face, lettering, and much of its old roadside character have been altered. 08-26
Tombstone Motel
Larian Motel
Americana Motor Hotel (Rem.)
Buckeye Motor Hotel
Buckeye Motor Hotel
