Tombstone Motel
Tombstone, AZ Photo and info courtesy Bob Jagendorf
Along Fremont Street, the Tombstone Motel offers a classic roadside stop surrounded by plenty of Old West history. Its freestanding sign rises above the low motel buildings, letting travelers know they have reached the right place.
The motel sits directly on U.S. Route 80, once the major transcontinental highway carrying motorists through southern Arizona. Before Interstate 10 redirected much of that traffic, Fremont Street brought road travelers right through the center of Tombstone.
The Tombstone Motel from the street
Tombstone, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Its low-rise rooms and parking spaces near the doors follow the familiar layout of a mid-century motor court. There are no long hallways or parking garages here. Pull in, park near the room, unload the luggage, and begin exploring town.
Allen Street and Tombstone’s historic district are only a short walk away. The O.K. Corral, old saloons, stagecoach rides, gunfight shows, and plenty of souvenir shops can all be reached without moving the car again.
Sign on the wall
Tombstone, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The property is sometimes advertised as the Tombstone O.K. Corral Motel, making full use of its famous neighbor. With so many businesses in town borrowing names from Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and the local gunfight history, it is almost refreshing to see a sign that simply says “Tombstone Motel.”
The motel has been updated with air conditioning, heating, satellite television, and Wi-Fi, but its basic roadside arrangement remains intact. Parking for cars and motorcycles also makes it a practical stop for travelers following the old Route 80 corridor.
UPDATE: The Tombstone Motel remains open at 502 East Fremont Street. Its low-rise motor-court buildings and classic roadside pylon sign continue to greet travelers arriving in the “Town Too Tough to Die.” 09-26
Here are more photos of the Tombstone Motel.
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 sign looks like a throwback to another decade, but the little “Free Wi-Fi” panel shows that this Tombstone motor court has kept up with the times. The old marquee still stands along Fremont Street, pointing travelers toward a row of ground-floor rooms just a block from Allen Street. 04-09
Built in 1957, the 13-room motel took its unusual name from the first names of its original owners, generally identified as Larry and Lillian. Its simple motor-court design fit naturally along old U.S. Route 80, where travelers could park close to their rooms and walk into historic Tombstone.
The location comes with an interesting bit of Old West geography. On October 26, 1881, the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday would have passed close to the future motel property while walking toward their confrontation near the O.K. Corral.
As might be expected in Tombstone, the Larian also has a few ghost stories. Guests have reported unexplained footsteps and the occasional shadowy figure around the older rooms. Whether anything is really wandering the grounds is another question, but a vintage motel in Tombstone almost seems required to have at least one ghost.
UPDATE: The Larian Motel remains open and has undergone a Western-style renovation while retaining its classic roadside layout. Best of all, the old marquee survives, still mixing its 1950s motel appearance with that very modern promise of free Wi-Fi. 08-26
Americana Motor Hotel (Rem.)
Nogales, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Americana Motor Hotel stood near the United States-Mexico border in Nogales, welcoming travelers with its tall roadside sign along Grand Avenue. More than 25 years after the early RoadsidePeek visits, the hotel is still here. 06-23
Built by the Capin family around 1971 or 1972, the Americana was considerably more than a basic border motel. Its brick architecture and lobby decorations drew inspiration from Toltec, Olmec, and other Mesoamerican cultures.
The hotel also became an important local gathering place. Three event halls hosted weddings, quinceañeras, business meetings, and other celebrations, while travelers heading between the United States and Mexico filled the guest rooms. Around Nogales, the property became known simply as “La Americana.”
In 2009, the hotel joined the Quality Inn chain and the old sign was altered to read Quality Hotel Americana. The towering structure survived, but the corporate panels took away some of its independent identity.
UPDATE: The property has since left the Quality Inn system and returned to its roots as the independent Hotel Americana. Its roadside sign was updated once again to display the Americana name, while the hotel, restaurant, and event spaces remain open near the border. 08-26
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
The Tombstone Motel from the street
Sign on the wall
Larian Motel
Americana Motor Hotel (Rem.)
Buckeye Motor Hotel
Buckeye Motor Hotel
