El Sahuaro Motel (Gone)
Tucson, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The El Sahuaro Motel had already become apartments when these photographs were taken. Its low motor-court buildings survived along Flores Street, while the old sign recalled the days when travelers pulled in looking for a room. Thankfully, changing the lodging arrangements did not immediately send the marquee to the scrap pile. 06-23
The motel stood a block away from busy Miracle Mile, offering guests a little separation from highway traffic without taking them far off the road. John and Ludwina Scherman operated the property for about 25 years. As overnight tourism declined, the rooms became efficiencies and apartments, giving the old court another way to keep going.
UPDATE: The El Sahuaro sign was rescued and arrived at Tucson’s Ignite Sign Art Museum in March 2021. Restorers sanded through later paint to uncover its original colors and discovered that the name had glowed in green neon. The restoration was completed in early 2024. The motel business is gone, but its roadside introduction received a welcome second chance. 11-26
Terrace Motel
Tucson, AZ Photo courtesy Bob Jagendorf
Travel down Tucson’s Miracle Mile, and no, this is not Wilshire Boulevard, and you’ll find the Terrace Motel. Its big letters stretch across the office canopy rather than sitting on a separate pole. Apparently, the building figured it could handle the advertising itself.
Built during the 1950s motel boom, the Terrace features a broad projecting roof and a hefty angled support that give the entrance some fine mid-century character. Old postcards showed palm trees, a swimming pool, and mountain views, with AAA approval adding another reason to stop. A pretty convincing package for travelers arriving on the old highway.
UPDATE: The Terrace remains in operation, with its distinctive canopy and angled pillar surviving along Miracle Mile. A March 22, 2024, fire damaged the laundry and storage area, but spared the motel’s recognizable entrance. Repairs to that service building were still moving through the permit process in 2026. Fortunately, this old motor court has more left than a postcard view. 11-26
Terrace Motel
Tucson, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Terrace Motel
Tucson, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Se-Tay Motel (Gone)
Casa Grande, CA Photos courtesy Elgin MacMillan
The Se-Tay Motel and its colorful neon marquee greeted travelers along Pinal Avenue in Casa Grande, Arizona. During a 2006 visit, the man at the front desk figured the motel dated to around 1951 or 1952 and might be the oldest in town. Either way, that sign certainly looked like it had welcomed its share of desert travelers. 12-06
The little motor court actually dates to around 1949, with 13 rooms and the inviting promise of accommodations “cooled by refrigeration.” In central Arizona, that was probably enough to get a few drivers turning into the parking lot. A good night’s sleep sounded even better when it came with cold air.
Turns out the motel was built in 1949 by the original owner named Yates. Read Yates backwards and see what that spells.
Se-Tay Motel (Gone)
Casa Grande, CA Photos courtesy Elgin MacMillan
The name has a simple explanation. Original owner Yates spelled his surname backward, and Se-Tay was born. Really! Although the earlier Horse Shoe Lodge dates to 1943, the Se-Tay still earned its place among Casa Grande’s longtime motor courts. Its low buildings and glowing marquee carried plenty of old highway character.
UPDATE: The sign has been painted over completely as seen in Fall 2020. It was a shame to see this vintage sign gone, especially after the City of Casa Grande has been making efforts on a neon sign park recently. 11-20
UPDATE : The sign was painted blue with palm trees and an American flag on site. 06-23
UPDATE: The motel survives, but the neon appearance seen here is gone. Around 2020, the sign was stripped of its tubing and painted blue with palm trees and an American flag. The original framework remains on the property, although the Se-Tay lettering no longer glows above Pinal Avenue. Unfortunately, this old sign missed out on the neon revival taking place elsewhere in town. 11-26
The Arizonan Motel (Gone)
Tucson, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Check out the enormous Arizona-shaped sign for The Arizonan Motel along Tucson’s Miracle Mile. Kitchenettes and daily and weekly rates gave travelers the practical information, while the outline of the state handled the roadside showmanship. Apparently, a rectangular sign would not have made the point quite as well. 06-23
The property began in 1951 as the Canyon State Motor Lodge. Its rooms, kitchenettes, heated swimming pool, and shuffleboard offered a comfortable little stop along the highway into Tucson. The motel became the Arizonan during the 1970s, and the lettering on the state-shaped marquee changed along with the name.
A view of The Arizonan Motel look out along the Miracle Mile
Tucson, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The motel eventually disappeared, and in 2010 the sign was pulled down, badly damaging its framework. Fortunately, the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation rescued it. Cook & Company restored the marquee in 2011, giving one face its original Canyon State identity and the other its later Arizonan name. Two chapters of motel history on the same piece of metal.
UPDATE: The restored sign stands along the Drachman Street Neon Art Walk at Pima Community College. Even its entrance arrow preserves an old advertisement for “Panel Ray Heat,” recalling when heating equipment deserved a mention on the marquee. The motel is gone, but this giant piece of Arizona found a much better ending than the scrap pile. 11-26
El Sahuaro Motel (Gone)
Terrace Motel
Se-Tay Motel (Gone)
Se-Tay Motel (Gone)
The Arizonan Motel (Gone)
A view of The Arizonan Motel look out along the Miracle Mile
