99 Motel | Bakersfield Inn

Valley Motel
Merced, CA
Photo courtesy Jimmy Bowman

This rather tall marquee stands outside the Valley Motel in the Highway 99 town of Merced. Rising well above the single-story rooms, the sign gave motorists plenty of time to spot the motel before passing it by. A little roadside height can come in handy when trying to catch travelers moving down the highway. No need to squint through the windshield for this one.

The Valley Motel followed the familiar motor court arrangement, with rooms opening toward a central parking area. Pull in, park near the door, and get some rest before another day on the road. Out front, the vertical sign did most of the advertising, lifting the motel name above the rooftops for everyone to see.

Signs like this were once a familiar part of the Highway 99 scenery. Even for those not looking for a room, a tall marquee could become a handy landmark and another reason to pause with the camera while making the Central Valley rounds.

UPDATE: This property may be the Valley Motel on Sycamore Avenue in neighboring Atwater rather than Merced, though the match has not been fully confirmed. If so, the motel remains open, while its original tall marquee has been replaced. 09-26

Globe Motel
Bakersfield, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The Globe Motel still features an old marquee pointing the way into the property. Check out the big yellow arrow directing motorists toward the rooms. No need to travel around the globe to find this place. It still stands along South Union Avenue, the old Highway 99 route through Bakersfield.

Travelers were staying in the small roadside units here by the mid-1940s. Paul and Ann Stolz later operated the motel, offering both standard rooms and kitchenettes for guests planning to stay a little longer. Pull off the highway, follow the arrow, and settle in.

The passing traffic eventually moved to the freeway, but the Globe and its sign stayed behind. The marquee has picked up plenty of rust and weathering over the years, giving the old arrow a little less shine but no less determination.

UPDATE: The Globe Motel remains in use, primarily as budget and longer-term housing. Its weathered marquee continues to stand along South Union Avenue, with the yellow arrow still pointing toward the property. 09-26

Kern Motel
Bakersfield, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

This cardboard-block-looking sign is what advertises the Kern Motor Inn in Bakersfield. The plain backlit panels certainly get the name across, though they don't offer much roadside excitement. Not sure what the original sign looked like, but it's hard to imagine it being any plainer than this.

The Kern Motor Inn opened in 1937 along South Union Avenue, part of the old Highway 99 route through Bakersfield. Its 21 cabin-like units surround an open driveway, preserving the familiar layout of an early motor court.

UPDATE: The Kern Motor Inn remains open, and its original cabin-style layout survives. 09-26

B & Z Motel (Demolished)
Madera, CA
Photo courtesy Jimmy Bowman

This old sign draws travelers' attention toward the B & Z Motel in Madera, CA. Standing along Gateway Avenue, the weathered marquee once called out to motorists passing through town on the old Highway 99 route. A simple name, but one that was easy enough to spot above the roadside.

The B & Z served highway travelers for decades before shifting toward longer-term lodging. By the late 2000s, photographs showed boarded rooms, worn awnings, and a marquee that had seen better days. The palms remained, though the old motor court atmosphere was quickly fading.

UPDATE: The B & Z Motel has been demolished, and its roadside sign has been removed. The former property is now a vacant lot along Gateway Avenue, though its exact street number has not been confirmed. 09-26

Big Star Motel
Fresno, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Here's the Big Star Motel in Fresno. With its sweeping panels, sharp angles, and oversized starburst reaching toward the sky, this old marquee carries plenty of mid-century roadside style. It must have been quite a sight when the neon was intact and glowing after dark.

The motel sits along South G Street near the old Highway 99 route, where signs needed to stand tall enough to catch the attention of passing travelers. The property reportedly began as an office complex in 1938 before being converted into a 30-room motel in 1955. The Big Star sign appears to have arrived during that motel conversion or shortly afterward.

Although this part of Fresno is separate from the better-known Motel Drive strip, it once had its own collection of roadside lodgings. The nearby City Motel and Gables Motel added even more neon to the route, giving southbound travelers several glowing invitations to stop for the night.

UPDATE: The Big Star Motel remains open. Its distinctive marquee still stands, but the original neon tubing was removed around 2020 and the metal sign was repainted. The big star survives, though its nighttime glow has gone dark. 09-26

Suburban Lodge (Rem.)
Paso Robles, CA
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

Here's the marquee for the Suburban Lodge, a former Highway 101 motor lodge in Paso Robles. The most noteworthy part of the sign is that enormous boomerang arrow, which looks ready to launch across the roadside. It certainly gave passing travelers a clear idea of where to turn.

The Suburban Lodge opened in 1947 along the highway between Templeton and Paso Robles. Its mid-century design continued beyond the sign, with a boomerang-shaped main building, rooms arranged for convenient front-door parking, and a kidney-shaped swimming pool.

UPDATE: Known as the River Lodge Motel for many years, the former Suburban Lodge reopened after restoration in spring 2024. Its refurbished boomerang marquee continues carrying the River Lodge name, with the red “MOTEL” lettering glowing above. Good to see this old Highway 101 stop getting another chapter. 10-26