Bakersfield Inn
Bakersfield, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Bakersfield Inn was located along the old Route 99 in the Central Valley town of Bakersfield. Today, the Bakersfield Inn building is home to a rehabilitation center.
Colonial Motor Motel (Rem.)
Bakersfield, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Here's the Colonial Motor Motel along Union Avenue in Bakersfield. Check out the big arrow pointing down toward the outline of the “Color TV” lettering. The vacancy panel wasn't lighting up when this photo was taken, but the old marquee still had a few details worth catching. Apparently color television remained something to brag about.
The property appears on postcards from the 1940s as the Colonial Motor Hotel & Restaurant, with green roofs and palms adding a little vacation flavor. Union Avenue carried Highway 99 travelers through town in those days, giving roadside motels plenty of passing eyes to catch.
Take a closer look at the lettering below the arrow before continuing down the road. Even without the full neon treatment, the sign gives a hint of what once helped convince a tired motorist to pull in.
UPDATE: The property may have continued as the Colonial Inn, offering budget and extended-stay lodging. If so, the sign was replaced. 09-26
Shasta Motel (Gone)
Turlock, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The old marquee for the Shasta Motel sits forlornly off the highway in Turlock, CA. Check out the weathered panel and those big block letters stacked above the roadside. No fancy introduction here, just “MOTEL” getting the message across to passing travelers. A little faded and tired, perhaps, but still tall enough to be noticed from down the road. 02-06
The Shasta stood on South First Street near the old Highway 99 route through town. It was the kind of simple roadside lodging where motorists could pull off the highway, park near the room, and get some rest before continuing through the Central Valley. No reservation app or long list of amenities needed. Just watch for the tall sign and make the turn.
By the time of this photo, the Shasta name had disappeared from the marquee, leaving the large vertical letters to do all the talking. The lower panels were looking pretty empty, too. Whatever colorful details or promises once filled the sign had already slipped away, leaving behind a weather-beaten reminder of the motel's busier days.
Shasta Motel
Turlock, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Signs like this once appeared up and down Highway 99, each one trying to catch travelers before they passed the driveway. Some used neon arrows, unusual shapes, or colorful characters. The Shasta's surviving marquee had been reduced to the basics, but there was still something about seeing those four big letters standing above the old road.
UPDATE: A review of the original photographs identified this property as the Shasta Motel, not the Divine Motel. The Shasta Motel blade sign disappeared prior to 2015 and the motel changed name around 2020 to El Amigo Motel. 09-26
Motel
Off Hwy 99, CA Photo courtesy Devil Doll
Here's a sight that was once a staple of road trips back in the day. This Motel sign stands tall above an old roadside stop along California's Highway 99 corridor. Check out the lettering perched over the roof, letting passing motorists know there was a place to call it a night. No elaborate sales pitch needed when the drive was getting long. 02-06
UPDATE: This motel's name and exact location remain unidentified. The current status of the building and rooftop sign is unknown. 09-26
Motel Sign (Gone)
Bodfish, CA Photo courtesy Brad & Lori Bristow
Check out this old Motel Sign found near Bodfish, CA. The weathered marquee stands along Lake Isabella Boulevard, pointing the way toward the Kern River Valley and Lake Isabella. A faded reminder of the days when fishermen, campers, and vacationing families came through looking for a room before heading out to the lake. 11-09
The sign belonged to the Valley Motel, also known as the Valley Rest Motel. Its stacked panels once spelled out the name in neon, though very little glow remained by the time this photo was taken. Even the Visa and Mastercard logos found a spot near the bottom. Apparently the old roadside welcome included plastic.
UPDATE: The Valley Motel was located in Lake Isabella, just beyond Bodfish, and has since closed. The weathered motel marquee remained standing after the property stopped welcoming overnight guests. 09-26
Palm Motel
Delano, CA Photo courtesy John King
Check out the Palm Motel in Delano, CA, complete with a fitting neon palm tree on the sign. The colorful tree rises above the stacked motel lettering, adding a little tropical scenery to High Street. No beach nearby, but the roadside camera doesn't seem to mind. 10-10
The marquee likely dated from the 1950s or 1960s, when signs needed a little extra personality to catch motorists traveling through the Central Valley. Along with rooms, the lower panels advertised kitchenettes for anyone planning more than a quick overnight stay. There also appears to have been an arrow at the bottom, just in case the palm tree wasn't enough to show the way.
UPDATE: The Palm Motel no longer operates as a traditional overnight motel, and the buildings now serve as apartments. The old neon palm tree marquee has been replaced with a different sign. 09-26
Colonial Motor Motel (Rem.)
Shasta Motel (Gone)
Shasta Motel
Motel
Motel Sign (Gone)
Palm Motel
