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 Bakersfield’s old Highway 99 strip. Check out the big arrow pointing toward the outlined “Color TV” lettering. The vacancy panel wasn’t glowing when this photo was taken, but the marquee still offered plenty for the camera. Apparently a television with more than shades of gray remained worth advertising.
Postcards from the 1940s show the property as the Colonial Motor Hotel & Restaurant, with green roofs and palm trees adding a little vacation atmosphere. Passing motorists could find both a room and a meal along Union Avenue, back when the highway delivered travelers directly past the entrance.
UPDATE: The property may have continued operating as the Colonial Inn, offering budget and extended-stay lodging, although that connection has not been confirmed. The vintage marquee appears to have been replaced. These photographs preserve its oversized arrow and an old promise of colorful entertainment after a day on the road. 11-26
Shasta Motel (Gone)
Turlock, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The old Shasta Motel marquee looked rather forlorn beside the road in Turlock. Check out the weathered panels and big block letters stacked high above the property. No fancy introduction here, just “MOTEL” getting the message across to passing travelers. Faded or not, those five letters were still doing their best to attract attention. 02-06
The Shasta stood near the old Highway 99 route through town, offering the familiar roadside arrangement of rooms and nearby parking. Pull off the highway, unload the car and rest before another day crossing the Central Valley. A tall sign helped motorists find the entrance before the opportunity slipped past.
Shasta Motel
Turlock, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
By the time these photos were taken, the Shasta name had disappeared from the marquee, leaving the vertical motel lettering to carry on alone. The empty lower panels hinted at advertising that had already vanished. Even stripped of some of its original details, the sign remained worth a stop with the camera.
UPDATE: The photographed property was identified as the Shasta Motel, correcting an earlier identification as the Divine Motel. Its blade sign disappeared before 2015, and the property became the El Amigo Motel around 2020. The lodging survived under another name, but the old roadside marquee is gone. 11-26
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
