Budget #1 Motel | Sundowner Motel

Sage Motel (Closed)
Needles, CA
Photo courtesy Alex Schultz

Sometimes the dryness of the old road is best captured in black and white. Here, the tall arrow for the Sage Motel points toward a forlorn motor court along Route 66 in Needles, looking back on busier days before the interstate carried travelers around town.

The Sage opened in 1955 with a classic U-shaped layout wrapped around a central parking area. Its neon marquee greeted motorists entering Needles from the west, offering another place to pull in after crossing the Mojave Desert.

When Interstate 40 bypassed Broadway in 1970, the steady stream of highway travelers began to disappear. The Sage slowly declined and finally closed as a motel in the early 2000s. Unlike many abandoned desert lodgings, however, the buildings escaped both fire and demolition.

UPDATE: The former motel has been renovated and converted into long-term residential housing. Its original motor-court layout remains recognizable, and the large neon arrow sign was preserved in front of the property. 09-26

Ruta Motel
Indio, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Another old roadside stop along Indio Boulevard is the Ruta Motel. Its marquee was similar to the signs that once lined the main road through almost every desert town. Nothing too fancy, just a big name, an arrow, and a vacancy panel waiting to catch the next passing motorist.

The Ruta opened in 1951 with 13 rooms arranged in a simple drive-up row. Back then, Indio Boulevard carried U.S. Highway 99 and Highway 111 traffic through town, making a small motor court like this a handy place to stop before continuing across the Coachella Valley.

The motel also sits beside the busy railroad main line. Freight trains rumble past the rooms throughout the day and night, providing a little extra roadside atmosphere whether guests requested it or not.

UPDATE: The Ruta Motel remains open as a budget lodging property, and its original 1951 motor-court layout survives. The vintage roadside marquee has been removed and replaced with a modern backlit plastic sign. 09-26

Budget Inn Motel (Rem.)
Indio, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Another remnant of the old Travelodge sign era was the Budget Inn Motel along Indio Boulevard. Although relettered for an independent motel, the oddly shaped frame still gave away its earlier life beside the highway.

The property originally opened as a Travelodge, with a two-story exterior-corridor layout built for motorists following old Highway 99 through the Coachella Valley. When the franchise name disappeared, the sign was simply reused for the Budget Inn. No need to throw away a perfectly good roadside arrow.

UPDATE: The Budget Inn remains open as a 30-room motel. The vintage Travelodge-style marquee has been removed and replaced by a modern backlit sign.. 09-26

Hacienda del Sol
Borrego Springs, CA
Photo courtesy Bill Herzog

Tucked near the center of Borrego Springs is the Hacienda del Sol, a low-slung desert motor lodge built in 1947. Spread across six acres, the property offered rooms, casitas, a swimming pool, and plenty of quiet beneath the Borrego Valley sky.

The Hacienda became a secluded retreat during the early years of Borrego Springs tourism. Marlon Brando is said to have been among the Hollywood visitors who found their way out here. Once the sun went down, the dark desert sky provided the evening entertainment. 05-06

UPDATE: Hacienda del Sol remains open as a restored boutique lodge. Between 2023 and 2025, most of its guest units were renovated while the original mid-century layout, signs, pool, and relaxed desert atmosphere were preserved. 09-26