Orange County Neon Motels

Dunes Motel
Hollywood, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

A tall neon marquee gives the Dunes Motel a memorable greeting along Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. Its script lettering and crown-like geometric top offered motorists something to watch for near the freeway, especially after the daylight faded.

Opened in 1962, the 55-room motel joined Hollywood’s busy roadside lodging scene. The name suggested a little desert-resort atmosphere, though this independent property stood a considerable drive from its famous Las Vegas namesake.

A management and branding change followed around 1977, with later renovations updating the accommodations. The familiar motor-court arrangement continued serving travelers while newer comforts moved into the rooms.

UPDATE: The property remains in operation as the Dunes Inn Sunset at 5625 W. Sunset Boulevard, continuing a lodging history dating to 1962. 10-26

Saharan Motel (Closed)
Hollywood, CA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

Along Sunset Boulevard, the Saharan Motel brought an oasis theme to the Hollywood roadside. Its towering neon pylon and stylized lettering gave travelers a familiar landmark to watch for after dark.

Built in 1957, the 62-room motel arranged its two-story accommodations around a courtyard and swimming pool. Guests could stay near Hollywood’s attractions while enjoying a little breathing room away from the boulevard.

During the 1970s and 1980s, affordable rooms and access to the area’s music scene reportedly made it a stop for musicians and rising bands. The old marquee carried on glowing through those years, advertising a room whether the guest arrived with luggage or a guitar case.

The supplied folklore includes stories about Room 114, where unexplained cold spots and the sound of an acoustic guitar have supposedly been noticed when the room was empty. These remain unverified tales, adding a little late-night mystery to the motel’s musical reputation.

UPDATE: The Saharan underwent a major renovation in 2020 and it's sign was changed to the Sunset West Hotel. 10-2

Town House Motel (Closed)
Hollywood, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Along Sunset Boulevard, the Town House Motel once advertised rooms with a colorful vertical marquee. Its distinctive script had a look reminiscent of early Travelodge lettering, even without the rockets and starbursts found on some neighboring motel signs.

Opened in 1958, the 35-room property offered a straightforward roadside layout with convenient parking near the ground-floor rooms. Travelers could pull off the boulevard and settle in without navigating a large hotel complex.

Later modernization removed the Town House name and much of its vintage exterior character. The buildings survived, though passing sign hunters would find a different greeting out front.

UPDATE: The former Town House Motel operates as the Hollywood Palms Inn & Suites at 6055 Sunset Boulevard. Its original 1958 building footprint remains beneath the later alterations. 10-26

Skylark Motel
Riverside, CA
Photo courtesy David Carrasco

Here is a photo of the Skylark Motel located in Riverside, CA. Notice the 60's neon and the 70's backlit plastic sign that says "Jacuzzi", that appears to have been added later. Many thanks to David Carrasco for info.

Built in 1961, the motel joined the growth along University Avenue as Riverside expanded and nearby UC Riverside brought more activity to the area. The 27-room property offered a compact overnight stop along the commercial corridor.

Rather than replacing the original sign entirely, owners added the backlit extension in the late 1970s. The result became a little roadside timeline, with the older neon and newer advertising sharing the same framework. Apparently there was still room below the starburst for another selling point.

UPDATE: The Skylark Motel remains standing at 1150 University Avenue and is reported to operate primarily as weekly-rate lodging. Its layered marquee and original motel buildings preserve details from its 1961 beginnings and later alterations. 10-26

Don's Motel
Long Beach, CA
Photo courtesy Greg Wranic

Neon script and a pointed starburst give Don’s Motel in Long Beach a roadside appearance worth checking out. Along Pacific Coast Highway, the marquee adds a little nighttime color to the drive through town. 10-05

Established in 1954, the compact two-story motel served travelers following the coast during Southern California’s post-war automobile boom. Its rooms offered a modest overnight stop, while the sign did the work of getting motorists’ attention.

The starburst above the lettering is the detail to watch for. Even among the businesses lining PCH, a custom neon marquee gives an older motel a personality that is easy to remember.

UPDATE: Don’s Motel remains in operation at 4915 E. Pacific Coast Highway, with its vintage neon marquee reported to remain illuminated. The property dates to 1954. 10-26

Mar Vista Motel (Demolished)
Hermosa Beach, CA
Photo courtesy Dan MacPherson

An earlier chapter of South Bay travel could be found at the Mar Vista Motel in Hermosa Beach. Its low-slung cottages recalled the motor-court era before tall neon pylons and Space Age entrances became familiar roadside sights. 10-05

Opened in 1940, the motel predated Southern California’s great post-war lodging boom. Its streamlined appearance offered motorists a coastal stop along Pacific Coast Highway, with nearly six decades of travelers passing through before its final closure.

As beachfront-area land grew more valuable, the old motor court faced pressure for another use. The modest lodging property eventually gave way to an expansion of a neighboring business.

UPDATE: The Mar Vista Motel closed and was demolished in 1999 to make room for a lumberyard expansion, ending a roadside lodging history that began in 1940. 10-26

Town House Motel
Lancaster, CA
Photo courtesy Steve Snyder

Out along Sierra Highway in Lancaster, the Town House Motel greets motorists with a large neon pylon. Its layered lettering gives the desert roadside a familiar glow, marking an overnight stop amid the commercial strip. 03-06

Opened in 1959, the motel served the Antelope Valley during the years of expanding aerospace activity. Military personnel, engineers, and visiting families helped create demand for lodging within reach of Edwards Air Force Base and the region’s growing communities.

The marquee was the feature to watch for after dark. A tall neon sign could make a motel easier to find along the highway, while giving passing photographers a reason to pull over before continuing through the desert.

UPDATE: The Town House Motel remains in operation at 44125 Sierra Highway, retaining its mid-century motor-court layout and classic roadside pylon. Its opening dates to 1959. 10-26