Sahara Motel
Buena Park, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

A desert-themed name and flowing roadside lettering gave the Sahara Motel in Buena Park a little Las Vegas flavor. No casino required here, just a room near Knott’s Berry Farm and a marquee to catch the attention of passing motorists.

Built in 1961, the motel joined the collection of themed lodging along Beach Boulevard. Its angled office frontage and tall neon pylon reflected the years when an independent motel could make quite an introduction before guests reached the driveway.

Later renovations updated the rooms and changed portions of the property, while the Sahara name continued advertising an overnight stop along the busy boulevard.

UPDATE: The Sahara Motel remains in operation at 8201 Beach Boulevard, retaining its mid-century building layout beneath later improvements. Its history dates to 1961. 10-26

Oasis Motel (Demolished)
Buena Park, CA
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

As sunset approached, the Oasis Motel in Buena Park offered a roadside scene worth another look. Its vertical neon marquee and glowing palm-tree imagery recalled the days when the sign outside could help decide where a traveler spent the night.

Opened in 1955, the motel arranged its rooms around a central parking area near Beach Boulevard and La Palma Avenue. Families visiting the nearby attractions could pull in, park, and settle into a familiar motor-court setting.

The original November 2004 update recorded that the buildings had recently been bulldozed, leaving an empty lot where the motel once stood. Another colorful overnight stop had disappeared from the drive. 11-04

UPDATE: The Oasis Motel was bulldozed sometime over the last several months and an empty lots now resides in its place. Another Orange County treasure has disappeared off the map. 11-04

UPDATE: The Oasis Motel’s was demolished around \2004. Its cleared site remained vacant for a period before later commercial redevelopment. 10-26

Crescent Motel (Demolished)
Buena Park, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Sometimes the lettering alone was enough to catch the eye, as seen at the Crescent Motel in Buena Park. Large neon script mounted on the building gave this modest motor court a memorable appearance near Knott’s Berry Farm.

Opened in 1957, the single-story motel offered travelers a compact roadside stop along Beach Boulevard. Its sign wasn’t the tallest or most elaborate around, but the flowing letters gave photographers something worth checking out.

The property later deteriorated and faced code-enforcement problems. By the original October 2013 update, the wall-mounted neon was already gone and the motel was reported closed. 10-13

UPDATE: The Crescent Motel no longer has this neon lettering on the side of the building. In fact, according to this article, it appears that the Crescent Motel is now closed. 10-13

UPDATE Motel closed in October 2013 and was demolished in 2014, according to the supplied history. The former property stood at 7620 Beach Boulevard. 10-26

Tahiti Motel (Demolished)
Stanton, CA
Photo courtesy John Eng

A jagged, island-inspired marquee gives the Tahiti Motel in Stanton a distinctive greeting along Beach Boulevard. Its unusual shape brings a little South Seas styling to the roadside, even with traffic rather than ocean waves passing below.

Completed in 1962, the motel joined Southern California’s enthusiasm for tropical-themed lodging. Rock details, landscaping, and the bold pylon helped turn a practical overnight stop into something with a vacation identity.

The property later shifted toward inexpensive weekly stays while redevelopment changed surrounding blocks. Through those changes, the old marquee remained the feature to watch for.

UPDATE: The Tahiti Motel was at 11852 Beach Boulevard. It was renovated in 2022, and the motel and sign are gone. 10-26

Robin Hood Motel
Anaheim, CA
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

A sizeable archer greets passing motorists at the Robin Hood Motel in Anaheim. With medieval attire and a drawn bow, the figure above the marquee gives this Beach Boulevard stop a roadside personality of its own. Apparently an arrow could do more than simply point toward the driveway.

Built in 1961, the 30-room motel welcomed families traveling to Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland during Orange County’s growing tourism years. The Robin Hood theme helped distinguish it from the many other overnight stops along State Route 39.

The painted metal figure and neon bow became the detail to check out, especially after dark. While customers watched for the entrance, roadside photographers had another reason to pull over. A little Sherwood Forest scenery didn’t require leaving the boulevard.

As nearby motels disappeared through redevelopment, the Robin Hood continued in use. Renovations updated the accommodations while retaining the two-story motor-court layout.

The supplied account includes unverified guest stories of televisions switching on by themselves, sudden cold spots, and bootsteps along otherwise empty upstairs walkways. These remain informal motel lore rather than a documented haunting.

UPDATE: The Robin Hood Motel at 913 S. Beach Boulevard survives and operates as Robinhood Motel Anaheim West by OYO. 10-26