Tampico Motel (Closed)
Anaheim, CA
Photo courtesy Steve Snyder

Welcome to the Tampico Motel in Anaheim, where a flashing neon pylon once greeted motorists along State College Boulevard. While other roadside motels were disappearing beneath the bulldozer, this property was still carrying on when photographed. 11-05

Built in 1960, the 32-room, two-story motor court offered travelers a swimming pool and a convenient stop near Lincoln Avenue. Its neon marquee supplied the roadside personality, making the entrance easier to spot after dark.

The property later deteriorated, bringing repeated neighborhood complaints and police calls. In April 2023, the Anaheim Housing Authority purchased it for $5.3 million, beginning a different chapter for the old motel.

Working with Jamboree Housing and the Orangewood Foundation, the city planned a conversion into affordable studios for young adults leaving foster care or facing homelessness. The project would retain and adapt the buildings while ending their use as commercial lodging.

UPDATE: The Tampico Motel at 120 S. State College Boulevard is closed as a motel and is being converted into supportive housing. The supplied account reports that its historic neon marquee has been removed as part of the redevelopment. 10-26

Anchor Motel
Anaheim, CA
Photo courtesy Steve Snyder

A glowing anchor marks the spot at the Anchor Motel in Anaheim. This nighttime view shows the nautical emblem sharing the marquee with custom neon lettering, giving Lincoln Avenue motorists a colorful landmark to watch for. 04-06

Opened in 1957, the motel joined the wave of accommodations serving Orange County travelers after Disneyland’s 1955 debut. Its low-slung, single-story layout offered the familiar motor-court convenience of parking close to the rooms.

The sign gave this modest property an identity of its own. An anchor might seem more at home near the waterfront, but it worked just fine here as a roadside invitation to stop for the night.

While many older motels were cleared or substantially altered, the Anchor continued serving guests. Room updates kept the accommodations in use, with the original building arrangement and neon providing reminders of its earlier years.

UPDATE: The Anchor Motel remains an independent lodging property at 1538 E. Lincoln Avenue. Its historic anchor marquee is reported to remain illuminated, continuing a roadside tradition dating to 1957. 10-26