Holiday Inn
Location: Unknown Photo courtesy Mike & Terie Lepker
Coming around the ridge, there’s the familiar Holiday Inn sign announcing “Your Host from Coast to Coast.” The sweeping arrow, green tower, and flashing starburst gave highway travelers a greeting that was easy to recognize. This view was captured in 1967.
Kemmons Wilson opened the first Holiday Inn in Memphis in 1952, seeking to offer families more predictable roadside accommodations. The elaborate marquee became known as the “Great Sign,” carrying the chain’s name above highways across the country.
The arrow pointed toward the driveway, while the reader board advertised messages below. There was quite a bit going on, even before anyone reached the office to ask about a room.
UPDATE: Holiday Inn began retiring the Great Sign in 1982, replacing the elaborate neon displays with simpler corporate signage. Surviving examples entered museums and private collections. The location shown in this photograph remains unidentified. 10-26
Sage Brush Inn
Helendale, CA Photo courtesy Mike & Terie Lepker
Out along old Route 66 in Helendale, the Sage Brush Inn advertised its presence with prominent lettering rather than a towering neon marquee. This June 1974 view catches the name still in place against the desert surroundings.
Opened in the late 1940s, the inn offered a modest stop for motorists traveling between Victorville and Barstow. Its single-story, ranch-style buildings suited the setting, with a straightforward roadside welcome for those crossing the Mojave.
Interstate 15 later drew much of the through traffic away from the old highway. The inn’s lodging days ended, though the buildings found another use instead of disappearing beneath the bulldozer.
UPDATE: The supplied history reports that the former Sage Brush Inn at 26840 National Trails Highway became private residential property. The old lettering was removed, but the buildings survived. 10-26
Saga Motel
Pasadena, CA Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo
Along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, the Saga Motel looks ready to welcome another carload of travelers from the 1950s. Palm trees, patterned concrete blocks, and a flowing neon marquee give this roadside stop plenty to check out before reaching the rooms.
Opened in 1959 and designed by Harold Zook, the 70-room hotel arranged its accommodations around a heated swimming pool and landscaped courtyard. A sun deck offered guests another place to relax after a day on the road or around town.
The marquee supplies a memorable introduction from the boulevard. Its sweeping script contrasts with the geometric breezeway blocks, giving photographers a couple of different mid-century details to admire. A daytime visit for the architecture and an evening look at the neon might call for two trips past this one.
Across from Pasadena City College and near Caltech, the Saga continued attracting visiting families and campus guests. Its position along the Rose Parade route provided another reason to book a room. The continued use of physical room keys adds a small reminder of earlier motel stays.
Saga Motel
Pasadena, CA Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo
The supplied account also includes an unverified story of a woman in a floral swimsuit appearing near the pool before sunrise, with sightings associated with Room 210. Apparently this particular guest prefers the quieter hours, though the tale remains informal folklore.
UPDATE: The Saga remains in operation at 1633 E. Colorado Boulevard, retaining much of its 1959 architecture, landscaped courtyard, and distinctive roadside appearance. The old motor hotel continues welcoming travelers along Pasadena’s stretch of Route 66. 10-26
The Farm House Motel (Gone)
Riverside, CA Photo courtesy Tammy Carrasco
Here is a photo of The Farm House Motel located in Riverside.
Notice the roadside sign which offers refrigerated air and the horse and
buggy located next to the sign. Many thanks to Tammy Carrasco for info.
A farmhouse-themed greeting once welcomed travelers to The Farm House Motel in Riverside. Its low-slung frontage and illustrated marquee brought a little country atmosphere to busy University Avenue, giving motorists something different to check out among the roadside businesses.
Built in 1951, the motel borrowed the familiar appearance of a homestead to advertise an overnight stop. The theme suggested a comfortable place to settle in, even with traffic passing just beyond the driveway.
The Farmhouse Motel marquee
Riverside, CA Photo courtesy Scott Strickland
The sign carried that idea out to the street. A painted farmhouse silhouette and flashing neon borders helped identify the property after dark, adding some personality beyond the usual announcement of rooms and vacancies. No barnyard required to appreciate this roadside version of country living.
The farmhouse was a fitting subject for an era when independent motels used themes to distinguish themselves. While other properties offered tropical islands or trips into outer space, this one kept its invitation closer to home. A little rural scenery could make a room along a busy boulevard sound more welcoming.
The Farmhouse Motel
Riverside, CA Photo courtesy Scott Strickland
The conversion changed the entrance as well. The farmhouse marquee came down, taking away the feature that had made the motel especially recognizable from the road. The buildings carried on, but the old country welcome no longer stood out front.
UPDATE: Word is the former Farm House Motel at 1475 University Avenue was converted into affordable housing with supportive services. Its original 1951 buildings were adapted for the new use, while the themed neon sign was removed during renovation around 2016. A conversion date was not provided. 10-26
Holiday Inn
Sage Brush Inn
Out along old Route 66 in Helendale, the Sage Brush Inn advertised its presence with prominent lettering rather than a towering neon marquee. This June 1974 view catches the name still in place against the desert surroundings.
The Farm House Motel (Gone)
The Farmhouse Motel marquee
The Farmhouse Motel
