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Dutch Motel (Rem.)
Redlands, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Flowing neon lettering welcomes motorists to the Dutch Motel along Redlands Boulevard. Often listed as a Redlands stop in older roadside collections, this small motor court is actually in Loma Linda.

The property features twelve cottage-style guest units arranged in a single-story setting. Its modest scale recalls the days when an overnight stop could mean a small room close to the car rather than a long walk through a hotel lobby.

The old marquee supplies the roadside character, giving passing photographers another reason to check out this stretch of the boulevard.

UPDATE: The Dutch Motel remains open at 25252 Redlands Boulevard in Loma Linda, though the sign was replaced with a simpler version and no neon. 10-26

Motel 8
San Bernardino, CA
Photo courtesy David Carrasco

A large, off-center starburst gives Motel 8 in San Bernardino a roadside sign worth checking out. The angular shape adds a little Space Age personality above the lettering, making a simple motel name much more interesting to passing sign hunters.

The starburst is the detail that catches the eye. Rather than settling for a plain rectangular panel, this marquee reaches out in several directions, recalling the days when roadside signs seemed to compete over who could come up with the most unusual shape.

Neon accents gave it another look after dark, when the outline could stand apart from the buildings below. For travelers, it advertised an overnight stop. For roadside photographers, the sign itself might have been enough reason to pull over.

UPDATE: This old view preserves the Motel 8 marquee and its distinctive starburst, a little reminder of San Bernardino’s earlier roadside scenery. 10-26

Crestridge Motel (Gone)
Colton, CA
Photo courtesy David Carrasco

An old neon arrow points the way at the Crestridge Motel in Colton. The stylized marquee gives this Valley Boulevard stop a familiar motor-court greeting, with a little extra direction for motorists looking for a room.

Check out the shape of that arrow. It does more than point toward the entrance, adding some personality to the sign above the driveway. Apparently getting travelers off the road called for something more noticeable than a small notice by the office door.

Marquees like this were part of the appeal of taking the older commercial roads through town. Between the motel name, neon lettering, and directional flourish, there was something to admire even without plans to spend the night.

UPDATE: The Crestridge Motel was located at 644 W. Valley Boulevard. This view catches its vintage arrow marquee, another bit of Colton’s old roadside character. 10-26

Trade Winds Motel
Long Beach, CA
Photo courtesy Greg Wranic

Neon stars add a little nighttime scenery to the Trade Winds Motel along Carson Street. The old marquee gives passing motorists something to check out, with several glowing accents sharing the space above the roadside.

Near the Lakewood and Long Beach boundary, the motel belongs to the older landscape of independent overnight stops. Its sign offers a recognizable greeting without needing a giant themed figure out front.

Sometimes a few stars and familiar motel lettering are enough to make a place worth remembering. No room reservation needed for a look at this one.

UPDATE: The Trade Winds Motel remains open at 11441 E. Carson Street in Lakewood, with its star-studded vintage marquee surviving. 10-26

Motel Marquis (Closed)
Gardena, CA
Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo

A wavy roadside marquee gives the former Motel Marquis in Gardena a distinctive outline. Its shape recalls the years when commercial signs could have a little motion built into the metal, even before the lights came on.

Built in 1961, the property originally welcomed overnight guests along Crenshaw Boulevard. The rooms later took on a residential role, extending the old motel’s usefulness beyond the travel trade.

The sign made the transition too. Its original metal framework was retained and re-faced with the apartment name, keeping a recognizable piece of the frontage above the street.

UPDATE: The former Motel Marquis at 15515 Crenshaw Boulevard now operates as Apt Marquis, a residential apartment property. The altered vintage sign survives, though the date of the housing conversion hasn’t been established. 10-26

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

Along Hollywood Boulevard, check out the freestanding neon sign at the Hollywood Downtowner Motel. Its flowing script gives this old roadside stop a greeting worth remembering, even as the rooms behind it take on a different purpose.

Built in 1956, the 30-room motel wrapped its two-story accommodations around a courtyard and swimming pool. The arrangement offered travelers a little retreat from the busy boulevard, with the neon marking the way back after dark.

The Downtowner closed as a commercial motel in May 2024. A Project Homekey conversion brought 30 studio apartments for young adults facing homelessness, with the old pool replaced by a landscaped courtyard and a magnolia tree.

UPDATE: The former Hollywood Downtowner at 5601 Hollywood Boulevard has found another chapter as supportive housing. The neon sign remains on-site, with the housing partners committed to keeping and refurbishing it. Good to see the old roadside greeting included in the plans. 10-26

Holiday Inn Motel (Gone)
San Bernardino, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The familiar name might catch your attention first, but take a look at the lettering and colors on the Holiday Inn Motelsign in San Bernardino. This independent roadside stop had an eye-catching marquee of its own, giving motorists along Foothill Boulevard something to remember.

Located along historic Route 66, the small motor court welcomed travelers heading through the San Bernardino area. Its name echoed the well-known hotel chain, though this was a separate operation with its own roadside identity.

UPDATE: The former motel at 2150 Foothill Boulevard no longer rents rooms and has been incorporated into a commercial development. Its vintage marquee is gone, replaced by a conventional commercial pylon. Another colorful greeting lost along the Mother Road. 10-26