Bel Aire Motel (Gone)
Norfolk, VA Photo courtesy Steve Felder
Check out the Bel Aire Motel in Norfolk, Virginia. Featuring cable TV, and like much of what was left of these old motor courts in their later years, this stop shifted toward weekly rates for long term guests.
Originally opened in the early 1950s by partners A. J. Ackiss and C. M. Howard, this sprawling motor court was built to capture the booming post war automotive traffic flowing along U.S. Route 13. Expanding over the years to roughly 90 rooms and efficiency suites, the property offered travelers top notch mid century amenities like wall to wall carpeting, radiant heat, piped in taped music, two on site dining spots, and a large swimming pool that became a well known local landmark right across from the shopping district. Out front, a prominent roadside marquee guided highway travelers into the parking lot.
UPDATE: The Bel-Aire Motel was completely demolished in the 1990s to make way for highway widening and overpass construction along Military Highway, with the site later redeveloped for retail and the vintage roadside sign removed. 08-26
Colonial Motel (Demolished)
Springfield, NJ Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
he Colonial Motel (Colonial Motor Court) has greeted travelers on U.S. Route 22 as they traveled toward Newark and New York City.
Located at 75 Route 22 East in Springfield, New Jersey, this classic motor court was situated right along one of the busiest, neon packed commercial highway corridors in the state. Opening during the post war travel boom, the court served as a convenient and budget friendly rest stop for motorists making their way east across northern New Jersey. Early postcards and matchbooks promoted the lodging as a clean, quiet oasis right off the roaring highway, and guests frequently walked down the block for breakfast at the landmark Lido Diner. Out front, a towering freestanding roadside marquee with distinctive script lettering and mid century geometric panels caught the eyes of drivers cruising the busy multi lane route.
UPDATE: The Colonial Motel was demolished to make way for commercial redevelopment including a fitness center, and its vintage roadside neon marquee was removed from Route 22. 08-26
Cadillac Motel (Rem.)
Niagara Falls, Canada Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
Check out the neon on the Cadillac Motel in Niagara Falls. The big crown perched on top, Cadillac script, stacked panels and boomerang arrow make this one a real roadside standout. Better yet, this 2006 shot caught the old marquee with all of its neon still intact. This is the kind of sign that probably made it pretty easy to spot your motel after a long day at the falls. 07-06
The Cadillac dates back to the 1950s, when Niagara Falls was packed with little motels competing for the attention of families cruising into town. A flashy sign was part of the deal, and the Cadillac certainly had one. The crown gave the place a suitably fancy touch, while that big arrow made sure there was no question where to turn.
Cadillac Motel
Niagara Falls, Canada Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner
Unlike quite a few of the old motor courts that once lined Ferry Street, the Cadillac Motel managed to survive. The place has since gone all-in on its retro personality, with bright colors and rooms decorated around pop culture favorites like Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and ZZ Top. There's even a Ghostbusters themed room. Maybe not quite the same Niagara Falls motel experience as 1958, but it's nice to see the place having some fun with its past.
Still, the old marquee was the real attention getter. With the crown lit up above the Cadillac name and neon tracing the different shapes, it had just about everything you could ask for in a vintage motel sign. The boomerang arrow was a nice finishing touch. Niagara Falls may have the big attraction down the road, but this sign put on a pretty good little light show of its own.
UPDATE: The original neon marquee didn't make it through the motel's later makeover. Its neon was removed around 2015, and a newer illuminated sign eventually took its place. The Cadillac Motel itself remains open and continues to play up its colorful retro roots. 08-26
Flamingo Motel (Demolished)
Ocean City, MD Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
Here is a neon photo of the Flamingo Motel. While originally indexed under Ocean City, New Jersey, this classic beachside resort is actually located along North Baltimore Avenue at 31st Street in Ocean City, Maryland. The neon signage atop the roof really catches the eye of passers by! 07-06
Originally opening in 1962, the motel was purchased the following year by George and Rose Brous, whose family operated the landmark vacation spot for more than five decades. Starting out as a modest 23 unit motor court along Baltimore Avenue, the property expanded over the years to keep pace with growing crowds of beachgoers heading down to the coast. The undeniable standout feature was its iconic, glowing pink neon flamingo perched proudly atop the flat roof of the street facing building, serving as a bright and colorful visual beacon for generations of summer tourists cruising along Motel Row.
UPDATE: While the newer multi story lodging towers remain open to seasonal vacationers, the original 1962 roadside building was demolished in 2021, and its legendary rooftop pink neon flamingo was removed from the property. 08-26
Check out the neon lettering and colorful boomerangs on this marquee for the Sea Gull Motel in Wildwood, NJ. 12-06
Located at 5305 Atlantic Avenue right at the corner of Cresse Avenue, the Sea Gull Motel sits directly on the border dividing Wildwood from Wildwood Crest. Built in 1964 during the height of the mid century vacation boom, the property is a classic example of Space Age Doo Wop architecture with its angular layout, breezy balconies, and bold mid century styling. The real eye catcher out front was its roadside marquee, boasting glowing script neon and a stack of colorful geometric boomerangs lining the sign structure to grab the attention of beachgoers cruising down Atlantic Avenue. While many neighboring post war motels along the strip were torn down for condo redevelopments over the years, the Sea Gull has managed to survive and keep hosting seasonal shore vacationers.
UPDATE: The Sea Gull Motel continues to welcome summer guests in Wildwood, though its vintage roadside marquee has since had its original neon tubing stripped and updated. 08-26
Howard Johnson (Demolished)
New York City, NY Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
Here are a couple shots of the Howard Johnson's sitting right in the middle of Times Square. With its bright orange trim, big HOWARD JOHNSON'S lettering and old restaurant building hanging on beneath all those giant signs and newer buildings, this place really looks like it belongs to another Times Square. Kind of amazing to see an old HoJo still holding down a corner of Broadway. Rumors on the street say its days may be numbered. 01-07
The Times Square Howard Johnson's opened in 1959 at Broadway and 46th Street and became a familiar stop for tourists and New Yorkers alike. This was the classic HoJo formula with burgers, fried clams and those famous 28 flavors of ice cream, only this one came with a Times Square address. There was even an upstairs cocktail lounge where customers could grab a drink and watch the crowds and neon outside. Not a bad spot for taking in the action.
Howard Johnson (Demolished)
New York City, NY Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
As Times Square changed around it, the little two-story Howard Johnson's became more and more of an oddball sight. New theaters, stores, billboards and towering electronic displays went up while HoJo's kept its familiar orange look down at street level. By its later years it almost seemed like somebody had dropped an old roadside restaurant into the middle of modern Manhattan.
For years this had been one of those familiar Times Square landmarks that seemed to survive everything going on around it. By the end, the modest old restaurant was surrounded by some of the most valuable real estate and brightest advertising space in the country. That probably wasn't going to end well for HoJo.
UPDATE: Those rumors turned out to be right. The old Howard Johnson's building was eventually demolished as the Times Square corner was redeveloped. An American Eagle Outfitters flagship opened on the site in 2009. The orange trim, old restaurant and familiar Howard Johnson's signs are gone, making these shots a last roadside peek at a little piece of old Times Square. 08-26
Colonial Motel (Demolished)
Sea Gull Motel (Rem.)
Howard Johnson (Demolished)
Howard Johnson (Demolished)
