A-1 Motel (Rem.)
Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

The neon is doing most of the work at the A-1 Motel along Lundy's Lane in Niagara Falls. That tall roadside sign, glowing against the night, is exactly the sort of thing that could make a traveler slow down and take another look. 03-07

The motel dates back to 1949, when Lundy's Lane was filling up with motor courts catering to the steady stream of cars headed for Niagara Falls. The A-1 still has the low-slung roadside motel look, complete with an outdoor pool tucked into the property.

These days the place is known as the A-1 Inn, but the old sign and much of the motel's original appearance have managed to hang around. Not bad for a roadside stop that's been welcoming Niagara travelers for more than 75 years.

UPDATE: The A-1 Inn remains open along Lundy's Lane, and the vintage roadside sign was replaced around 2016. 08-26

Channel Motor Court (Gone)
Weirs Beach, NH
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The Channel Motor Court features a friendly neon sign that offers drive-in services and advertises "be our guest" as it sits along the waterfront. 12-07

Located at 1192 Weirs Boulevard (U.S. Route 3) in Weirs Beach, this classic lakeside court opened during the post war automotive travel boom to welcome families cruising into New Hampshire's scenic Lakes Region. Situated right along the edge of the Weirs Channel connecting Paugus Bay with Lake Winnipesaukee, the property offered travelers a quiet waterfront escape featuring 15 individual, low-slung cabin units with park-at-your-door convenience. Out front along Route 3, the charming mid-century roadside marquee with its glowing neon tubing and welcoming slogan was a familiar sight for road-trippers and boaters alike.

UPDATE: The property has survived by being renovated into a boutique lakeside resort known as Channel Waterfront Cottages, though its vintage "Be Our Guest" neon roadside marquee was removed during the property's modernization. 08-26

Proctors Motel (Gone)
Weirs Beach, NH
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Now here's a motel sign that's hard to miss. Proctors Motel in Weirs Beach had a big neon boomerang arrow pointing travelers right off Weirs Boulevard and into the driveway. At night, that glowing arrow must have done a pretty good job of getting attention. 12-07

The property goes back to 1947, when John and Mary Proctor started out with just a few cabins and a main house near Lake Winnipesaukee. Motel units were added during the 1950s as automobile traffic through the Lakes Region picked up, giving Proctors more of that familiar roadside motor court look.

By the time this shot was taken, the property had already begun changing, with the old motel rooms remodeled into larger efficiency units. The classic neon boomerang still remained out front, though, making sure nobody missed the entrance.

UPDATE: The property now operates as Proctor's Lakehouse Cottages. The old Proctors Motel name has disappeared, and the large neon boomerang sign has been removed. 08-26

Monaco Beach Cottages (Closed)
Laconia, NH
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Here's another old lakeside neon stop along the Laconia strip. Monaco Beach Cottages had one of those simple roadside signs that looked even better after dark, with the neon spelling out the name for travelers heading toward Weirs Beach. 12-07

The place dated back to the 1950s and mixed a motel building with individual cottages along the water. Old postcards show the property with its familiar light green trim, a color that somehow managed to hang around for decades. The sign also advertised VACANCY and BEACH, just in case anyone needed another reason to pull in for the night.

UPDATE: Monaco Beach is closed, although the old motel and cottage buildings remain standing. The roadside sign also survives, but the neon has been altered and no longer has the same glow seen here. 08-26

Barton's Motel (Demolished)
Laconia, NH
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Check out the neon sign at Barton's Motel in Laconia, NH. 12-07

Located at 1330 Union Avenue (Route 3) directly on the shoreline of Paugus Bay, this lakeside property had deep roadside roots dating all the way back to 1937, when it originally opened as the OxBow Cabins. Expanding over the decades into Barton's Village and later adding a classic two-story motel wing in the early 1960s, the resort was a favorite summer retreat for generations of families visiting Lake Winnipesaukee. Guests enjoyed private beach access, free rowboats, and shuffleboard courts right by the water, along with a long-running on-site shop that housed Annie's Book Stop for decades. Out front along Route 3, the independent neon roadside marquee stood for years greeting motorists cruising around the bay.

UPDATE: After welcoming vacationers for more than eight decades, Barton's Motel was completely demolished in December 2020 to clear the four-acre waterfront parcel for a luxury condominium development, and its vintage neon marquee was removed from the property. 08-26

Parkville Motel (Demolished)
Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario / 2003
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

he neon at the Parkville Motel was still shining brightly in 2003, when this photo was taken. 12-07

Located in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, this classic mom-and-pop motor court originally opened during the post-war travel boom as the Parkville Motel and Cabins. Founded and operated for decades by the Kars family, the court sat right across from scenic Bellevue Park along the St. Marys River, serving as a welcoming haven for road-trippers and cross-border vacationers heading north into Canada. Out front, the tall roadside marquee lit up the night with vibrant glowing neon script, catching the eyes of passing motorists heading into town.

UPDATE: The Parkville Motel and its vintage tourist cabins have since been completely demolished, with the parcel cleared and the glowing neon marquee removed from the property. 08-26

Adams Motel (Rem.)
Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario
Photo courtesy Alan Culley / 2003

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario is home to the Adams Motel. 12-07

Located along Great Northern Road (Highway 17 / Trans-Canada Highway), this classic post-war motor court was built to welcome tourists and road-trippers navigating the busy northern highway routes and international border crossing. Featuring a traditional single-story layout with park-at-your-door convenience, the 17-room court has long offered weary motorists a quiet, budget-friendly stop before reaching the city center. Out front, the tall roadside marquee captured in 2003 was once a familiar glowing beacon, using bright neon script lettering to grab the attention of drivers traveling through the area.

UPDATE: The Adams Motel remains open for business in Sault Ste. Marie, though its vintage roadside marquee has since had its original neon tubing replaced with updated backlit panels. 08-26

Lincoln Motel (Demolished)
Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario
Photo courtesy Alan Culley / 2003

Check out the neon glow at the Lincoln Motel along Great Northern Road in Sault Ste. Marie. This was classic roadside motel territory, with the sign doing its best to catch the eye of travelers heading through town. 12-07

The Lincoln dated back to the 1950s, when Great Northern Road was lined with motels, restaurants, and other businesses catering to traffic along Highway 17. The Lincoln sat near the old Small Fry Restaurant, making this stretch a pretty good little roadside cluster in its day.

By 2003 the neon was still lighting the way, but the motel would not survive the changing strip much longer.

UPDATE: The Lincoln Motel has since been demolished, and its neon roadside sign is gone. 08-26