Royal Motel (Closed)
Norwalk, OH
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The Royal Motel in Norwalk, Ohio features a vintage roadside marquee topped by what almost looks like a cat climbing up the side of the sign. Whether that's really what it was meant to be or not, it certainly makes the sign memorable. 01-01

Located along Route 250, the Royal Motel was a small, 10-room mom-and-pop operation that welcomed travelers during the heyday of roadside tourism. The motel was owned by Oren "Red" and Reta Pigman beginning in 1974, and they operated it for many years before it eventually closed.

The motel is no longer in business, although it's not clear whether the unique marquee still survives. If it's gone, it's another creative roadside sign that has quietly disappeared from Ohio's highways.

UPDATE: The Royal Motel has permanently closed. It's not clear whether the distinctive sign remains standing today. 07-26

R&R Motel (Demolished)
Cambridge City, IN
Photo courtesy Emily Steele

The R&R Motel in Cambridge City, Indiana was one of those old U.S. 40 motels where you could grab a Coke, watch color TV, and settle in for the night. Whether that made for a good night's sleep is another story.

Originally built as Kinney's Motel during the postwar travel boom, the property later became the R&R Motel after traffic shifted away from old U.S. 40 with the arrival of Interstate 70. The sign kept many of its vintage touches, advertising amenities like color TV, air conditioning, and, of course, Coke.

The motel eventually closed and sat vacant for years before being demolished. Today, the site has been redeveloped, leaving only old photos to remember another small mom-and-pop motel that once served travelers along the National Road.

UPDATE: The R&R Motel has been demolished, and the property has since been redeveloped for new commercial use. 07-26

Old Orchard Motel (Closed)
Fremont, OH
Photo courtesy Mike Engle

The Old Orchard Motel in Fremont, Ohio featured one of the more unique motel signs around, with a stylized tree and an oversized star creating a marquee that was hard to miss. Built in 1948, the small mom-and-pop motel welcomed travelers along West State Street for decades.

The motel has since closed, but the sign still stands as a reminder of its roadside past. Unfortunately, parts of the neon have been damaged over the years, and some of the broken tubing can be found beneath the marquee. Even so, it's great to see such a distinctive sign still hanging on.

UPDATE: The motel is closed, but the original tree-and-star marquee still survives, although parts of the neon are broken. 07-26

Country Squire Motel (Gone)
Urbana, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The Country Squire Motel was located in Urbana, Illinois and featured a simple but memorable roadside sign that didn't need a lot of flash to catch the eye. Sometimes the simplest signs were the ones you remembered the most.

The motel once stood near the corner of East Washington Street and what is now Country Squire Drive. The motel is long gone today, and the property has been redeveloped into a residential neighborhood. The Country Squire name, however, lives on through the nearby street, providing one of the few reminders that a small mom-and-pop motel once welcomed travelers here.

UPDATE: The motel has disappeared, but its name survives through Country Squire Drive, which now runs through the neighborhood built on or near the former motel property. 07-26

Missouri River Inn
Rocheport, MO
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

The Missouri River Inn in Rocheport, Missouri featured one of the more unusual motel signs around. Sitting on top of the building was a full carriage complete with wheels, making it hard for passing travelers to miss.

Very little is known today about the inn, and it's unclear whether the building or its distinctive rooftop carriage still survives. If it's gone, it's another fun example of the creative roadside architecture that once helped small motels stand out from the competition.

UPDATE: The current status of both the Missouri River Inn and its unique rooftop carriage remains unknown. Anybody know? 07-26

The Drake Motel
Springfield, OH
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The Drake Motel in Springfield, Ohio looks like something straight out of a 1960s picture book. With its peaceful setting and classic roadside sign, it's easy to imagine a time when Route 40 was filled with family vacations instead of interstate traffic.

Built in 1950 along the National Road, the Drake Motel is still in business today, although it now caters primarily to extended-stay guests. Its large roadside marquee also survives, but it has changed over the years. Around 2008 the sign was restored and repainted, though the original neon tubing was removed during the renovation.

The Drake's sign has an interesting connection as well. A nearly identical sister sign once stood outside another Drake Motel in Indianapolis before that property was demolished, making Springfield's sign an even rarer survivor.

UPDATE: The Drake Motel remains open, and its restored roadside marquee continues to stand along historic U.S. Route 40, although the original neon is gone. 07-26