1. The Thunderbird Inn – Savannah, Georgia
Known as “the hippest hotel in Savannah,” the Thunderbird Inn leans hard into its retro roots. Its neon sign is pure ’60s flair, with a thunderbird graphic that looks like it flew straight out of a comic book. Built in 1964, the motel was fully restored in the early 2000s, with the original sign carefully brought back to life. It’s now one of the most Instagrammed spots in the city.
What makes this sign iconic isn’t just its style—it’s how lovingly it was preserved. The Thunderbird has leaned into its kitsch appeal, offering MoonPies and RC Cola at check-in and keeping the mid-century vibe alive. The sign reflects that personality perfectly: playful, bold, and proud of its roots. It’s a neon love letter to Americana, and it earns every bit of its retro-cool reputation.
2. The Wigwam Motel – Holbrook, Arizona
You’ve probably seen this one in a retro postcard or a vintage road trip documentary. The Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, with its teepee-shaped rooms and bold neon sign, is a Route 66 classic. Built in the 1950s, it’s one of only three surviving motels from a chain that once dotted the American Southwest. The bright red letters spelling “Wigwam Motel” contrast perfectly against the desert sky, making it a favorite for photographers and nostalgic travelers alike, according to Nick Gerlich from ROUTE Magazine.
The sign itself is simple but unforgettable—a throwback to an era when quirky was king. It’s the combination of novelty architecture and straightforward design that turned this into more than a kitschy pit stop. Now, it’s part of the National Register of Historic Places, and fans of Pixar’s Cars might even recognize its influence in the Cozy Cone Motel. It’s living proof that a little weirdness can go a long way in American roadside culture.
3. The Madonna Inn – San Luis Obispo, California
This place isn’t just a motel—it’s a sensory overload in the best way possible. The Madonna Inn’s sign, in whimsical pink cursive, is almost as famous as its themed rooms and waterfall urinals. Opened in 1958 by Alex Madonna, it quickly became a symbol of over-the-top California charm. The sign itself sits high on a hill, glowing like a pink beacon for travelers along the 101.
What makes the sign iconic is that it matches the motel’s unapologetic flamboyance, according to Julie Tremaine from SF GATE. Its candy-colored glow at night draws you in, even if you’re just passing through. It’s not uncommon to see couples taking engagement photos under the sign, or road-trippers stopping just for an Instagram shot. This one proves that bold design and a little humor can create something unforgettable.
4. The Blue Swallow Motel – Tucumcari, New Mexico
The Blue Swallow’s sign is pure Route 66 magic, with its sweeping blue neon script and a cheerful swallow in mid-flight. Built in 1939, the motel has been lovingly preserved, keeping that mid-century roadside aesthetic alive. Its sign is both elegant and friendly, capturing the welcoming vibe of the motel itself, according to Carson Bear from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The neon glow against the desert dusk creates a scene straight out of a classic road movie.
This sign is a favorite among photographers and nostalgia-seekers, and it’s often called one of the most beautiful on the route. Unlike many motels from the era, the Blue Swallow still operates today, and its glowing sign feels like a portal to the past. It’s been featured in countless travel books, TV shows, and vintage Route 66 merchandise. It’s not just a sign—it’s a symbol of a bygone era still alive and buzzing.
5. The Coral Court Motel – St. Louis, Missouri
Even though the Coral Court was demolished in 1995, its sign still holds a legendary place in the memory of Route 66 travelers, according to Legends of America. The original sign had sleek Art Deco lettering with a glowing pink coral design that matched the futuristic vibe of the motel’s glass-brick units. Opened in 1941, it was known for its unique design and, notoriously, for its privacy garages—which gave it a bit of a scandalous reputation. Still, that sign was a beautiful example of streamlined moderne styling.
When it was torn down, preservationists mourned it like the death of an old friend. Fans even salvaged parts of the sign, and replicas now live in museums and local collections. It’s often cited in books and documentaries about the decline of American roadside culture. Even in absence, the Coral Court’s sign glows on in the collective imagination of vintage motel lovers.
6. The Arrowhead Motel – Douglas, Wyoming
Sometimes simplicity is what makes something iconic. The Arrowhead Motel sign in Douglas is a prime example—a single giant arrow piercing through bold red letters, pointing straight to roadside comfort. It’s been a fixture of the Wyoming landscape since the 1950s, offering a slice of no-frills Americana. The arrow motif taps into Western imagery, instantly tying it to cowboy country.
This sign might not be flashy, but its clarity and style make it stand out against the big sky. It’s a favorite pit stop for photographers doing Americana road trips through the Mountain West. With neon tubes tracing the arrowhead at night, it feels like something straight out of a vintage road atlas. It shows how even modest design, done well, can last generations.
7. The Sahara Motel – Anaheim, California
The Sahara Motel’s towering sign is like something from a vintage Vegas strip, but it’s actually in suburban Anaheim. Designed with a bold mid-century font and starburst accents, it’s a true relic of California’s golden age of roadside travel. Built in the 1950s, the motel was just a few miles from Disneyland, making it a hotspot for families looking for affordable digs near the park. The neon sign, with its palm tree motif and desert theme, adds a kitschy charm that stands out in a sea of chain hotels.
While the motel itself has gone through changes, the sign remains one of the last original markers of Anaheim’s mid-century motel boom. It represents a time when even budget motels took pride in standing out with wild, unique signage. Locals and visitors alike have pushed for its preservation as a piece of Americana. It’s a glowing tribute to the era when signs were part advertisement, part art.
8. The Tropics Motel – Palm Springs, California
The Tropics Motel sign is a splash of mid-century Polynesian flair in the middle of the desert. Opened in the 1960s during the height of America’s tiki craze, the motel embraced the aesthetic with bamboo trim, palm frond decor, and, of course, a neon sign that tied it all together. The sign featured stylized tropical lettering and a classic neon palm tree, giving it an unmistakably island vibe—even with nothing but sand and mountains around. It was kitsch done right, and that’s why it endured.
Although the original Tropics was eventually converted into what’s now the Caliente Tropics Resort, the sign has been restored and still stands as a nod to the city’s retro hospitality scene. It’s a prime example of Palm Springs’ dedication to preserving its unique mid-century charm. Visitors today still flock to photograph it, cocktail in hand, in their best vintage resort wear. The sign is more than just a relic—it’s a symbol of a whole mid-century fantasy.
9. The Satellite Motel – St. Petersburg, Florida
This sign was the epitome of Atomic Age cool. With its Sputnik-style lettering and spinning satellite dish atop the neon post, the Satellite Motel embraced America’s obsession with space travel in the 1950s and ’60s. Located right near the beach, the motel capitalized on the “future is now” theme that captivated a postwar nation dreaming of rockets and moon landings. It looked like something from The Jetsons, but real.
Sadly, the Satellite Motel was demolished in the early 2000s, but its sign lives on in vintage postcards, coffee table books, and collectors’ hearts. It’s frequently cited in design retrospectives as one of the best examples of Googie architecture and signage. That spinning satellite dish became a cultural icon of Florida roadside kitsch. Even though it’s gone, it still sparks joy for fans of Space Age Americana.
10. The Lincoln Tunnel Motel – North Bergen, New Jersey
This one’s got a different kind of charm—gritty, utilitarian, and absolutely legendary in its own right. Located just outside the Lincoln Tunnel, the motel’s sign is iconic not because it’s beautiful, but because of its no-nonsense, street-level familiarity. It’s big, red, and blunt—shouting “MOTEL” in massive capital letters with zero pretense. Over time, its visual honesty turned it into a cultural touchstone.
The sign has gained internet fame in recent years thanks to social media and its role in the housing advocacy movement. The owner has gone viral for giving out rooms to those in need, and the sign has become a symbol of unexpected generosity. It’s appeared in music videos, photo shoots, and articles, representing the gritty charm of old-school New Jersey. Sometimes, authenticity is all it takes to go from overlooked to legendary.
11. The Ace Motel – Austin, Texas
Austinites love their weirdness, and the Ace Motel sign is part of that legacy. With its rusty red neon and vintage cowboy font, the sign has become a fixture of the city’s East Side. The motel itself was long closed and the building has changed hands, but the sign remains standing—graffitied, faded, and still cool as ever. It’s a piece of Austin’s mid-century roadside history that locals fiercely defend.
Artists, photographers, and muralists have all drawn inspiration from the Ace’s sign, and it pops up regularly in Austin-centric design and merchandise. Its retro charm captures a grittier, pre-boomtown Austin that many locals still cherish. It may not be polished, but that’s kind of the point. This is a case of patina adding to the legend.
12. The Donut Hole Motel – La Puente, California
Yes, it was a real place, and yes, the sign was as wild as it sounds. The Donut Hole Motel, no longer standing, once boasted a flashing neon donut as part of its roadside charm—riffing off the famous drive-thru donut shop next door. It was a prime slice of SoCal kitsch, blending two of California’s greatest obsessions: cars and donuts. The sign featured a cartoonish design that screamed “pull over now!”
While the motel is long gone, it lives on in roadside nostalgia tours and photo archives. The sign, like so many others, became iconic not just for its humor but for its ability to turn heads from the highway. It represents a time when motels weren’t afraid to get weird to stand out. In today’s sea of sameness, that kind of boldness feels downright heroic.
13. The El Vado Motel – Albuquerque, New Mexico
The El Vado is a Southwestern gem, and its sign is one of the most recognizable along Route 66. First opened in 1937, it’s one of the earliest examples of motor court motels, and the sign—featuring a classic Spanish-style font and electric blue neon—is a perfect match. For decades, it welcomed weary road warriors and curious tourists exploring the Mother Road. When it closed in 2005, many feared the sign (and motel) would be lost forever.
But in a heartwarming twist, the city helped preserve and restore the El Vado, reopening it as a boutique motel in 2018 with its original charm fully intact. The restored sign now glows proudly again, lighting up Central Avenue with vintage flair. It’s a rare example of adaptive reuse done right, where the sign didn’t just survive—it thrived. It reminds us that with a little care, history can be more than preserved; it can live again.
