flickr photo by J. P. Burrito
Showing posts with label Signage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Signage. Show all posts
The Motel Me More Award...
...for clever useage of the word "motel" in your name goes to the ST-ELMO-TEL in Austin on, appropriately, St. Elmo Street. The place is now abandoned, so we will hold your award here at Motel Me More headquarters to prevent it being carted off by looters.
flickr photo by J. P. Burrito
flickr photo by J. P. Burrito
I Get It, But...
...I would have called it "Pair-A-Dice." Without the first "i," it looks weird, and would probably be pronounced "pahr." Of course, there IS a very good chance I am overthinking this.
flickr photo by Nick Leonard
flickr photo by Nick Leonard
Eh, What's Up, Legal Counsel?
If it looks like the Big Bunny Motel in Lakewood, CO used to be the "Bugs Bunny Motel," that's because it was. Built in 1952, the Bugs Bunny merrily evaded danger for forty-five years, until Warner Bros. finally reminded them that the name is actually a copyrighted intellectual property. The sign should have just disguised itself in a dress and wig, and they'd have never recognized it!
flickr photo by kham
flickr photo by kham
If Your Famly Loves Swiming and Efr Gerati N...
...the Cimarron is the ot for you! T fo~fe also available.
flickr photo by roadsidepictures
flickr photo by roadsidepictures
For Those Who Prefer Lodging Named After Animal Anatomy
The Rabbit Ears Motel in Steamboat Springs, CO has a very unusual name. And a terrific sign. This is another of those "which came first" deals -- did they already have a sign made that suggested the name, or did they really want a motel called "Rabbit Ears," and went out and made it happen? Somehow, I hope the latter.
flickr photo by bendo1
flickr photo by bendo1
Hi-U Country
Browsing for candidates in the "Motel Names I Don't Understand" category, I came across the Hi-U Motel. Then I found ANOTHER Hi-U Motel. And I don't know what EITHER of them mean. One is in Washington, and one in Colorado, which is tragic, because so much distance separates them, yet they're clearly meant to be together.
flicker photos by toryvanc and agilitynut
flicker photos by toryvanc and agilitynut
The Continuing Saga Of Motels That Used To Be Travelodges
The Pomona Lodge in, I believe, Pomona, used to be a Travelodge. Added bonus: The only way the Jack In The Box next door could be any closer to your room is if you were staying at the Jack In The Box.
Motel Names I Don't Understand, Part III
This is the Circle Arrow Motel, formerly in Orlando, FL.
How does a motel get such a peculiar handle? Some possible explanations:
1) The sign was already made but not lettered, seemed like the obvious choice
2) Sits at the corner of Circle and Arrow Streets
3) Named after the owner, Billy "Circle" Arrow
4) Was originally called the "Gender Symbol For Man Motel"
5) "Disc And Pointy Thing Motel" already taken
How does a motel get such a peculiar handle? Some possible explanations:
1) The sign was already made but not lettered, seemed like the obvious choice
2) Sits at the corner of Circle and Arrow Streets
3) Named after the owner, Billy "Circle" Arrow
4) Was originally called the "Gender Symbol For Man Motel"
5) "Disc And Pointy Thing Motel" already taken
Do I Know You?
What do Starbucks, hermit crabs, and pod people have in common? They all cozy up inside the shells of their former inhabitants, while maintaining the same outward appearance. Such is the case with the Hollywood Econolodge.
For those of you not as steeped in the minutiae of motel architechtura as your Humble Narrator, the sign is a dead giveaway that this was once a TraveLodge. See for yourself:
Think of this the next time you're on the road and see a motel sign that looks vaguely familiar, but don't know why. Or think of something else. It's your brain.
Incidentally, my family's TraveLodge in Alamogordo was changed to the "All-American Inn" after my mother bought it from the company, then when she sold it, the new owners turned it into an "Economy Inn." Econolodge -- Economy Inn... a clear pattern is emerging for the inhabitants of former TraveLodges, and unless I'm badly mistaken, it all points to someone named Bob Econo.
For those of you not as steeped in the minutiae of motel architechtura as your Humble Narrator, the sign is a dead giveaway that this was once a TraveLodge. See for yourself:
Think of this the next time you're on the road and see a motel sign that looks vaguely familiar, but don't know why. Or think of something else. It's your brain.Incidentally, my family's TraveLodge in Alamogordo was changed to the "All-American Inn" after my mother bought it from the company, then when she sold it, the new owners turned it into an "Economy Inn." Econolodge -- Economy Inn... a clear pattern is emerging for the inhabitants of former TraveLodges, and unless I'm badly mistaken, it all points to someone named Bob Econo.
Necessary Roughness
All motels should be required by law to have a rock design element as groovy as the Hollywood Downtowner:
Here's a gratuitous close-up -- make it your wallpaper, and live the dream every day!
Here's a gratuitous close-up -- make it your wallpaper, and live the dream every day!
Motel Names I Don't Understand, Part II
In Las Vegas, where lodging establishments have catchy handles like "Caesars Palace" and "Bellagio" and "Circus Circus," "TOD" is a bit of a puzzle. And isn't "Motor Motel" redundant? Still, it's Strip-adjacent and has rooms for $19, so if you don't mind enigmas, bunk here and save your dough. You'll have a few chances to spend it elsewhere. Trust me.
flickr photo by roadsidepictures
The Most Effective Way to Cool
Vintage postcard of the Gables Motel in Fresno, still there off Highway 99. "Cooled by refrigeration" is kind of like saying "heated by heat," but to California motorists sweating it out with no A/C, it probably sounded pretty sexy.
Off the Beaten Path
Desert Gothic Paradise: the Yucca Motel in Gila Bend, AZ.
We slowly cruised the parking lot, admiring the buildings and snapping pics, when someone whistled to get our attention. An older man came walking over, and because I live in a large, exciting urban environment, I naturally assumed his intention was to soundly beat us. But he couldn't have been nicer, and wanted to know if we were looking for a guest he could help us find. He identified himself not as the manager, but a friend of the manager who was just looking after the place for a while. That's small-town, and I would do good to remember my own small-town roots, where you trust people first, and frantically scan for escape routes second.
We slowly cruised the parking lot, admiring the buildings and snapping pics, when someone whistled to get our attention. An older man came walking over, and because I live in a large, exciting urban environment, I naturally assumed his intention was to soundly beat us. But he couldn't have been nicer, and wanted to know if we were looking for a guest he could help us find. He identified himself not as the manager, but a friend of the manager who was just looking after the place for a while. That's small-town, and I would do good to remember my own small-town roots, where you trust people first, and frantically scan for escape routes second.
Possible Third Signs...
a) "What else can we say to persuade you?!?"
b) "Okay, how much do you want?"
c) "You've gotta stay somewhere."
d) "Fine, keep driving. Jerk."
The Final Frontier
The sign for the Moon Motel in Howell, New Jersey.
This classic bit of moteliana conjures up images of lunar journeys, space exploration, and truckers on waterbeds watching color TV. The future never looked brighter!
photo by Jenny and Andy Wood
Somebody's Lying
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