Anonymous, Sanctuary
Hi.I have a motel story to share but I must ask that you don't share my email adress with anyone!! Ok. Thanks. (Your site is great,by the way.) When my marriage was dissolving, My husband and I and our child stayed in a little motel on the east coast. It was a sanctuary for a few nights from the emotional storm we were in and the last real time we had together as a family. The anonymity of motels are what makes them escapes. No one knows you or why you're there and no one has any expectation of you other than you pay you bill. In the morning of the last night we were there, a gray cat had climbed in the open bathroom window and was curled on the dresser. A gentle presence that had come in the night. It made the room all the more peaceful and cozy. As the hazy morning air drifted in with the humid smell of the ocean not far away, I savored the last few hours of my marriage. Somehow I am glad that cat was there. It was comforting. In that motel room I knew my marriage was REALLY over. Strange, because I knew it was starting to fall apart earlier that year in a dim hotel room in Chicago that looked like a 1950's movie set.
Well, thanks for letting me share. During my marriage we visited a lot of motels. To me they are places of rest and safety; places to take a break from the REAL world for a little while.
Karen Seekins, Looking to Buy a Motel
I LOVE YOUR WEB SITE! Thanks for having it there! What a MAGNIFICENT site!!!! I am SO very glad to find you! I am interested in purchasing a vintage motel. Can you assist? Or might you have a contact who could? �Or a web site that could assist me? (I have been through all of the usual BIZ FOR SALE sites so unless you know a unique site that is not a viable option.)
Clarke, Ohio Motels
Just back from the road with a few motel notes for you.
I noticed you're planning a trip back to the Northeast this summer. If you make it to US 20, you might want to check out the Dreamland Motel just east of Norwalk, Ohio. They have a glorious neon sign with the word "Dreamland" in neon on a bed of white clouds. Sadly, the motel has a "For Sale" sign out front, so travelers may not get to enjoy this roadside attraction much longer.
Also, I must sadly report that the Trails End Motel you photographed (in Monroeville, Ohio, just up the road on US 20) now has its sign totally painted over, with a phone number listed. Apparently they are also up for sale. The nearby Locust Grove Motel (long closed) has taken the sign down from its building since last year.
Finally, much further north in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the Packer City Motel - which had just closed last year when I was there - appears to have been replaced by a new shiny Walgreen's drugstore. All the more reason to take pictures of these roadside motels while we still can.
Twig Gravely, Subject: Windsor Motel
I've happened upon an interesting story about a little mom & pop motel in my area that is nearing its end. The name of the place is the Windsor Motel. It only has twenty units, but is immaculately maintained and is like a trip back in time to visit. The current manager/owner is second generation as her parents operated it before her. The sad news is that Rubye is getting up in years (82) and is no longer able to meet the demands of running the operation, also the interstate and of small motels has hurt business. The property sits along old US 11 (Lee Highway) in Salem, Va. Once a two lane country road, today there is a Wal Mart directly across the street, and the nice brick wall that used to front the motel has given way to a four lane expansion.
Wes Murray, Subject: Motel Wars
Some years ago, in the Eastern part of North Carolina, where two major highways crossed, a 'Mom and Pop' motel had been doing a reasonably good business for quite a number of years, until a Howard Johnson's Motel moved with its funny orange-colored roofs and a number of amenities, not offered by the older motel.
Soon, the 'Mom and Pop' motel looked more and more like a ghost town, while the HoJo was usually booked up on weekends and during the week as well.
The original "Mom and Pop' motel owner finally decided to remodel completely and 'go for broke' before he wound up financially broke.
A number of interesting innovations created quite a stir between the two motels for many years ! Part of the original 'Mom and Pop' motel owner's plan to name his newly renovated motel, The Henry Jackson Motel and also use the Howard Johnson orange color schemes, as well as putting Howard Johnson-like roofs on his buildings.
Even more innovative was the new Henry Jackson Motel parking old junked cars in some parking spaces to take away the 'ghost town' look of his empty parking spaces.
The new Henry Jackson Motel's owner even had the nerve to publicize in all his advertising, "Come stay at the new HJ !" No one at the new HoJo, Howard Johnson, was thrilled about his use of an 'H' and 'J' in his advertising.
Immediately, the small town was abuzz with Howard Johnson lawyers seeking an injunction against the new HJ (Henry Jackson) Motel, citing an obvious intent to confuse folks with the new motel name being too similar to HoJo, Howard Johnson, plus even using the orange color schemes and HoJo's distinct architecture styling to undermine the HoJo's visitors.
During the number of years of lawsuits, legal hearings and massive public relations and press coverage of this odd 'Motel Wars' brought blessings to both motels. The Howard Johnson Motel and The Henry Jackson Motel were both usually filled with old customers, new customers and many folks, who came by just to see what was going on . . . just like my family.
First, we stayed one night at The Henry Jackson Motel and then we stayed one night at The Howard Johnson Motel.
Honestly, the real HoJo outclassed The Henry Jackson Motel by miles, but lots of folk, around these parts, have been so used to being trampled upon by powers from above, the spirit of supporting the underdog lived strong among many of The Henry Jackson Motel visitors.
All the high powered attorney and legal manuvering might have worked, except the location of the two motels was also the county seat and the solid relationship between 'the good ole boys' in the Court House was more powerful than all the writs and motions and legal dealings and lawsuits put together.
The last time I heard anything about these two motels, HoJo and the upstart faker, The Henry Jackson Motel, both were still doing a good business along the intersection of the two major highways in rural eastern North Carolina.
Added late-March
Jonathan Di Blasi, Subject: Spring Break, March 1999, Flagstaff, Arizona
Walking by the Sierra Vista after an orientation at NAU: I wonder how long it has been since someone slept here as a traveller? Will someone stay here again? When? And will they sleep, or just watch through a tear in the curtain at the dark world outside? [Note: Click on the image for full size.]
Joey Espinosa, Subject: Santa Clara Motel
I'm studying googie architecture for a design project I'm working on, I thought you'd like this image I shot in Santa Clara. [Note: Click on the image for full size.]
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