Vintage Neon Motel Signs: Night

While the neon signs of these vintage motels along the Trans-Canada may look a little rough around the edges during the day, by night it's clear how cool these places really are. Many of the modern signs that have replaced classic ones such as these look cheap by comparison.  

What's special about these motels, like the Ranchmen and Hat, is that they're local one-off's and their signs reflect that. These small businesses that developed out of a simple necessity for highway travelers became landmarks in their own right. I actually shot these pictures after midnight and still witnessed a few cars pulling off the highway to check in. Proof that even after all of these years they're still serving their purpose.