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.

Vintage Neon Motel Signs: Day

Located along the Trans-Canada highway in Medicine Hat, Alberta there are still a handful of vintage motels in operation, many with their original neon signs. These are far from the best places to stay in the city, but if you're just passing through they do the trick. Admittedly, there's something a bit romantic about the kitschy value of staying at places like this on long distance road trips. I see the appeal, and even though they're decades old, they're not all dives.  

It was actually on a recommendation that I decided to go and photograph some of these overlooked highway landmarks from the 1950s and 1960s. I shot these images at the Ranchmen Motel, Bel Aire Motel, Rancho Motel, Hat Motel, and Satellite Motel. There are more in the area, but these five had the best neon signs in my opinion.  
  

Ranchmen Motel pre-cowboy sign ca. 1960

Ranchmen Motel with new sign ca. 1960s

Satellite Motel ca. 1962