Time to start planning an adventure!
It’s road trip season! Take on the highways and byways that make America such a beautiful country to traverse by car. And what better way to stop and enjoy the local landmarks than an overnight at a classic, vintage motel that’s been revamped and restored to feature contemporary amenities and a fresh aesthetic, while still preserving the property’s original down-to-earth sense of character and history? These 10 transformed motels across the U.S. pay homage to tradition while elevating today’s guest experience with modern design and enhanced contemporary creature comforts (in no particular order!).
1 OF 10
Mellow Moon
WHERE: Del Norte, Colorado
The lovingly revived 15-room Mellow Moon Lodge feels like it’s been plucked straight out of a classic Western film with a touch of contemporary bohemian flair. It originally dates back to the 1940s and is perched on the edge of downtown Del Norte in southern Colorado’s San Luis Valley. The lodge can be a perfect home base for a day trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park, or as a pit stop along Highway 160, as it’s four hours south of Denver and three hours north of Santa Fe. Disconnect with the hustle and bustle of urban life and reconnect with inner peace, feeling totally taken care of amongst the lodge’s amenities, including a spectacular on-site coffee shop favored by travelers and locals alike, a mercantile curating local artisan goodies, and beds comfortable enough that you may want to just spend time enjoying a relaxing night in.
2 OF 10
Skyview Los Alamos
WHERE: Los Alamos, California
The historic Skyview Los Alamos dates back to the 1950s and overlooks the quaint, sprawling hillsides of the California Central Coast. Boasting 33 rooms, this boutique property is rumored to have hosted the likes of The Beatles and the Mamas and Papas in its heyday, and sits just off Highway 101, making it a great stop. The five-acre hilltop it sits on also features a working vineyard, lush gardens, and a vintage, revamped 50s-era pool to play. Guests will enjoy modern amenities, including flat-panel televisions, cozy down duvets, sleek leather club chairs, and marble-clad bathrooms with hand-painted tiles. Don’t miss visiting the full-service bar and restaurant, Norman, which serves a menu of regional wines and locally sourced farm fresh food. Those who seek to explore beyond the property’s boundaries can even use the Linus bikes – a nostalgic way to discover the area’s charms.
3 OF 10
Best Bet Motor Lodge
WHERE: Reno, Nevada
Playfully blending its vintage 1950s road trip roots with a polished, design-forward contemporary feeling aesthetic, the Best Bet Motor Lodge in Reno, Nevada, is a 21-room property that feels like “classic motor lodge” meets “modern wellness retreat.” It’s located in Midtown and can be a great home base to explore the best attractions of America’s Biggest Little City. Don’t miss the property’s practically unparalleled on-site spa amenities with Reno Sauna Club, including both indoor and outdoor saunas (the outdoor sauna is situated in a fun and unique setting — a meticulously remodeled vintage trailer living on the hotel’s back patio!). Grab a can of beer or cocktail, and relax around the common space’s large firepit sitting directly under the original, restored neon sign — a tribute to the property’s historic motel days.
4 OF 10
The Local
WHERE: St. Augustine, Florida
In St. Augustine, Florida, travelers can encounter one of the city’s most celebrated, retro stays — The Local. This thoughtfully restored and celebrated 20-room roadside motel embodies the idyllic, nostalgic qualities that someone likely conjures while imagining a classic, Florida road trip motel. The Local embraces its vintage roots while ushering guests into the future of comfort — with amenities such as contactless check-in and check-out, in-room refrigerators and microwaves, air conditioning, cable TV, a swimming pool, and fully non-smoking accommodations (details modern travelers may take for granted, but were very likely not a part of an overnight experience back in the motel’s original heyday!).
5 OF 10
The Salt Hotel & Pub
WHERE: Evergreen Coast, Washington
On Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula of the Evergreen Coast, become immersed in the authentic, eclectic spirit and lush natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. The Salt Hotel & Pub dates back to the 1970s and has undergone several transformations over time, but maintains its sense of uniquely quirky character and family-friendly accommodations in the coastal town of Ilwaco. For decades, the motel served as a storied lodging and watering hole, catering mainly to fishermen. Keeping its rugged dockside flair while adding a sense of chic, boutique vibes to the sturdy bones of the property means that today, guests can enjoy its authentic, sustained personality, enhanced by new, relaxing amenities. The Salt Hotel & Pub leans into its original location, using its distinct “motor-court” layout, with updates like an on-site pub featuring local spirits and stunning water views overlooking the still-operating Ilwaco fisherman’s harbor.
6 OF 10
Hotel Lucine
WHERE: Galveston, Texas
On Galveston’s sunny beachfront, discover Hotel Lucine – a fully revitalized, 61-room boutique property that dates back to the 60s, but has been updated and upgraded to enhance its historic roots with modern motel allure. The luxurious pool and patio are ideal for soaking up the coastal sunshine, and the rooftop bar offers 180-degree Gulf views. Even though Hotel Lucine is technically considered a total renovation, many of the property’s original details of the low-slung, two-story structure’s mid-century spirit have been incorporated into celebrating its new life, ranging from the U-shaped courtyard to the classic white brick, bleached white oak, and native greenery. Aged bronze, antique mirrors and reeded glass add another element of timeless design and tradition to the mix, making Hotel Lucine one of the finest examples of the grandeur of the historic properties that represent a generation of mid-century beachfront motels in Galveston.
7 OF 10
The Arka Motel
WHERE: Rogers, Arkansas
Overlooking Beaver Lake in Rogers, Arkansas, is The Arka Motel — standing tall as a prime example of a successful modern yet reflective “motel revival” renovation. It earned its original fame on Dave and Jenny Marrs’ HGTV show, Fixer to Fabulous and was previously known as the well-loved, but very weathered “Beaver Lake Lodge” dating back to the 1960s. An $890,000 renovation traded the property’s detailed, dated fisherman-style interiors for a polished but classic contemporary aesthetic. Today, guests can enjoy the luxurious resort-style pool, adjacent private mountain bike trails, and high-tech amenities, including contactless check-in. Today, it’s been transformed from a beloved but unkempt relic to a modern favorite boutique lakeside vacation destination.
8 OF 10
Hotel Willa
WHERE: Taos, New Mexico
Sitting at what’s known as the gateway to Taos’ Downtown Historic District, Hotel Willa, a former 1960s motel-turned trendy bohemian desert arts escape, is a reimagining of a former art-forward retreat. This mystical motel has an aura that’s seemingly compelled by the inspiring energy of the nearby Couse pasture and Sangre de Cristo Mountains – evoking the spirit of creatives past and present. Then, and now, dreamy days feel influenced by a pull of free expression, a rich sense of culture, and inspiring desert landscapes. Soak in the seemingly endless wide blue skies and savor the unrivaled, comforting stillness that can only be felt in a place that’s as peaceful and spiritually connected as this storied Southwest escape.
9 OF 10
High Country Motor Lodge
WHERE: Flagstaff, Arizona
In the heart of Flagstaff, Arizona, travelers can discover High Country Motor Lodge, a modern mountain retreat that seamlessly blends the energy of an iconic 1960s retro motel with a contemporary lodge aesthetic, offering a casual, comfortable, yet elevated roadside escape along Flagstaff’s historic Route 66. Get some elevated sunshine at the expansive outdoor pool or oversized hot tub, or become immersed in the revelation within the two private saunas. Dine at the relaxed on-site eatery, The General Store, with its indoor/outdoor lounge space overlooking Mars Hill. Don’t miss the fully decked-out game room, or programming like movie nights on the lawn, live music events, or stargazing sessions. It’s never a dull moment at this property, which hasn’t let time dull its unique, yesteryear sparkle.
10 OF 10
Madbush Falls
WHERE: Waitsfield, Vermont
Vermont’s Madbush Falls isn’t just a motel — it’s a quintessential connection to this community’s history. The property, which is situated right off Route 100, sat vacant for nearly two decades before a local business owner and passionate Vermonter purchased it in 2021 with the aim of bringing it back to (or even beyond) its original glory. With the help of his neighbors and the contribution of many unique trade skills, combined with an investment of time, energy, and a bit of cash. Today, Madbush is a beloved biking basecamp and lodge popular among outdoor adventure lovers of the Mad River Valley area and beyond. Explore the grounds’ direct access to a network of world-class mountain biking trails. But you don’t have to be a biking fanatic to enjoy this down-to-earth, upscale lodge. There are quite a few much-appreciated man-made amenities on-site, like outdoor saunas and a restaurant serving tasty, filling Vermont-inspired bites.