California’s highways tell stories through their roadside architecture, particularly the mid-century motels that once dominated the landscape during America’s golden age of road trips. While many of these vintage establishments have disappeared over the decades, some remarkable survivors continue to welcome guests—offering experiences that combine nostalgic charm with modern comfort.
These aren’t just places to rest; they’re living museums where visitors can step back in time while enjoying amenities that contemporary travelers expect. The allure of these retro accommodations lies in their authenticity—neon signs that have buzzed for half a century, kidney-shaped pools that hosted generations of swimmers, and architecture that captures distinct eras of American design.
Here is a list of the 14 coolest retro motels still operating across the Golden State, each preserving a slice of California’s rich road trip history.
Madonna Inn
This San Luis Obispo landmark defies simple categorization with its 110 uniquely themed rooms ranging from caveman chic to Swiss chalet extravagance. Opened in 1958 by Alex and Phyllis Madonna, this pink palace pushes kitsch to artistic heights with its waterfall urinal, horseshoe-shaped booths, and hand-carved wood details throughout.
The property’s steak house features hot pink leather booths, while the bakery serves the famous champagne cake that’s been drawing visitors for generations. Despite its age, the Madonna Inn remains fully committed to its distinctive vision—proving that sometimes more really is more.
Wigwam Motel
One of the few remaining teepee-shaped motel villages in America, this San Bernardino Route 66 classic gives guests the opportunity to “sleep in a wigwam,” as the vintage sign promises. Built in 1949 and meticulously preserved, each cone-shaped unit contains surprisingly comfortable accommodations while maintaining authentic mid-century details.
The property’s vintage cars permanently parked around the premises enhance the time-capsule atmosphere, creating perfect photo opportunities for nostalgia seekers. The motel’s location on the historic Mother Road makes it a natural stop for roadtrippers exploring what remains of Route 66’s faded glory.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
The Skyview
Perched on a hillside overlooking the vineyards of Los Alamos, this former roadside motel has been thoughtfully reimagined for today’s travelers while preserving its 1950s architectural bones. The iconic yellow “MOTEL” sign still guides travelers off Highway 101, but inside, guests find stylishly updated rooms with luxury linens, vintage record players, and locally sourced amenities.
The original kidney-shaped pool now features a chic pool bar, while the on-site restaurant Norman serves elevated comfort food that draws locals and travelers alike. This successful renovation demonstrates how vintage motels can honor their past while creating experiences relevant to contemporary guests.
Safari Inn
This Burbank classic, with its striking neon sign, has served as a filming location for countless movies and TV shows, including True Romance and Apollo 13. Opened in 1955, the motel’s Googie-style architecture captures the optimistic futurism of the post-war era with its angular shapes and space-age elements.
The poolside rooms maintain their mid-century footprint while offering updated furnishings that complement—rather than erase—the motel’s architectural heritage. Located near major studios, the Safari continues to attract film industry professionals who appreciate its authentic Hollywood connection and unpretentious atmosphere.
Blue Swallow Motel
This impeccably preserved Route 66 gem in Tucumcari showcases some of the most spectacular neon signage still functioning in America. Each room features attached garages—a distinctive design element from an era when Americans valued their automobiles as extensions of themselves.
Current owners have maintained period-appropriate details like rotary phones and vintage bedspreads while adding thoughtful, modern touches to bathrooms and climate systems. The motel’s courtyard becomes magical at night when the blue neon outlines of swooping swallows illuminate against the desert sky, creating an atmospheric experience straight from American road trip folklore.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Melody Motel
This Palm Springs time capsule embraces the desert modernism that defined the region’s mid-century development boom. The striking A-frame entrance and breeze-block walls create dramatic shadows throughout the day, while the classic pool area has remained virtually unchanged since the 1960s.
Current management has preserved the original room layouts while updating them with period-appropriate furnishings that feel collected rather than manufactured. The property’s location just off the main strip offers a quieter alternative to larger resorts while still providing easy access to Palm Springs attractions.
Golden Era Motor Inn
This Gold Rush-themed motel in Auburn captures California’s frontier history through its Western facades and mining-inspired decor. Established in 1954 when themed roadside attractions were gaining popularity, the property features wagon wheel light fixtures, antique mining tools as decoration, and a lobby designed to resemble a frontier trading post.
Despite its thematic commitment, recent renovations have added surprisingly upscale amenities, including memory foam mattresses and rainfall shower heads. The motel serves as an excellent base for exploring the nearby historic sites that inspired its distinctive aesthetic.
Flamingo Resort
This Santa Rosa landmark opened in 1957 as a swinging hotspot for Hollywood celebrities seeking discretion away from Los Angeles. The sprawling property centers around one of Northern California’s largest swimming pools, where the original diving board still stands as a reminder of more carefree liability standards.
Recent renovations have carefully balanced preservation and modernization—maintaining the distinctive mid-century architecture while updating interiors with subtle contemporary elements. The on-site restaurant’s curved booths and strong cocktails continue to channel the rat-pack era vibe that made the Flamingo a North Bay institution.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Atomic Inn
This quirky Barstow establishment embraces its proximity to Nevada’s nuclear test sites with science fiction-inspired decor and atomic-age imagery throughout. The distinctive mushroom cloud sign has become a popular photo stop along Interstate 15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Originally opened as a standard roadside motel in 1962, current owners transformed it into a themed experience celebrating retro-futurism and UFO culture. Each room features vintage televisions restored to working condition, playing science fiction classics on continuous loops for an immersive experience.
Encore Motel
This Long Beach gem showcases some of Southern California’s best-preserved Googie architecture, including a spectacular pointed roof and geometric signage that lights up magnificently at sunset. Built during the 1964 expansion of nearby attractions, the motel features angular lines and futuristic elements typical of the era’s optimistic view of tomorrow.
Recent preservation efforts have focused on maintaining the distinctive exterior while selectively modernizing room interiors with mid-century-inspired furnishings and color schemes. The motel’s commitment to architectural authenticity has earned it protected status with local conservation organizations.
Starlite Motel
This roadside classic along Highway 99 in the Central Valley features one of California’s most spectacular neon signs—a starburst design that illuminates the night sky with an animated light sequence little changed since 1958. The motel’s modest exterior hides surprisingly spacious rooms that maintain their original footprint while offering tastefully updated amenities.
Current owners have embraced the property’s heritage by collecting and displaying vintage travel brochures, road maps, and postcards in the small lobby. The Starlite represents an increasingly rare example of family-owned motels surviving in an era of corporate chain dominance.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Avalon Hotel
This former motor lodge in the heart of Beverly Hills underwent a masterful transformation under designer Kelly Wearstler, who honored the building’s 1949 bones while creating a distinctly contemporary experience. The horseshoe-shaped structure still wraps around its original pool, but the stark white exterior and strategically placed vintage furnishings create a sophisticated atmosphere that bridges past and present.
Despite its upscale reinvention, the property maintains elements of its motor court heritage through preserved architectural details and thoughtfully curated historical photographs displayed throughout common areas.
The June Motel
This reimagined roadside motel in South Lake Tahoe demonstrates how vintage properties can be reborn for a new generation of travelers seeking Instagram-worthy experiences. Originally built as a basic motor court in 1959, the motel underwent a comprehensive renovation that preserved its mid-century footprint while adding millennial-friendly elements, including record players, craft cocktail kits, and curated local guidebooks in each room.
The property’s restoration maintains the nostalgic exterior—complete with original signage—while creating interiors that feel both timeless and contemporary. The motel’s rebirth has brought new energy to a previously overlooked section of Tahoe’s accommodation landscape.
Keeping the Neon Burning
California’s remaining retro motels represent more than just places to stay—they’re cultural artifacts preserving distinct chapters of American architectural and social history. From space-age coffee shops to vibrant neon signage, these establishments maintain design elements rapidly disappearing from our landscape.
The most successful properties have found the delicate balance between preservation and adaptation, maintaining their historic character while meeting contemporary expectations for comfort and amenities. For travelers seeking authentic experiences, these living museums offer something chain hotels cannot—a genuine connection to the golden age of American road trips and the distinctive regional architecture that once defined the California driving experience.
More from Travel Pug
- 20 Towns Built for One Purpose That Were Later Abandoned
- 15 Hidden Spots in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Most Visitors Miss
- 20 Once-Popular Beach Towns That Are Now Ghostly Empty
- 15 Canyons in the U.S. That Are Just as Stunning as the Grand Canyon
- 10 Under-the-Radar Mountain Towns That Are Both Affordable and Beautiful
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.